He is tall and handsome, with a thick beard and thick hair, and today he is "majestic". It is true that from the outside, no one can see that he is an almost illiterate mafia leader who kills people without blinking an eye. His popularity reached its peak. Senior local officials also worship him; The best hotel regards it as an honor to treat him for free. If you patrol within your sphere of influence, the chief will wait far away from the city gate. Vito Cachao Ferro mentioned here is Don Vito, who is famous all over the world and has great fame in all directions. He was an important member of the Mafia in the 1920s, the "encyclopedia" of the Mafia, and he inherited and carried forward the tradition of the Mafia in a new form.

1. Trace the source

Don Vito Cachao Ferro is an old-timer of the Mafia, but he can trace back to the ancient and far-reaching roots of the Mafia a long time ago.

A big foot in high-heeled boots extends from the vast European continent to the vast Mediterranean Sea, which is the peninsula country in southern Europe-Italy. At the toe of this boot, there is an island like an inflatable football-Sicily.

Although Sicily has always belonged to Italy, it has been countless different from the boot Peninsula since ancient times. There are all kinds of Mediterranean natives living here, who coexist with the earliest Italian immigrants-"Sikhs". Since the 5th century BC, the Greeks, the Pundits and the Romans have invaded this Mediterranean island again and again. They always pass by in a hurry, burning and looting, and then walk away.

It was the Arabs who injected endless blood into Sicily.

Arabs are good at crossing desert mountains, can cross oceans, and are brave and aggressive. It seems that their mission in this world is to kill and fight for revenge for the rest of their lives.

1200 years ago, Arabs established a great empire across Asia, Europe and Africa, which was very prosperous.

The Arab conquest of Sicily marked the peak of the expansion of the Arab Empire in Europe. In 827 AD, the Arab Empire sent an expeditionary force, set out from Tunisia, and began the crusade. This is a huge army with more than 600 large warships and more than 4,000 soldiers. Three days later, the Arab Expeditionary Force arrived in Mazala on the east coast of Sicily. Brave Arabs quickly climbed the steep coast and defeated the Greeks, Carthaginians and Romans stationed there overnight.

Taking Mazala as the beachhead, Arabs kept entering Sicily, and a month later, they became the masters of the whole Sicily. During the 250-year rule, Arabs turned Sicily into an Islamic Federation, and Palermo, the capital of Sicily, became a brilliant center of Muslim culture. Although Christianity has the upper hand in Sicily, Christians on the island are the inheritors of Muslim culture in their bones.

About 900 years ago, the history of Arab rule in Sicily is gone forever. The Anglo-Saxons set foot in Sicily. The Germanic emperor brutally suppressed the Arabs on the pretext that they were pagans. Many Arabs were arrested, killed and exiled. Saxons also used a cruel instrument of torture-Casetta, an iron box filled with boiling water, and then stuffed the man's genitals into it. The surviving Arabs fled into the deep mountains and remote fields, and the flames of revenge were brought to every corner of Sicily by these exiles. Who would have thought that this raging fire of hatred has been burning for thousands of years, and it is getting stronger and stronger.

In the past many centuries, Italians have made brilliant achievements, but this nation is full of disasters. In every century, she was invaded, ravaged, plundered and insulted. At this time, she has no ability to defend herself and can only be trampled on.

When Napoleon marched into Rome with a great army, the Roman government could only send a weak messenger to beg for peace, but the war madman and military genius not only refused to buy it, but was angry with the messenger who knelt down for peace. According to historical records, Napoleon threw his hat on the ground and stepped on it angrily. Pointing to the name of the Italian peacemaker, he swore, "You bitch country is never allowed to be raped." Italy has fought many bloody wars, no less than its famous neighbors, France and Germany, but it often flies foreign flags. They killed many more people than foreigners. Civilians were slaughtered by foreign troops and soldiers were overwhelmed by superior enemy forces. They win a few times occasionally, but more Italians kill each other. For thousands of years, Italian blood has become a river, but it has never been able to complete national reunification and establish a central government like other European countries. Before this century, at least 200 kings, emperors, archduke, generals, tribal leaders and religious leaders claimed to be the rulers of Italy on the Italian peninsula.

