THE CAMORRA.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14452, 26 May 1911, Page 5

THE CAMORRA.

rou'JicAi, iu-;fok.ueh3 and BLACKMAILING CllliliiiAJ.S, 'J'Lo exact onto of l'onuauoi» of the (Ja.iuon*it ii> wik-d iu iuut\h ofcbcurity but, hko uiom i»i tho oceiot bocJolicfc o; jtfi icmd, it uwi-a iu dwulopuiont to oppression. Under the rulu oi the Bourbona the lot of th-o poorer iiu4t»oa iu tho Kingdom ol Nuploa win iu fcevoiai rosiwUi woiVsG than that of absolute savagoa, who are ablo ai least to oujoy tho rough frcodotu of tho wikiwnetis. Tiio poor wcro ground dowa iu every waj} tax-collectors fleeced thejn of thuir wagoa, and they wuio proveuted from on joying oren ut thar own oxpeuso, thu outdoor eporta which th« Caeaara provided freely u» soino recompenoo for their curtailed liberties, lfc w&H thou that tho wiHißtors of tho autocrat bocamo alarmed by tko riso of a secrot society, which torinod itself tho Camorra. This band of conspirators ranged tho country aftor dark, and fcoizod and onjoyod jn a lawless manner many of tho6o things whioh tbe law prevented thorn from obtaining in a hotter. Wftv, There was a wonderful bond of fellowship botwoeu these nightriding oonspiratpra, who were always prepared to assist ono another and to moot resistance with deeds of riolcnoo # Many of their expeditions, indeed, wer* undortoJceu simply for revenge not only without f"iy prospect of plunder, but with tho oortainty of incurring bearr expenditure. Tho society waa diiyidod into a number of centres, each with its own head, but all dominated by on» antral body, proeided over by th* chiof or the society. The net proceeds of «t wpok s work were paid into a common, rund, which; again was evenly distributed at monthly intervals among the members, who spent it witih a freedom tnat mado tho Camorrista probably tho most popular visitors to the Neapolitan pleasure nssorts.

■ f ( ■ initiation ceremonies, IKe majority of lilt! members of the Uamorra were reuruitod from tlm ruKpectablo portion of tile poor working class population. Young members of tiio society are first known as picciotto a onore (novioo admitted on word of Honour). Tiiaso members bad firet to remain on approbation for a >var, shanng with .tho full members all tJbo fvS; " w" Jsl - ilw of tll ° ywioM f™rl u s ' enjoyns "ouo cf Uio piobts. bo popular, however, was tho "'J 11 "' the privilege of membership was coveted even by aristocrat!!, sovetimes from pure love of excitement occasionally in hope of obtaining reInnS?+-°" aj) obnoxious government. Tho conditions of entry into tho society however, wero by no means ousy. TJioro z? fr ral ot tii s that the aspirant Jiad to kill or disfigure someone nominated by. tho tho °tr?al°of t£ ** t + at ' ll ® und « r > v «»t „!•?, of th<s ti ra ta—that is, a duol i 'p, 1 *! 1 established picciotto. These duels, however, ended as soon o 6 blood was spi led on either side. Another fntwf ' r coura R° "' as made in tiio follomng manner: A small coin would , thrown on tho ground, and fJia postuiant would be. 'to up. In the meantime the Camorriete stood round and threw ?£ hand trying to transfix it to the floor ";' n ,«P lte o? this painful w™ lo 'u t fl;"v d °? P iec ® of money t;l flinching, he became a orobZ ho wi Sp bUt j f street 'nw 'Siorano-usly down tho fctieet. Ilia ceremony, however ),„« ™L£° m ° W ' n abandoned, and a around a table on which is rIS or^S'fwr^ 15 ' 8 ' o '' " S ' ass of wat er oncd T ni? I ls s "PP"«d to he poiat ssffts-Kst; M,„ rJ ' ' extfi "<b'ng it toward? - ie Camorristi, sivears forever to keen tho secrets of tho society, and to faith " 'Y t LaJ\.es Jiokl of tho dagccr and nlin+c if br™'i «,V , ° b £ ,W S' T kg the V S t»M ca & i' S to inc,i " oate that ho js ready at a sitm from t.ie master to kill himself. Tho master h , I ' im to f to PJ»* light hand on tlm lie,id of the o^ l 'thi a nktol 1 ' Ie ) i With - h ' S lGft ho fir< * "■• the pistol in the air and shatters to e ground the glass containing tho ? ,Son , id 1; q"or. Ho then draws out tho dagger from tlie tabla and S !*"■ to 1,13 110,7 companion •and embraces him, an example which is followed by all the other Camorristi.

FKOM NOBILITY TO IGNOMINY.

_ Iho Camorra reached tho zenith of its power under the rule of Francis 11, when it enjoyed tho popularity of a political relorin league. It is a wellknown fact that its members occupied many of the high-placed positions m tlio mumoipal and politcal world of Naples, and even of Italy. When Francis 11. in September, ISGO, left his capital exposed to tho horrors aud dangers of a social conflagration, uad whilst, the magistrates, deprived of all authority ajid power, felt thomseltw unable to copo with tho anarchy reigning around, tho Camorrist chiefs liad influence enough to avert tlw dangor. A society with such power, however, was obviously n serious menaoo to tho nominally ruling powers, and one is not surpnsod therefore, to learn that ir. caesuras of tho greatest severity wero soon adopted to secure its suppression. But what banishment, imprisonment, and executions galoro failed to secure better government did without difficulty hy removing tlio evils which the Cam", orra was originally formed to counteract. And it is from this time that the tono of the Camorra began to deeLno. At present jt is, perhaps, tho most pernicious association that has over existed in Europe, a society composed of blacklogs, thieves, extortioners, rogues, and villains of all kinds. One can sympathise with their carlieo* acta under tho oppressive reign of the Bourbons. but with the present methods of blackmail, extortion, and evon murder of honest oitizens there can be no extenuating circumstances that can aronso one's sympathy; hence it will surely ho tho earnest hope of all rightminded men that the present trial will be tho death-blow to the power of this powerful criminal organisation.