The Barrel Mystery
Page 20
CHAPTER XX
THE "BLACK-HAND" TESTAMENT
On the person of one Rudolpho Palermo--one of the henchmen of theMorello-Lupo band--we discovered a small black book closely written inthe nebulous dialect of Sicily. This man was under arrest on thecharge of dealing in spurious money of the United States and Canada.We felt sure we had in our grasp an important document. After somelittle coaxing Palermo finally confessed that the ominous lookinglittle book contained the rules governing the actions of the"Black-Hand" Society.
Palermo is now serving a second sentence of six years in the FederalPenitentiary of Atlanta, Georgia.
The following is a translation from the Sicilian patois of the rulesand articles found in the little black book--the bible of the"Black-Handers":
_First Article_--Whoever confides to other companions, not belongingto the same society, the operations and movements of his associates,or offends a companion by word or deed, seriously or in fooling, ordoes not respect the recruits (who cannot be commanded for other thanaffairs of the society), or refuses to mount guard at his turn, orgets drunk or has a quarrel among companions, or when being called bya companion for business of the society refuses his service withoutjustified motive, or leaves town for more than one day and does notlet it be known to the society, is punishable by a fine of $20 andcannot come back to his place. But his associates must be all of oneaccord, pro and con, in judging him guilty. In case one of thecompanions in the society departs, he must surrender to thoseremaining the power of his vote, or he must leave his address so thatthe society may notify him of a meeting in the case of new practice,when he will go to the place at the expense of the interested party.But if the punished party does not give proof of amending, he will beunfrocked--in all points remaining honored, however--unless he commitssome infamy. Whenever the society is re-formed there must be anopinion of the judges as to who merits his place, and who cannot cometo his place, until a meeting of the same society of its own willtakes place, without any one appealing to another body of the society.
_Second Article_--He who swears falsely on his submission, who draws aweapon against a companion without a weapon and one of the samedimensions (always an uncovered point) or pulls a revolver, or has aduel with any man of the same society without the permission of hissuperior, is unfrocked, roundly deprived of his rights, and he whoprotects him falls in disgrace without right of appealing to anotherbody of the society.
_Third Article_--The companion who knows of an offense committed by anassociate against the society, and does not report it to the society,falls under the same charge.
_Fourth Article_--He that does not come at the precise hour of meetingthe blackmailers on the day set for duty will be punished withoutwarning. If he gives an explanation acceptable to the society, he willbe reinstated; otherwise, he will not participate at the next divisionof funds.
_Fifth Article_--A recruit is entitled to one-fifth of the spoilsprocured by or through him for the society.
_Sixth Article_--The society cannot proceed in any matter without theconsent of all the companions; the opposition of a single vote isenough to dead-lock the proceedings, provided the reasons given by thedissenter are satisfactory and convincing to the society.
_Seventh Article_--If a companion arrives once the council is insession, his presence cannot alter the agreements entered into.
_Eighth Article_--Every meeting called is to be known to those on dutythat day, at least twenty-four hours beforehand, except in unusualcases.
_Ninth Article_--It is to the disposition exclusively of the head ofthe society to establish the place and day of meeting withoutobjection.