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ill sorts OF STORIES. KEPT BUSY INVEST¬ rumors IN' DURRANT CASE. I >G madam does not stick to THE > veracity. Her Stories Are Flatly Contra An dieted When Silted Down. Southern Associated Press. nv Sept. 9.—The last few Francisco, prolific of dais have been rumors in connection with the Durrant case, per toys more so than any corresponding oeriod since the bodies of Minnie Wil Lms and Blanche church, Lamont and Durrant were found ta Emanuel murder. All was arrested for their sorts of stories, emanating from the most vague sources, have been circulated and Uen published’ only to be flatly contradicted traced to the fountain of the in¬ formation. Such tales as the ones, Clar¬ ence Wolf would testify to Durrant’s having told him of his intention to be¬ tray Blanche Lamont; that Mayor Sutro was supplying the funds to conduct the defence; that the defence would under jajjg in the Minnie Williams case to abow that the girl was not murdered on the night when she is supposed to bare lost her life, but on the following morning, and that she was not in Dur¬ rant’s company that fatal night, but in the company of an aged suitor; these were only a few of the stories that have been given publicity and have been pro¬ nounced false by persons most inter ested. The latest of these startling stories is that wired from Los Angeles, Satur jay, to the effect that Miss Ida M. Clayton, a teacher in the Redding pri mary school, is either the person, or knows who was the one, that Durrant is supposed to have frightened in the church by a sudden appearance he made before her one day. Capt Blake took up the work of investigating the story, but up to last evening he had failed to find the whereabouts of Miss Clayton, who had gone out of tbe city over Sunday. He was compelled to give up last even¬ ing without having satisfied himself as to the truth of the report. John T. Dare, prosecuting attorney in Police Court 2, will be one of the State's witnesses Wednesday. His son, Starr Dare, has already testified to find¬ ing the wearing apparel of Blanche Lamont stowed away in the rafters and under the floor in the belfry. But Starr Dare did not notice the two blocks under the head of the body, as it lay with its arms folded on the floor. So far only one of the people’s witnesses, Detective Gibson, has been able to testl fy concerning these blocks, though sev¬ eral other witnesses who saw’ the body in the belfry before it was removed by Deputy Coroners Smith and Hallett km, been examined. Detective Gibson noticed these blocks and went there a few days later and secured them. Now these blocks, if properly identified and proved, are of considerable importance in the case, for they tend to show that whoever it was that placed the body of the murdered girl where it was found had knowledge of the customs in vogue in the dissecting room. The head rested on these blocks just as the head of a corpse in a dissecting room would have done. Durrant is a medical student. True, there is nothing direct about the evidence, but it is considered a good link in the long chain of circumstantial evidence upon which the State expects , to make out its case against Durrant. Attorney Dare saw those blocks under the head of the body. He was in the belfry before the body was removed. His evidence is valued highly by the people. Heretofore Dickinson (of coun¬ sel for the defence) has questioned each witness who was in the belfry about these blocks, with the result that no one else besides Detective Gibson seems to have noticed them. There is a good deal of preliminary testimony yet to be adduced before the ■witnesses who connect Durrant with the case can be put upon the stand. Are We Deserted? Washington, D. C., Sept. 6—At the close of business today the officially stated gold balance was $101,103,299. Prom this the gold withdrawals of to¬ day, $1,600,0000, as officially reported, were to be deducted, leaving the true gold balance $98,213,529. Up to the close of business no telegram announcing a deposit by the Belmont-Morgan syndi¬ cate had been received. A Dual Celebration. Harrisburg, Pa., Sept. 6.—It has been decided to make a dual celebration of tbe Pennsylvania days at the Atlanta Exposi¬ tion and on the Chickamauga battlefield. Arrangements will be made to have both occasions occur in the same week of No¬ vember. Governor Hastings and staff have concluded their arrangements to at¬ tend the celebration at Chickamauga Mili¬ tary Park, Sept. 19 and 20. Hon. B, F. Power Drops Dead. Power, Zanesville, O., Sept. 8.