A Secret Society.

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume X, Issue 914, 30 May 1891, Page 3

A Secret Society.

from Rome dated May aaionnces that 165 persons,* tried at Bari, Italy, oa aclii r ge6f bSfonging j to an illegal secret society , : have been found guilty and sentenced, to terms of I imprisonment ranging from' to fifteen years. The sooi6iy tp whfclfiihcy belonged was knownai $n'e : *^V"ita Mftla." The authdrltieey %ho havfrj recently displayed anusaal activity m un v***"*i"g seditious conspiracies, succeeded i'h bringing to trial no fewer than 178 pc Tsons,. For a trial upon so large a sea 1c ** iere was not suitable accomraoda tion m the town, and a .large- hall had to be specially fitted upas assize court for the occasion. There were 207 witnesses i'<w the prosecution, and &J5 lor the defen^ e t mi n addition to twenty nine complainants. From, tbfwideoce adduced, the Mala Vita appears to be a society bayi.ig^ afc r its .head strongly constituted bierarebj.' No t one, the witness stated 4 ' jvas allowed ■to join the association until he had undergone certain stringent t.wis and upon their admission members were obliged to take a solemn oath that they would" be ready to abandon father, mother, wife, and children m the intent its of .the ;spciety. The membership was* divided into se.v.eral classes, the inferior ..grades owing implicit obedience to t.W superior;' 1 The r penalty of disobedience/ vv^'^ dea^b The persons appointed to execute tlie m\\ of the s-ciety wfrn chosen by lot. One of the objects o"' the orifauiaation wns robbery. Its st*itu;e9 ileclared that *he has nor ia entitled to live nt the expense of biiu who has.' In conformity witn this principle all. the members of the (onsnirncy swore to aid and support ca«-h ot'ier m case of necessity. 'Many of t-»^ accused bear ppon tbftir Mies M 1 oor^gf tftttoogii ilo-