MAFIA TERRORISM.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 461, 20 March 1909, Page 5

MAFIA TERRORISM.

■ ■- ■ « ■ CONSUL THREATENED. (UT TEI.ECIIArn—I'ItESS ASSOCIATION—COPTItICIIT.) s Romo, March 18. The Mafia has sent a letter threatening to kill Mr. W. H. Bishop, United States Consul at Palermo, Sicily, if he continues to incite tho authorities against suspects. GREATEST TERRORIST SOCIETY IN THE WORLD. Neither tho Naples Cumorra, tho Paris Apaches, nor th<) Black Hand of America is tho most powerful and , terrible sccrot society in the wholo world (writes "P.T.0."). The palm must go to the Mafia, which flourishes in Italy, and has deno so for more than 300 years. his society, which works so swiftly and silently, yet so surely, was founded in Sicily tor protection against the injustices of foreign rulers. The- Mafiosi are Everywhere. Ho who is of tho Mafia is almost sure to do well and may even escapo justice after committing the most serious crimes. It is said that the secret of tho success of the famous Lrispi was that he was one of the Mafia. If a member open a new shop, tho word is given round, and all the other members in the neighbourhood flock to it with their custom; if one of the Mafiosi, as they are called, is putting up for an election the influence of the order is set to work in every direction in his favour; it one commits a crime he may be let off bocause the; judge and jury aro his brothers; and not long since a • man murdered another in the streets of Palermo and was caught the next moment, but ho broke away from his ?<•>? c'• S nt * upon '■' 10 > usta nt the cry of Mafiosi!" was sent round, and every possible impediment was put in tho way of the pursuit so that it failed, and the man got free. Subsequently the polico discovered his whereabouts, but they dared not arrest him, for fear of the Mafia. Tests for Candidates. j' 11 «a s r thing to join tho Mafia, .and the tests as to whether a candidate is fit for the .fraternity and likely to be a good member of it are very strict. He has to go through many probationary trials, but when at last the committee aro satisfied that ho is a good candidate, he is duly initiated. The candidate has then to go through a terrible ceremony. First al V n ,? ut m , atl6 to his body and a quantity of blood is drawn from it," and with this he smears an imago of his favourite saint, and then sets the image on fire, immediately taking an oath in the following words:—"l swear on my honour to be faithful to the brotherhood. As this saint and the drops of my blood are destroyed, so will I shed all the blood I have for the fraternity; and as theso ashes ana this blood can never be restored to me ■brothe n rhood. ?,Ver *«** (rom th ° Wearers of the "Red Mantle." Then the new initiate has to drawn a revolver and shoot at a crucifix to show that he would be willing at any time to kill his nearest relation or most Intimate friend, if commanded to do so. He is then a full member, and he is said to be a wearer of the "red mantle " His name as a member is not entered in any books, but ltis duly forwarded to headquarters, and Vi C V » colntn unieated by frord of mouth to all tho other members in the district where ho lives. These other members teach him all tho other signs and customs of tho fraternity which it is necessary he should know, and he at once becomes an active member. . Tho headquarters of tho brotherhood aro being constantly moved about. Ono week thev are m one place, and the next one in another at the other end of the country. Nobody ever knows, except the members, where to put their fingers on Uj Mafia. In each town there is a kind of chief agent, who is kent posted up with the doings and movements of Headquarters and ho communicates them to tho members''con-