The Probert Encyclopaedia of People

MAFIA

The mafia were originally a Sicilian secret terrorist murderous society comprising people of all classes which became prominent in the 1860s - they described themselves as a Sicillian vendetta society. One of their earlier victims was David Hennessy, chief of police in New Orleans who was assassinated on the 15th of October 1890. The subsequent trial of 17 Sicilians for the murder, six of which were acquitted resulted in no verdict for the other nine, and a mob subsequently broke into the gaol and murdered eleven prisoners, two of which were Italian citizens. Italy subsequently recalled its ambassador, and shortly afterwards the American government paid $25000 compensation for the benefit of the heirs of the two murdered Italian citizens, and diplomatic relations were reinstated. Today the mafia are an organised criminal society operating in the USA and wherever there are Italian people.
Research Mafia