—Hon. B. F. a prominent attorney and leader of the anti-Brice forces in this section, dropped dead in his carriage this even¬ ing while out driving with his wife. In Great Britain on January 1, 1895, there were 94,081 persons registered as of unsound mind in the various insti¬ tutions of England and Wales. As compared with the registered lunatics °n January 1, 1894, there is an in¬ crease of 2,014. SOCIETY OF THE MAFIA CURIOUS WORKINGS IN SICILY OF THE ASSASSINS’ SOCIETY. ORIGINALLY ENFORCED THE LAWS 500 YEARS AGO. A Weed ol Foreign Origin Easily Takes Root in This Soil. s the a ble fia OME society, dark people was 500 organized days by of YEARS the some of the Island by called Middle the AGIO of La reputa¬ Sicily. Ages, IN Ma¬ It was a crude form of the vigi¬ lance committees which maintained or¬ der in the early mining days of the West. When civilization was in its in¬ fancy La Mafia vigorously enforced the common laws of humanity. With civil¬ ization perfected to its present end-of the-century degree, La Mafia is a won¬ derful organization for vile assassina¬ tion. The country districts about New Or¬ leans have just been treated to some typical samples of the Mafia’s work. Twelve men, women .and children were mysteriously yet boldly shot down. The murderers have not been caught and probably never will be. The Mafia takes good care of its own. New Orleans has long suffered from the yoke of the Mafia. But since March 14, 1891, when the citizens broke down tbe gates of the Parish prison and shot to death a dozen vile wtretches the scum of Calabria and Sicily, the Mafia has not attempted to carry on its trade, ex¬ cept among its own people. It has left the American citizen severely alone. The Mafia, when its members riddled with bullets David C. Hennessy, Su¬ perintendent of New Orleans Police, on October 15, 1890, saw that its work against an American would be a failure. The murder was too costly. A dozen lives for one, was more than the ranks of the Mafia could stand. In view of the operations of the Ma¬ fia in Louisiana it becomes interesting to study the society on its native soil in Sicily. A comparison shows that Louisiana is almost as much a sufferer as Southern Italy. The reason is this. Of late years a large percentage of the criminals discharged from tbe prisons of Southern Italy have emigrated to the Southern States, fully 90 per cent, of them settling in Louisiana. The cli¬ mate there suits them and the great Italian population of tbe place makes them feel at home. The Italian authori¬ ties do nothing to stem this current of scum to the shores of America. In fact, Italy is glad to get rid of its criminals and aid them to come here. They are posted about the questions which will be put to them by the immigration au¬ thorities here, and easily conceal thp information which would prohibit their landing. Louisiana has members of the Mafia and of the Camorra, a kindred society, which originated at Naples. The Camorra is not as deadly as the Mafia, its members being given more to dpi under than murder. Death Its Only Penalty. v m w„nMm mm fflrnm w A Sicilian Type. In Sicily Mafia today knows no degree of punishment for offenses against its members. Death is the only penalty. A man who has injured one of the Mafia had his hand cut off; one who overheard the secrets of the so¬ ciety had his ears cut off; one who had seen too much had the skin of his fore head flayed and turned down over his eyes. They were all killed first. The mutilations were done after death mere ly as intimations to friends of the vic tims of the offenses which had been committed. New Orleans and New The police of York which have had extensive deal ings with the Mafia have wondered at the extraordinary reticence of the friends and even of the family of a vic tim. Although they know the murderers the police are never given the Informa¬ tion. The family of the victim do every thing in their power to defeat the law in its hunt for the murderer, hunt for the murderer. There are many reasons for this. Since the annexation of Sicily by Italy, a re volt against the law and government has been part of the Sicilian nature. Law and its enforcers, are dreaded things to the ignorant Sicilian mind. No faith is placed in them. Some phases of Italian law, particularly the cruel ties and tortures of the Italian prisons of years ago gave a solid foundation for this belief. The Mafia’s Morality. Another thing which defeats the work of the nolice is the accepted morality of the Mafia which is covered by the word “omerati.” A liberal translation of omerati is; “The first duty of a man is that of doing justice with his own hands for all injuries received, and stamps with infamy and holds up to public execration and vengeance who¬ ever has recourse to the law.” On this account even the honest peo¬ ple consider it a good work to hide an assassin from justice and refuse evi¬ dence against