CHAPTER XXVIII

THE MAFIA
The Mafia is a Sicilian secret society, recruited from the criminal classes, which possesses features of resemblance to the Neapolitan Camorra, yet is distinct from it.
Heckethorn1 attributes the invention of a name for the society to Joseph Mazzini, and says it was unheard of prior to his visit to Sicily in 1859-60. His explanation of its meaning is that the word comprises the initials of the phrase : Mazzini autorizza furti, incendi, avvelenamenti — Mazzini authorizes thefts, arson, poisoning— all of which shows more ingenuity and political bias than shadow of probability.
The generally accepted version says that the society originated at the beginning of the nineteenth century, when the Court of Naples, driven from Italy by Napoleon’s armies, took refuge in Sicily, where it was protected by an English fleet under Nelson. The island was overrun by brigands, and in order to control their activities to a certain extent the king took some of the bands into his pay, and set them to police the island under the name of rural gen¬ darmes. They prevented some crimes without themselves refraining from similar breaches of the law when the temptation was too strong, and in time became so powerful that enlistment was looked upon as a fine career for any young man. The respectable classes were obliged to submit to their exactions, and the commonalty regarded them with admiration and dread. The brigands having ceased to be employed by Government continued in organized existence for their own benefit, and attracted to the ranks of their 1 Secret Societies, 1897.
THE MAFIA 213
supporters every one with a grudge against the social conditions of the times.
Since those early days of the Mafia’s inception there has unfortunately been no lack of potential recruits in Sicily, for the island has been notorious for industrial and agrarian misery existing among the labourers in the sulphur mines and on the small holdings. The large estates of the nobility were let and sub-let until the exactions of the middlemen drove the peasants in despair to seek protection from any organization that promised to override the laws that would do nothing to lighten their burdens. To these were joined not only criminals by profession, but people of all classes who hoped to be helped by the powerful Mafia.
Since it was not only a secret society but one whose methods of enforcing its decrees made its instruments liable to heavy criminal penalties, exact knowledge about its constitution and proceedings is not to be had. The Mafia was rumoured, however, to have a regular code of laws known as the Omerta, that laid down the following regulations, amongst others, for its governance.
Every member had to be prepared to avenge any wrong done to another member. No member might give evidence in a court of law against another. Membership was of two classes : those who paid blackmail to the Mafia to gain its protection; and those who were its active instruments, and shared in the profits accruing from its smuggling and blackmailing activities.
No candidate was admitted until he had given proofs of courage, and he had also to be capable of earning his own living by some means or other. Members referred to themselves as giovani d’onore, youths of honour. Like all criminal secret societies it had its own slang and methods of mutual recognition.
The Mafia has at times given rise to sensational criminal trials, when extraordinary precautions have been taken to forestall any attempt to rescue the prisoners. The present Fascist Government of Italy has, of course, set itself to root out all such secret organizations in the State; and as a conse¬ quence the Mafia has disappeared for the time being. If,
214 FAMOUS SECRET SOCIETIES
however, any credence can be given to information from recent visitors to Sicily, the society is still alive, with sup¬ porters drawn from all classes, not excluding the magistracy; and, given a favourable change of regime, it may reappear in all its former vigour.