CAMORRA, a secret or quasi-secret society of South Italy, once of considerable dimensions, but now extinct. It became known publicly about 182o. The origin of the name is unknown, but possibly both the word and the association were introduced into Naples by the Spaniards. There is a Spanish word camorra (a quarrel), and similar societies seem to have existed in Spain a long time before the Camorra made its first appearance in Naples.
The society was primarily social, and originated in Neapolitan prisons filled with the victims of Bourbon misrule and oppression, its first purpose being the protection of prisoners. In or about 183o the Camorra was carried into the city by prisoners who had served their terms. The members worked the streets in gangs. They had special methods of communicating with each other. They mewed like cats at the approach of the patrol, and crowed like cocks when a likely victim approached. A long sigh gave warning that the latter was not alone, a sneeze meant he was not "worth powder and shot," and so on. The society rapidly extended its power, and its operations included smuggling and blackmail of all kinds in addition to ordinary road-robberies. Its influence grew to be considerable. Princes were in league with and shared the profits of the smugglers : statesmen and dignitaries of the church, all classes in fact, were involved in the society's misdeeds. The general disorder of Naples was so great and the police so badly organized that merchants were glad to engage the Camorra to superintend the loading and unloading of merchan dise. As it was non-political, the government did not interfere with the society ; indeed its members were taken into the police service and the Camorra sometimes detected crimes which baffled the authorities.
Political Influence.—After 1848 the society became political. In 186o, when the constitution was granted by Francis II., the camorristi then in gaol were liberated in great numbers. The association became all-powerful at elections, and general disorder reigned till 1862. Thereafter severe repressive measures were taken to curtail its power. In Sept. 1877 there was a determined effort to exterminate it: 57 of the most notorious camorristi being simultaneously arrested in the market-place. In 190o revelations as to the Camorra's power were made in the course of a libel suit, and these led to the dissolution of the Naples municipality and the appointment of a royal commissioner. A government enquiry also took place. As the result of this investigation the Honest Government League was formed, which succeeded in 19o1 in entirely defeating the Camorra candidates at the municipal elections.
The Camorra Extinct.—In 1911 general interest was again aroused in the Camorra by a famous murder case, the Cuocolo murder, in which some 20 persons were brought to trial, all ac cused of being affiliated to the society, among them the man reputed to be its chief, who was extradited from the United States. The case, which lasted over a year, was transferred from Naples to Viterbo to ensure an impartial verdict, and the severe sentences which were passed dealt a death-blow to the organ ization.