him. Those vho had the temerity to aid the police in the slightest way would bring down the speedy vengeance of the society upon their heads. An Italian writer, skilled in the lore of the Mafia, describes it as “a union of persons of every class, of every profes sion, of every description, who, without having any regular and continuous tie are always agreed in promoting their mutual interests without any considera tion of law, justice or public order. It is the medieval sentiment of one who considers himself able to provide foi the protection and safety of himself and his interests by his own powers, to the authorities or the laws. Every section of Italy has its band of Mafiosi. Certain crimes are adopted and personal influence, without regard by each hand and the wlork is restrict gulated by statutes and absolute obe¬ dience to their chiefs. They recognize each other by forms of speech and a peculiar slang. Its Work In the Cl tie*. In the cities the Mafia is so conduct¬ ed that its members can live well with¬ out working. It has developed black¬ mailing almost to the degree of an art. It draws a profit from every trade in which a Sicilian is interested. At an auction sale even the intending purchas¬ er is informed by a signfieant looking man that some one else wants the prop¬ erty, but that if he will pay a certain price in the interest of “the poor” he can have it. He must buy off the Mafia. In elections the candidate of tile Mafia is quite sure to win. His supporters “advise” people not to vote against him. Public work contracts are watched and the contractor pays the Mafia for not interfering. The law is so ineffective against the operations of the society that the people dare not trust them selves to its protection, but suffer in silence, no matter how heavy the bur¬ den may be that is thrust upon them Should a Mafia member commit a murder and be arrested for it it is the duty of the society to prove an alibi, bribe the jury or overawe it into finding a favorable verdict. A witness who testifies against the criminal suffers the loss of his cattle which are killed 0” his house is burned. If he be a trades¬ man he is boycotted and if this is deem¬ ed insufficient he is assassinated. The terror and powei of the Mafia is thus upheld. The Manutengoll. In the cities a large percentage of the members constitute the Manutengoli. These hide and feed the criminal and see him safely through if he be caught. They examine the jury list and decide who must be called or rejected. The jurors selected are significantly inform¬ ed that the prisoner is innocent. Wit nesses are told that if they testify against the prisoner they will have to answer to the Mafia. Few men are bold enough to express an honest opinion In the face of these threats. There are cases on record where honest jurors and witnesses have been shot down in the streets in broad daylight a few hours after the close of the trial. The vengeance of the Mafia is swift. In the country districts, the melan drino is the chief inspector of the Ma¬ fia. He is apparently a prosperous tradesman or merchant in the small town. He never takes part in the ac¬ tual crimes, but watches for the oppor¬ tunity and gives the necessary infor¬ mation. He receives the booty and sells it. Italian law regard him as the worst criminal in the society. The Society of Long Ago. Hundreds of years ago the Mafia was composed largely of the wealthy people. During its slow transition from a hu¬ mane to an inhuman society the bulk of these men deserted its ranks giving the lower classes a stronger bold upon its affairs. Wealthy people were kid¬ napped and if the ransom asked for was not paid the victim was killed. Many wealthy people saw the desir¬ ability of continuing in the Mafia, par¬ ticularly those of evil inclinations. It afforded protection to their estates and cattle and gave them the means of wreaking vengeance upon personal ene¬ mies. The high Mafia orders, and the low Mafia executes. The poor join be¬ cause of envy and want. The honest peasant is insulted, half fed and given tbe poorest work by the head man of an estate who usually belongs to the order. But if this peasant commits a small crime he is suddenly respected and feared. No one insults him; he is given good work and finds himself ele¬ vated financially and socially. No one dares ill-treat him, for he has the vast power of the Mafia at his back. Its Worst Evil. One of the worst evils of the Mafia system is the opportunity it offers for private murder. A man who wishes to put an enemy out of the way appeals to the local chief and upon payment of a sum varying from 50 to 500 francs the matter is taken in hand. The common method of procedure in a case of this kind is this. The chief