MAFIA, mii/ft-a. A secret organization, es pecially prevalent in Sicily, where it frequently interferes with the law. Its origin is shrouded in mystery, but probably it arose gradually dur ing the centuries of oppression under which Sic ily and other parts of Italy suffered. The object of this society is to guarantee its members, who are known as Moflosz, immunity for any crimes which they may commit. It is divided into sec tions. and there are passwords to enable mem bers to recognize each other. There is a distinc tion between the Mafiosi of the mountains and those of the commercial cities. In the moun tains the crimes are of the ruder sort, while along the coast and in the cities numerous assas sinations and other terrible crimes have been per pet under the protection afforded by the Ma tia, The essence of the constitution of the Mafia has been declared to be Ready, passive, and constant obedience to the head of the band; absolute silence as to the composition and enterprises of the band; material, moral, and pecuniary aid to all members, especially when arrested; never to have recourse to legal authority, but to refer all disputes to the leader of the band. The penalty for a violation of any of these obligations is invariably death. _Members are subjected to an elaborate initiation, and the society claims in Sicily as members people from all ranks of society, and the whole of the island is still terrorized by the Mafia. General meetings are
frequently held at the great cattle fairs, and the members of every grade assemble and adjust their reciprocal interests, devise their criminal projects and plan their execution. The Italian Government has frequently sought to suppress the Mafia, which in late years seems to be allied with anarchistic movements. In 1902 the Government succeeded in convicting one of the leaders, Baron Palizzolo, a member of the National Legislature, for the murder of Mar quis Notarbartolo, by transferring the trial to Northern Italy. An account of this affair is to be found in Die Zulunft (Berlin, 1900). The baneful influence of the Mafia has also made itself felt several times in the United States, notably in New Orleans in 1890, where it was suspected of having caused the murder of the chief of police, and led to a riotous demonstra tion on the part of the citizens which resulted in the death of eleven Italians who were held in prisons under suspicion of complicity in the crime. Consult the article "Mafia," in Cham bers's Journal, vol. lxix. (London, 1S92) ; Viz zini. La Mafia (Rome. 1880) ; Alongi, La Mafia (Turin, 1886) ; Cutrera, La Mafia e i Mafiosi (Palermo, 1900).