So, what about Sicily?

It has never had its own history. The foreign rulers of the Roman regime were far apart and changed frequently. In the bloody struggle for power and interests, they have no time to ask about the "order" in Sicily. What laws, governments and armies are unheard of by most sicilian. But no matter which foreign ruler occupies Rome, he will never forget to crush Sicily, because this island is an Italian wheat production base and is known as a barn. Romans, normans, French, Germans, Spaniards and Roman Catholics all tried their best to develop the "talking tools" on this island. The persecution of sicilian by successive governments is outrageous: plundering the fruits of their labor, raping their wives and daughters, and murdering their leaders. Even the rich are not spared from this oppression, and the Catholic church can deprive pagans of their property at will. The power of revenge and vendetta in sicilian's bones can't stand all this.

The mafia appeared.

Mafia is spelled "Mafia" in English and means "refuge" in Arabic. Revenge groups in Sicily originally chose this word to express themselves. When the Roman circuit court refused to try the Norman nobleman who raped the peasant woman, Maffia would kill the nobleman; If any police chief tortures a sicilian with Casetta, he will die in the street and lose his genitals in a few days. These vicious groups have gradually become a second government bigger than the official government. Ordinary people will not go to the police, but to the local mafia boss, who can mediate for you and solve your problems.

In Sicily, anyone who reports to the authorities what the mafia has done will be executed. So sicilian learned to keep silent, which became Umuta. After centuries of development, "Umuta" has become a law of the mafia, that is, never cooperate with any judicial department, and offenders will be executed. Therefore, even if Sicily itself is infringed, it will never call the police. In this way, the government can no longer get any clues from ordinary people. Even children know not to talk to strangers.

Almost a century ago, two mafia families in Sicily, Stopagrier and Fratu Qi, launched a vendetta for the control of nearby water sources, and both sides lost hundreds of lives. D'Amico of Fratu Qijia came home one night and almost fainted when he opened the door. His parents, brothers, sisters, wife and children *** 13 were beheaded, and the female corpse was naked.

Desperate D'Amico became a snitch. He ran to the police station overnight and confessed everything he knew. But at dawn, D'Amico suddenly screamed like a madman: "What did I say? I said nothing! "

For two days in a row, he couldn't get into the water. He muttered, "The mafia will kill me, and you and all the police in the Italian kingdom can't save my life." 1 1 days later, the police found D'Amico covered in bullet holes, with a cork in his mouth and the Madonna hanging on his chest: this was the murder of two rival families, Stopagrill and Fratu Qi, because the cork and the Madonna were symbols of the two families respectively.

Although the two families are at odds, they are in agreement on this point: informing the authorities is a great crime of all mafia people and must be absolutely punished. "Only in hell can he remain silent. Only by killing him can others know why he died.

That means he's still alive. "

In the next 100 years, the mafia never changed its course. Don Vito is an important figure in the Mafia in the 1920s, which can be called an encyclopedia of the Mafia. He inherited and carried forward the tradition of the mafia in a new form.

2. bearing and magic

Don Vito Cacio Ferro is a legendary figure of Sicilian Mafia and the kindling of American Mafia which later dominated the world. He is still respected and missed by the older generation of black-handed guerrillas all over the world. He may be the unprecedented leader of the mafia. He ruled the Mafia from the end of the last century to the early 1920s (then the General Murray Massacre and the Don Vizzini era).

Like Don Vizzini, he was born near Palermo, a town more than 70 kilometers south of Palermo-Pisagino. His father is also an illiterate farmer.

Don Vito once had a typical mafia occupation-renting out the land of landlords who moved to cities and subletting it to tenants. He made a living by exploiting the land.

In order to keep his position, Don Vito once organized a fraternity of dozens of people. The core of the Brotherhood is the male among Vito's relatives, and then his core power extends to the female relatives through marriage.

