“THE MAFIA.”

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4394, 27 June 1901, Page 3

“THE MAFIA.”

THE BLOOD-STAINED BROTHERHOOD. The “Mafia” is one of the most curious and regrettable features of modern Sicilian lite, and is a source or constant anxiety to the Italian Government, and of absorbing interest to all foreigners visiting the island. Much has already been written on the subject, and many more or less fantastic theories as to its causes and character have been put forward. But a great deal of light has been shed on this social phenomenon by a recently-published book called “La Ma_ fiaei Mafiosi” (Palermo), by Signor A. Cutrera. The author has for many years been Chief of Police at Palermo, and has consequently had unrivalled opportunities ot studying the inner workings of tho organisation. The origin of the Mafia is by no means ancient. It dates no further back than the beginning of the nineteenth century. The causes to which it is due are probably the centuries of misgovernment to which Sicily has been subjected, and, above all, to the infamous police systems of the Bourbons. The Sicilian has acquired in consequence an inborn hatred of all government, and he regards any interference of the authorities in his private affairs with jealousy and distrust. His character is the exaggeration of individuality. All private differences 1 should be settled privately, either in fair fight or by murder; no man. is in his eyes so vile as he who calls in the help of the authorities tor any purpose whatever. Ho is nb “man of honour,” but a “cascittuni” (spy). The highest virtue in Sicily is "onesta,” ivhicli is possessed by those who never in any way help the authorities by giving information about crimes of which, they ktiow something, even if they themselves are the victims. This feeling is so strong that a man who has been badly woundea in fair fight or by, treachery, it questioned by the police as to who committed the deed, will deny knowledge of it. If he should recover he will revenge himself but he will never turn informer. “If I live I shall kill you, if I die I forgive you,” runs a Sicilian proverb. For "onesta” a man must go to prison, he must suffer every hardship rather than “peach.” This feeling is the burden of many a Sicilian popular song and legend. The Mafia is unlike any other known institution. It is not a secret society, political or otherwise; it has no fixed rules or statutes; its objects are .

NOT NECESSARILY CRIMINAL. It is a sort of vast mutual help association, to which an indefinite number of Sicilians belong Its aim is to gain influence by every means, so as to promote the interests of, its members. It assumes many different forms, and has no generally recognised leaders. It often has recourse to bloodshed and violence for purposes of terrorising, of get. ting money, or revenge. Its effect is to produce an appalling state of moral anarchy and lawlessness. It is distributed unequally over the island, and, 'as Signor Cutrera shows by a map, it does not by any means flourish least in tho richest parts of the country. There are three main division* of the Mafia: the Mafia of Falermo, the Mafia of tne district round Palermo, and the Mafia of the provinces. Palermo is the chief centre of the institution, and the residence of most of the “pezzi grossi,” or leaders. The youth who aspires to Ma_ fia honours begins as a “ricottaro,” which means a man who lives on the illicit earnings of unfortunate women. Among the “ncottari,” are men of the upper bourgeoisie—idle students and smart “men about town”—as well as members of tn e lower orders. They are arrogant, insolent, and ready with the knife and the revolver. They act as the official claque in the theatres, and are commonly used as electioneering agents. The higher members of the Mafia are often men-of civic and political importance. Their houses are like Government offices. They are constantly busy with sec. retaries, agents, etc. Their halls are filled with all manner of people waiting for an audience to ask some favour — letters of recommendation, legal advice, the removal of some obnoxious official, pressure on the judges in a lawsuit, and so on. The “capi-mafia” are not paid for their services, but by this means they acquire influence and power among all classes. At election time their services are invaluable, and the candidate who has the Mafia on his side is almost sure to be returned, whatever his political views are. The Mafia in the “Conca d’Oro,” is responsible for more

DEEDS OF VIOLENCE than the other sections. This proves that the institution is neither attributable to poverty nor to the “latifonai” (large landed properties), as this region is the richest in Sicily, and that in which property is most sub-divided into small holdings. The orange and lemon groves necessitate a large number of watchmen if fruit stealing and damage to the trees are to be prevented. But the only way to protect one’s property effectively is to come to terms with the Mafia, accept its nominees as watchmen, and pay it a toll. Otherwise every night thousands of oranges and lemons will disappear, trees will be mutilated, and the landlord, if he disregards these warnings, will probably be shot from behind a garden wall. In the provinces the Mafia has a somewhat similar character, but it devotes itself chiefly to vineyards and to cattle. Here, again, the landlord or

his middleman have the choice of having their property protected by “mafiosi,” or of being robbed and perhaps murdered. But in the country the brigands are responsible for most of the crimes which are committed. They are by no means identified with the Mafia, and act independently of it. But often brigands and "mafiosi” are on friendly terms, and help each others out of difficulties. Although, as stated, the Mafia is not a regular uniform association, within its pale minor associations for criminal pur. poses have often been formecL generally for some particular object. The history of these societies is a record of treachery, murder, abduction and extortion. Sometimes whole families and clans have been wiped out. But one of the peculiarities of these crimes is that the victims are usually themselves members of the Mafia, or at least they have had dealt ings with it. Foreigners, among whom Italians from the mainland arc included, may travel all over Sicily in perfect safety. In fact, should they happen to be’ robbed by common thieves they will probably find an application to a “capomafia” more profitable than the help of the police. SIGNIFICANCE OF WORDS.

The words “Mafia” and “mafiosi” have only acquired their present meaning within the last forty years. Originally, “mafiosi,” meant pretty, neat, tidy, when applied to a girl; excellent and brave when said of a man. In 1860 a popular play was acted at Palermo cal. ed “I Mafiosi della Vicaria” i.e., the Bosses of the' Vicaria (the great prison at Palermo), meaning those convicts who, by their courage and audacity, had won the fear and respect of their fel-low-captives. Hence the word came to bo applied to the members of these lawless gangs which constitute the Mafia. Signor Cutrera describes some of the curious ceremonies and customs of the “mafiosi.” When a man wishes to enter one of the inner broherboods of the Mafia he is brought into a room where several chiefs are gathered. On a table there is a lighted candle and a picture of a saint. The neophyte’s thumb is pricked, and the blood is made to drop on the image. He places his hand on the latter, and swears. fealty to the brotherhood. The image is then burned, and he adds: “As this saint and these drops of blood are burned, so do I swear to shed all my blood for the brotherhood ; and as these ashes and this blood can never return to their former state, so oan I never quit the brotherhood.” Possibly in this burning of the image there may have been originally some idea of desecrating it. The formula of recognition among members of these as_ sociations is usually as follows; —“How my eye-tooth aches!” “How long has it been aching?” “Since Candlemas' (the date of the initiation). "Who was there?” "A., 8., C-, etc., who received me as a brother.” These associations have given rise to many sensational trials, but the authorities have always found it very difficult to bring the guilt home to the real culprits, because of the feeling of “qnesta,” which makes evidence almost im. possible to obtain, and because the whole machinery of the Mafia is set in motion to put pressure on judges, jury, counsel, police, and witnesses in favour of the accused. Moreover, the Mafia obtained a considerable influence with the Government by aiding it in the revolution of IB6o* The only hope for its final suppression lies in better education, combined with the strictest penal laws.