MAN WHO CRUSHED THE MAFIA

Hokitika Guardian, 12 April 1928, Page 1

MAN WHO CRUSHED THE MAFIA

(By Arnaldo Cortesi). ROME, Feb. S. Cesaro Mori, Prefect of Palermo, conqueror of the Mafia, the dreaded Sicilian secret society, is one of' tli >se men whom .an unkind fate has condemned to .live in an age not t-ieir own. One can imagine him at the head of Roman Legions seeking new worlds to conquer, or leading a sinai’ and desperate band of conquistnuvo • to victory against overwhelming odds In our more prosaic twentieth tentiiry his ability to inspire enthusiasm and his craving for adventure have found an outlet in the police force. Cesaro Alori is a tall, robust, wc’lbuilt man now approaching the sixties. He lias a square face which radiates energy and determination, a small, close-ci'o iped inonsncho. and dark, vivid eyes. He is sparing <>.* words and uses the quick, energetic gestures of the man of action. One instinctively likes and respects him.

The tamer of the .Mafia lias had an extraordinary career. Thirty-five yearago he was an artillery officer in Hie regular army. Seeking action, he entered the police force with i’" rank of delegato—the lowest grade os police official—and was stationed in 'Sicily, in the Province of Trapani. He passed the greater part <>f his ht<picking up the knowledge of Sicilian habits and mentality which stood him in such good stead when he had to lead the forces of law and order against the Mafia. Trapani, together with Palermo, was 0110 <4 the chief centres of Mnlia activity. Young Mori soon declared a, little war of Tiis own against the dread secret society. He organised small hands of Carabineers and police officials, with winch he scoured the country chasing gangs of cattle-maim-ers. These gangs made a practise of hamstringing the cattle ol the landowners who refused to pay the lion\ \ “eonti'ilmtions Imposed by the Mafia. In these early operations lie gave evidence of his qualities, which eventually brought him Hie post of Com-mander-in-Chief of the anti-Mafia army, lie always went out himsell with his men. sharing their dangers and fighting their battles by their side. He always gave proof of great courage, earning a medal for military valour and one for civil valour. In due course Mori reached the top of his profession and was nominated Quaestor—-Provincial Head of Police Nitti, who was then Premier and had had occasion to know Mori and appreciate his qualities, made him Quaestor of Home. Tn this post he showed such firmness and skill, throughout a very hectic period, that he was promoted from to police force and nominated prefect. He was sent to represent the Government in the Province of lJologna in 19-d., at the very height of the social unrest onu street fighting which led to the March on Home of the Fascist Legions. Mori again distinguished himself greatly in his new and extremely delicate post and prevented the bloodshed being any worse than it was. Mussolini sent Mori back >o bis old post, Trapani, but a prefect this time, not as head of police, 'there he resumed his old struggle against the Mafia. He had not boon long there, however, wheno Mussolini began receiving numerous delegations ol prominent Sicilian eitiens who asked him to undertake the difficult task of wiping out Sicily’s shame, by destroyng the Mafia and pointed to Mori as the only man capable of tackling such a task.

Mussolini consented. Mori was nominated Prefect ol Palermo, hut his authority, in everything that had to do with the war against the Mafia, extended also to the other six provinces of the island. He was given absolute [lower and told to go ahead. What use he made of his power is known. By methods which often did not err on the side of too much gentleness he had the Mafia at his feet in four years of hard and dangerous work. Mori has been described as “un uomo col pelo sul cuore.” “a man with hairs on his heart,” which is the Italian equivalent of “'hard boiled.” He will still have opportunities to prove iL in Sicily, lor his work there is not yet done. He has destroyed the Malta as an organised criminal as sociation. hut he has not even a small fraction of its members under Ic ■’ •ml key. 11 is task now is to work the moral redemption of the island. 1 lie Mafia founded and kept alive a pernicious doctrine which represented the

..dice and the law as the enemies oi the people. To thwart the police and trick the law was considered highly meritorious; to assist them in am way was treason. This mentality must now he eradicated by a slow, weary process of persuasion and education. Nor is the danger of the Mafia’s vengeance over for Mori. As if he had not sufficient enemies in Sicily, word has reached Italy that his death has been decreed by the American branch of the Sicilian Mafia.