THE MAFIA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20319, 30 January 1928, Page 10

THE MAFIA.

BROKEN BY FASCISTS. TERRORISM AND BRIGANDAGE. DESPERADO OUTLAWS. The power of the Mafia, which has terrorised Italy for years, has been broken. Its sinister influence, started in Sicily, but which has extended tar beyond the vine-clad hills ot the lonely island at the toe of Italy’s “ boot, has come to an end, for Signor Mussolini has won his battle against the desperadoes ot the south. The epilogue of what is really a centuries-t Id drama was played recently in a little courthouse at Termini Imerse, near Palermo, where several hundred members of the Mafia were tried and sentenced for their crimes. For more than two years the Fascisti authorities have been collecting evidence against the mysterious secret society, and now the jaws of justice have shut and the houi ot reckoning, long delayed, has at last arrived. The following brief history ot the society is told by A. R. Mackenzie in a recent issue of the San Francisco Chronile. The trial of the 900-odd hitherto muchfeared Mafia leaders brings to my mind a night in May, some years ago, m a small Sicilian village, only a stone’s throw from Gangi, the stronghold of the most powerful of all the Mafia bands (writes Mr Mackenzie). Just before sunset all the village seemed abroad. Children playing on the main street, young women on their balconies listening to the sound of guitars. Peace and contentment hung over the scene._ Suddenly, like the shadow of the picture, down the village street a saddled donkey ambled disconsolately. The presence of this quadruped without his maste. might have been a bomb for the effect it had on all the villagers. Children were caught up, chairs were carried indoors, within a second thfe street was empty, and the only sound was the donkey stamping with his hoof on the stable door; seeking admission. , , Windows were closed, shutters were tightened, and not a light was lit. Fh ery one seemed to wait for something unexpected to happen. “What is the matter? was the natural question which surged to my lips as I, too, was virtually dragged into the front sitting room. A silence followed, and after a pause my hostess, the oldest member of the family, presently seated! herself near and wdiispered in my ear: ” That was Don Guiseppe’s donkey returning from the fair at Gangi. The Mafia_ are at work again. They have killed him in an ambush because he refused to pay them the money they demanded as protection, v endetta will be wreaked on all those connected with this crime.” “But why the sudden rush? I asked. “ You are not to blame.” “ No,” she replied, “but the Mafia spare none when they set about killing, and we must not be witnesses, even of the donkey’s val. Remember, you saw nothing.” Time showed that she was right. The police sought to find the culprit, but no one could give evidence. That night no one had seen the donkey enter the village. POWER OF THE MAFIA. This incident is symbolic of the power of the Mafia in Sicily until.the leaders arrest. One administration after another sought to wipe out this powerful union of reckless, fearless, and desperate men, but all in vain. Though Sicilians themselves insisted that Mafia brigandage and delinquency were not the same, in reality they were. From a union of men of all professions, born and living in Sicily, joined together by a bond called Omerta, which meant Sicilians united and never would give each other away, it had for 50 years become a criminal association of men wanted by the police for crimes, very often murder. Two centuries ago the nobles in Sicily had paid retainers who followed their bidding no matter what the orders included. Then, with successive Governments, law and order were introduced and these men were without jobs. Each succeeding generation saw conditions grow worse. The Mafia’s power grew. The few bands increased, until in each district there was a band which controlled the destinies of the law-abiding section of the country. Some of them emigrated, needing greater scope for their ambition, and, settlingin the United States, founded the Black Hand. While Catania and the slopes of Etna were the district where the Mafia formerly centres during the last seven years, the strongest bands lived near Palermo, at a town called Gangi, in a mountainous region, once the haunt many centuries ago of Arab predatory bands. There were caves where the members met and planned their nefarious deeds. Men and womer met, sometimes in the dark and sometimes with only a candle placed by the leader’s seat. Here it was that they were caught, surrounded by military police, several of whom were killed during the struggle. But before the arrests could be made, a year ago, the prefect in charge was faced with the difficult task of collecting evidence. For three years this work of forging one link to another in the chain of evidence was put in the -hands of a private detective, as the former method of putting the investigation in the hands of the police had failed. No witnesses could be found who would give evidence. The detective, when he had all the material collected for his report, left Sicily, and handed to the authorities his evidence, which was sufficient to bring to trial all the leaders of the Mafia. TRIAL STARTED. It was on this that the trial was started. The Mafia had been warned that extreme measures were to be taken, and they were able at first to evade arrest. They had their secret biding places, and many times, when these were surrounded by the military police, the Mafia leaders had already fled by unknown devious ways up the mountainside. This led to further investigation, and it was discovered that each bouse bad bidden exits; some were like labyrinths. Finally, the Andalora family were arrested and every entrance was watched. Nicolo, the leader, was in the kitchen sitting disconsolately by the fire. He knew he had been betrayed by one of his followers, else the police could not have known the under gallery where they caught him. He knew who had betrayed him and he was determined to avenge tbis betrayal. He made a secret sign to his mother, and she quietly stood and asked the military police on duty whether she would be allowed to take a little wine from the shelf above the fireplace. He agreed. Giuseppina is a large woman, and with her large skirts she blocked the vision of her son on one side of the hearth. She took her seat again, and when the policemen looked again Nicolo had disappeared. There was a search all over the cottage and of all the secret entrances, but he had flown mysteriously. A warning was sent abroad to the detachment in the village and a search was made. He was found just as he had stabbed to the heart the man whom lie considered had betrayed him. He didn’t seem to mind being arrested, as his honour had been satisfied. The town of Gangi was like a place freed from an evil genius when these arrests had been made. These leaders of the Mafia had dominated there for more than 30 years. The oldest leader, Gaetano Forrallo. was wanted by the police, but had evaded arrest by hiding in the vicinity, a mountainous region used by brigands of all generations from the days of early peoples. There were caves and ravines where booty and guns could be stored and where wanted men could live in peace. Law-abiding citizens were forced to pay a yearly tribute, with the understanding that he would protect them from the smaller leaders. Richer men were blackmailed in a very lucrative way. An instance can be given of how they worked it. There was a landed proprietor called Di Gioia. He was seated in his study one morning calmly reading the newspaper, when his trusted servant brought him in a letter, saying that a messenger was waiting for an answer. This letter read: “ Send by the bearer 10,000 lire. (Signed) Gaetano Ferrarello.” Signor di Gioia, much to the Tiorror of his servant, tore the letter in small pieces. The Mafia leader was not to be contented so easily. A few days later five masked men entered the storehouse of the estate, and, with two carts, carried away corn and wheat and stores of all kinds to the value of far beyond the sum demanded. Besides this they took two valuable • horses.