victim, who, of . ab¬ tries the course, is sent and is found guilty of the offence. Lots are drawn for the executioner or the matter is placed in the hands of novice to try his courage and obe dience. He is attended by a score or more of the band. When the victim comes along a shotgun is passed into his hands. He kills the man, passes the gun back to the man who gave it and in turn it is swiftly passed into a dozen other hands finally fading away as if by enchantment. The murderer has by this time disappeared through the by streets but soon reappears run m & i) L La Mafia’s Favorite Weapon. ning towards the scene of the murder like the other spectators. Tbe Mafia’s Weapon. The weapon Invariably used in these assassinations is a shotgun the barrels of which have been sawed off within six inches of the hammers. The stock has also been sawed off so that tht weapon can be as easily concealed as a large pistol. This style of weapon is used because the assassin rarely misses when he tires. It is usually loaded with three bullets tbe size of the 32-caliber pistol. If a group of people are to bt fired upon half a dozen bullets are placed in each barrel, also a quantity of large size shot. The assassin always shoots at short range. Such a weapon was found by the police of Brooklyn on the scene of an Italian shooting on May 15. 1893. One Italian writer who took a com¬ paratively mild view r of the secret so¬ cieties of Southern Italy, speaks of La Mafia as “La Fratellauza.” He says “ ‘La Fratellauza,’ ntither wishes to rob for greed, nor rise against property, nor attack the form of government. To bathe in the blood of an enemy or in suiter, with avidity, savagely, undis¬ turbed—this was Us ideal. Its maxim was ‘sw'eet is wine, but sweeter still the blood of Christians.’ ” Of the Mafia the great Alongi sounds an alarm when he says this: “Once the first nucleus of the brotherhood is con¬ stituted, it spreads rapidly, recruiting adherents among the criminals and evil livers of every kind. This force of ex¬ pansion given the anthropological and historical circumstances of Sicily is frghtful.” VAN HEST WINS. Bested “Turkey” Georure Smith In Twenty-fifth Round Bout. Baltimore, Sept. 2.—Johnny Van Hest, of Wisconsin, won the twenty five round fight from “Turkey” George Smith tonight before the Eureka Atheltic Club. They weighed in at 128 pounds. Not much fighting was done until In the fourth round, when Van Hest landed a left swing on Smith’s jaw, knocking him through the ropes. He made a game rally In the next round, and both men were weak at the end. Johnny Ward, of Newark, N. J., won from Connie Sullivan, of New York, In the preliminary ten round bout. The referee ordered an extra round, which Sullivan refused to fight. THE ERTHRUAKE. Seismic Barometers at Washington Give No Evidence of It. By Southern Associated Press. Washington, Sept. 2.—Considerable sup-rise is expressed here that no de¬ velopments in regard to the recent earthquake oscillations so plainly per¬ ceived in other localities, have yet been announced from any of the scienti¬ fic bureaus in Washington which six years ago almost to a day of the great Charleston, S. C., earthquake occurred, a distinguished scientist of the Smith¬ sonian Institution delivered an address in which he demonstrated that there was a volcanic belt extending across the United States of which Washing¬ ton City was the very centre. Ela¬ borate precautions, it is understood, were thereafter taken at the Naval Observatory and other points to reg¬ ister any future seismic disturbances, but without result. It is said, how¬ ever. that when the photographic plate of the Washington monument, under¬ stood to have been automatically taken at the Naval Observatory yesterday morning, is developed tomorrow, some indications as to whether that great column, 550 high, departed from the line of perpendicular during the period of the earthquake shock may be ap parent. STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. A Father and Son Meet Death in the Water. By Southern Associated Press. Stamford, Con. Sept. 2.—John W. Howell took a sail in his cat boat Sa¬ turday evening with Samuel A. Searl, the latter’s son, Samuel, aged 9, and Willie and Edward Burrett, aged 5 and 12. They went bathing on Green¬ wich Point Beach and subsequently went in theb oat, letting It drift 400 feet from the shore. The vessel was capsized in a squall at six p. m., but the party were not alarmed, but clung to the side of the boat. Soon Searl proposed going ashore to get another boat and right their craft. He started to swim, taking his youngest child on his back, with his arms clasped about his father’s neck. The others saw them start, then a vivid flash of light¬ ning came and when they turned around to look again the man and boy were not visible. Howell swam ashore and saw the body of Searl and his son floating near the beach. Doctors and men on shore tried all night to resusci¬ tate them, but without avail. THE DEFENDER AND VALKYRIE. THE MEASUREMENTS WERE GONE OVER YESTERDAY. THE GREATEST MYSTERY OBSERV ED BY ALL CONCERNED. The Measurements Were Made at the Request ol Lord Duurnven. By Southern Associated Press. New York, Sept. 8.