THE CAMORRA.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3229, 27 May 1911, Page 8

THE CAMORRA.

JNFORMER’S DEATH DECREED.

A DIREFUL THREAT.

THEATRICAL ENGAGEMENT

AWAITING ABBATEMAGGIO.

Gennaro Abbatemaggio, the man who is revealing all tne secrets oi tne Camorra, began his evidence on March 30. Standing on tne altar steps of Did. tot. Mary's, m tne presence of a denseiypackecti audience. A'bnatemaggio prexaced his address by a graphic descriptive story of til© Camorra as it exists and operates in Naples and the adjacent provinces to-day.■ ‘•Since I have resolved to make before you, gentlemen of the jury, a fullbreasted .confession of my own crimes as a Oamorrist, it is essential that I tell you first exactly what, this secret society really is, through disastrous entanglement with which I have befouled my family name and personal character, hitherto bcj'ond reproach.” The informer’s explanation shows that the Camorra of the present day is not simply concerned with crimes on persons and property, but more especially with commercial affairs, exerting its sway over tradespeople, capitalists, horse-fairs, produce markets, gaining houses, and white slavery. “I myself,” lie said, “trafficked in human flesh, to my great sorrow.” The chief occupation of the Camorra, however, is to domineer over local administrations and every kind of municipal and parliamentary elections. Members of the association consist of Oamorrists properly so-called and novice probationers. Naples city is divided into 14 districts, with a society of fullfledgedl Camorrists, and another of novices, in each district. Each has its established rank, order, and precedence, with a head called Gapontrino, whilst the senior society is ruled over by a supreme chief called Caponitesta. Abbatemaggio relates that he joined the Camorra when a private coachman to Baron Amato in 1902, and quitted the society for ever in 1906. His first lapse was in facilitating a robbery at his master’s palace. Abbatemaggio avows that his own criminal career was exclusively exercised in planning burglaries with the aid of maps of Naples. The Camorro usually plans beforehand the objects which the actual thieves aro to search for, and furthermore arranges for the receiver of the stolen goods, the price to be paid for his services, and the precise shares in the booty which the thieves are to enjoy. Since he began his confession Abbatemaggio has received an immense pile of correspondence from enemies and unknown friends. The Naples Camorra warns him that the fraternity has solemnly decreed his death sentence, and that the lots cast for its execution have fallen to the self-same hand which dealt the ghastly razor slash he'bears on liis face for having defrauded a Camorrist girl of 500 lire, which she had deposited in his safekeeping before she was committed to prison. Fifty members of the most prominent families in this^historic town have sent an address of congratulation to Abbatemagio, admiring his courage, and urging him to persevere in unmasking the criminal plots. A group of Neapolitans, writing in a similar strain, promise to provide a perpetual bodyguard for him after his release.

An English lady wires him from Venice, “As soon as you are liberated I desire to be of service. Amur devoted admirer, —Arabella Maclean.” A New York impressario cables, “May your courage gain for you speedy release. Come stragiht- to New York and tour the principal cities of the United States for 200dl. nightly.”