MAFIA VENDETTA.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19986, 22 July 1930, Page 11

MAFIA VENDETTA.

TRIAL TO LAST SIX MONTHS. ItWlttD Mt&SS ABSOWATIOH—ST BMBOfStC tBtBOHAPR-^COPtalOtlT^ ROME, July 20. An amazing Mafla trial, which ■will last for six months, has opened In Sicily. There are 200 prisoners charged with forty-three murders And twentyfour attempted murders, besides blackmail, burglary, and other crimes. Preparation of the evidence for the prosecution has taken three years. The crimes are all part of a Mafia vendetta, which begjm in 1909 after a quarrel between the chief of the Mafia and some confederates. Whole families have been wiped out as a result of the vendetta. One man delayed 1 his doom by remaining indoors for five years. Eventually two men disguised as masons gained entry-to the house and killed him. Numbers of'possible jurors, fearing six months' absence from business, fled. Some have been recaptured, heavily fined, and forced to «srve.

[Efforts to suppress Mafia havo been recorded as far back as 1874, from which time it has terrorised Sicily and elsewhere by murder, robbery, and smuggling. Under orders from Signer Mussolini tho Prefect of Palermo was given a free hand, and succeeded in 1927-28 In breaking up the notorious band. After a trial that lasted three months 147 members of Mafia were convicted In January, 1928, of various crimes ranging from larceny to murder. The second great trial lasted nine months, and ended at the beginning of May 1929, with the conviction of 100 out of the 161 prisoners.]