—The two con¬ testing yachts, Defender and Valkyrie III., are at anchor off Bay Ridge this evening, where they were tow ted last night. It came out today that their visit to the waters of the upper bay had more significance than was supposed. It was for no other purpose than to be re-measured, and it was said at the request of Lord Dunraven. Shortly after 10 o’clock this morning both boats were towed to the still water of Erie Basin. Official Measurer Hysop, of the New York Yacht Club, was there and the Lord dunraven party followed on the Valkyrie’s tender, City of Bridgeport, while Mr. Iselin and party were on Mr. Iseliu’s steam yacht Neckan. Mr. Hyslop took the water line again of each yacht, Designers Watson and Herreshoff each keeping an eagle eye ou the proceedings in behalf respectively of the two yachts. Before 2 o’clock both of the yachts were tow¬ ed back to Bay Ridge, yaclitdom in blissful ignorance of the object of the visit to Erie Basin. It was stated that the measurement showed Valkyrie to be a quarter of an inch longer than the original measurement, while Defender was an inch less on the water line. The correctness of these figures could not be learned aboard the yachts. Mr. Iselin preceded at once to New Rochelle on the Nackan. When a United Tress reporter went alongside Defender in a launch during the afternoon Capt. Haff was busy packing his grip for a Hying trip to his home at Islip, L. 1. He was muta as an oyster when spoken to of the re measurement of the yachts. He con¬ sented to say that all hands were in good condition after yesterday’s tussle with a lumpy sea and needless to say in good spirits. Mr. Leeds, who sails on the Defender, wlas equally reticent. On the City of Bridgeport, Lord Dem¬ raven and Mr. Glennie were taking a siesta. Mr. Ratzey was hailed and ask¬ ed the cause for the re-measurement. He replied; “Because the committee de¬ sired it.” Then he lapsed Into silence. A visit to the yacht followed, and aboard there was found Mr. Watson, Mr. Herreshoff, two English captains and Measurer Hyslop, who was engaged in the work of getting tbe spar length, Mr. Herreshoff was present as repre¬ sentative of the American syndicate. “Will you say,” he was asked, “why you are re-measuring the boats?” “The committee desired it.” Next Mr. Watson was hailed and gave the same reply to the same ques¬ tion. The reporter told him that it was understood Lord Dunraven had asked it. “Well,” he said, “Lord Dunraven did want to have Defender’s line marked just as you see our line is forward.” and he called attention to a little red mark at the forefront of the water line, and then added, “Mr. Iselin also want¬ ed our spar measurements cheeked.” “Was it true that the first measure¬ ments were inaccurate?” “Ob, no; but Mr. Iselin was not pres¬ ent when Valkyrie's measurements were taken aloft.” This evening the following was post¬ ed at the New York Yacht Club: “At the request of the Earl of Dun¬ raven, and with the acquiescence of Mr. Iselin, the measurer of the New Yory Yacht Club marked the yachts, Valkyrie and Defender, at each end of the load water line. When this was done at the Erie Basin today, the measurer, at the request of the Ameri ca’s cup committee, verified the meas¬ urements taken Friday, which were con¬ firmed by the measurements taken to day.” The Next Race. New York, Sept. 8.—The next race will be on Tuesday at 11 a. m. under the same conditions as yesterday’s race except that the course will be a triangular one of 30 miles with ten miles to a leg. The excitement aroused by the first race will undoubtedly at¬ tract another big crowd of boats and people down the bay. The race commit¬ tee wil try and devise some scheme by which the attendant fleet can be kept at a respectful distance. ULTRA-RUARANTINE. A Man SnlTerlng Smallpox Pest Shot Down. By Southern Assosiated Press. Memphis, Tenn., Sept. 6.—Caleb Nor¬ man was shot and killed yesterday at Walls, Miss., by House Turner, a quar¬ antine officer. Norman had been run out of Arkansas and was shot twice by officers. He was driven away irom Cow Island on account of small pox. The Mississippi authorities refused to let him in that State and he could re¬ turn neither to Cow Island nor Ar¬ kansas. He attempted to run the gaunt¬ let and was shot and killed.