The following day another letter waa received, signed by the Mafioa leader. It contained the message: “Pay the sum we ask and you will receive your property back.” The amount was paid and the goods and stores, as well as < the horses, were returned to the farm in the same mysterious way. A DEADLY FEUD, But a deadly feud broke out between the people of the estate and the Mafia, causing many deaths on both sides. The proprietor was one of the leading witnesses against the prisoners. The signer of the letter is dead, as he committed suicide soon after he was arrested. He was not ashamed of his crimes, hut could not bear the thought of being caught by the military police, whom he despised. This case of di Gioia was one of many. All the countryside was at their mercy. In some cases not two horses, but 30 bullocks or a flock of sheep, were taken without anyone discovering it until it was too late. In a book found in Leader Andatora’s house there were accounts of all his brigandage enterprises, and hardly a dav in the year passed that the was not busy either in theft or horse-stealing, when it was not blackmail. In some cases, when the police were alert, the money was sent through mail and collected by a third party. Often it was for a paltry amount levied on a peasant or a sum in the thouands from a rich proprietor. One proprietor refused to pay and they beat him within an inch of his life. Why they did not lull him was because they knew that after the beating he would quickly send the money demanded. Where they suspected treachery and had evidence that someone, whether friend or foe, had given evidence to the police, the suspected man or one of his family was quickly put out of the way. This was the case of Vincezo Franco who lived in the town of Gangi. He knew his life, was threatened, as he had received _ repeated warnings. Tbe last one was pinned to his door with a stiletto, so he knew he was either going to kill one of the Mafia or be killed himself. He wrote a letter, which he banded to a friend to be opened only in case of death. In it he stated that if he met a violent death his suppression would be due to Palazzelo and his fellow Mafioso, Nicolo Andalora, who had threatened his life. He took care about returning home by an indirect route, but, walking close to the geranium hedge, a shot rang out, and he fell shot in the back. Police investigations resulted in the discovery that Nicolo Andalora had ordered the murder, as this man was dangerous to his peace of mind. All these Mafia leaders, even though convicted of many crimes still hoped that the old order had not changed and that they would be freed, as none would really have the courage to testify against, them. But the evidence was there, and they undoubtedly deserved to be condemned.