CAMORRA. (Olt., frock, cassock). A secret society with ramifications throughout the former Kingdom of Naples, which exerts con siderable influence among the lower classes in that part of Italy. and whose aetivity extends to higher official quarters. The members are called Camorriste. Under the Bourbons. Camo•riste ap peared in public places on all occasions of popular amusement, and levied contributions which their victims dared not iefcce. They undertook the transport of smuggled goods, and contracted for the commissbm of serious crimes. Their readi ness for violence and murder, and their close association themselves. so notch dreaded that Camorriste who had been thrown into prison succeeded in exacting money from their fello•-prisoners and from the jailer himself. When at the height of its power, the society had a central rendezvous in every large provincial town, and twelve in the city of Naples. Those who belonged to each of these sections of the society Were under the ahsadute government of a chief elected by themselves, with whom was associated a treasurer. The latter had the charge the common fund into which all the ('amo•riste of that see lion paid their entire gains for equal dis tribution among all their associates. Candi dates for membership were obliged to shoo' that they had been guilty neither of espionage nor theft; also that neither their wives nor their sisters were prostitutes, and to swear upon an iron crucifix a tearful oath of fidelity and se crecy. The candidate remained for a year, with tic- designation of pie•iotto fronorc, as a pupil under an old t'antorrista; and having completed this Probation, and given proof of his courage and obedience in circumstances involving dan ger of life, was advanced to the rank of a pie ciotto di syar•o after a longer period, in which he had given proof of his fitness I/11 a number of occasions, he was admitted to full membership of the society as a Camo•rista. Each CanwrriNt a carried about with hinf two knives of peculiar form. by wide]] the members of the society recognized each other. They were held under the strictest discipline. I)is
obedience was punished by dogging, suspension from or expulsion; treachery, by death. If two Camo•riste quarreled, their chief decided the question between them: hilt in dillic-nit eases a duel with daggers was the Mode of decision. under Ferdinand ll. the Camorra was tolerated for political reasons. The Gov ernment of Franeis II. endeavored to put down the society, and the police received instructions to seize and transport all known members of it. 'those who remained entered into alliance with the flaribahli l'ommittee, and rendered essen tial service in the expulsion of the Bourbons. \\*hen the Neapolitan and Sicilian influence be came strong in the politics of the new Italy (see ITALI), the Government. attempted to use the Camorra in its struggle vs ith brigandage, and thus strengthened the influence of the so ciety by making it a political force, as it had often been under the Bomb( ifs. (If recent years the Camorra has tended to assume more of the nature of a political machine. manipu lated for the purpose 14 1/1111111er. FOr a num ber of years the society was in full control of the infinivi pa I government of Naples. and in chided among its members the heads of the chief departments and practically the entire body of city The association put up coleys for sale, guaranteed officials immunity in the pursuit of peaceful peculation, and, in the last extreme, defended them in the courts. Conditions finally became sm ,vanilalole: as to Wa rni lit ( I S99) the intervention of the Italian (.occrnnncul. Municipal government in Naples Was While a royal eonnoissiou was appointed to investigate the operations of the Camorra. The revelations •If the el l•l! to the formation of an honest Government l-cag,tie, which succeeded in completely defeat ing the candidates of the Camorra in the mu nicipal elections of 1901. Consult: :donnier. La Camorra (Florence, 18631: Ilerl:ethorn, Sorirties of .111 Ayes and Countries ( New York, 1897) ; Comoro' rt .11afia (Neu l'si c co•tutni dri riste (Naples, 1:497).