Don Vito used the combination of hard and soft methods to pull many farmers within his sphere of influence into his own group. Among them, we advocate the desperate spirit of * * * living and dying with him, not afraid of death, while those timid members are insulted and killed to punish others. It is generally impossible to leave his group alive.

Don Vito's influence has developed rapidly. Not only did he not compromise in his group, but the farmers and landlords around him had to bow to him and do whatever they wanted: if he took a fancy to any land, the owner of the original land had to hand it over; He asked the landlord to pay the "security tax" according to his standards and introduce him to a supervisor, so the landlord would never dare to go against his will again. Anyone who dares to question will first throw a dog or sheep whose head has been beheaded in front of someone else's house. If you don't say "enlighten" immediately, then this family will be ruined. Don Vito also tried to legalize his position.

19 13 Italy amended the electoral law to stipulate that every adult man has the right to vote. In this way, in Palermo, Don Vito Group is a decisive force. Lapda Vasallo, a member of Palermo City Council's People's Party (1944 renamed Catholic Democratic Party), is Don Vito's agent. In this election, Don Vito certainly wants him to stay on the city council.

However, the Cassini family, which has always had a bad relationship with Don Vito, intends to recommend a liberal to the parliament as a spokesperson for their own interests. This annoyed Don Vito.

He is determined to meet the Cassini family.

Cassini's family saw each other's fierce enthusiasm and regretted that they had stirred up a hornet's nest. Hang up the war-free card quickly. However, Don Vito killed an important figure in the Cassini family after sending his agent Rappleye Vasallo to the city council.

Don Vito committed nearly 200 murders in his arrogant 20 years. Among them, some have not been prosecuted at all, and even if they are prosecuted, they are often dismissed because of "insufficient evidence".

However, unlike other mafia leaders, Don Vito did not resort to excessive force. He relies more on the awe of others and his superior nature.

Don Vito's awe-inspiring appearance helped him a lot: although he couldn't recognize half a basket of words, he was tall and thin and elegantly dressed. His long white beard makes him look like a respectable saint, missionary or respected judge in New England in the last century. He has a gentle attitude and a modest and solemn manner.

People seem to like him very much. He is generous by nature: when others ask him for help, he never refuses; Lend 65438+ ten thousand and 1 ten thousand to others or even give them away for free, which is widely distributed. He spared no effort to solve problems and help people turn over a new leaf.

When Don Vito travels, village chiefs will dress up at the entrance of the village, bow and kiss their hands to pay tribute to him. He looks like a king. Under his rule, peace and order were maintained. Of course, this is mafia-style peace and order, not peace under official rule, but equality of all beings.

Don Vito became famous a long time ago. He seems to have a natural dignity: all kinds of people can't help but obey him and ask for his advice and approval in everything.

Don Vito was the first person to adapt the idyllic style of mafia into the complicated life of modern cities in the 20th century.

He organized all the criminal activities, from the biggest business to stealing chickens and dogs, to stealing some copper coins from the charity box in the church. All criminals have their confidants. Generally speaking, he has an account in his mind, and all the activities of criminals must be recognized by him; Nothing can be done without the recognition of the "glorious society" he ruled, or without the usual praise of the mafia.

It is better to fish in troubled waters than to fish in troubled waters. However, in Don Vito's tightly organized world, criminal acts must be bound, guided and taxed by law. All criminals must obtain the franchise of the mafia, pay tribute to the mafia, and accept the call-up to defend the interests of the mafia when necessary.

At the beginning of this century, for the first time in Palermo, even beggars were no longer bullied and blackmailed by hooligans. Beggars are organized into certain organizations, and like all businessmen, they give a certain percentage of their income to mafia "friends" who are in charge of their area every day.

Don Vito's "community" is very disciplined. If a "respected person" from the countryside, a politician from Rome, or a foreign guest traveling to Sicily is stolen in his jurisdiction due to misunderstanding, as long as he gives the order, a small suitcase, travel bag, watch or ladies' jewelry will be sent back in a short time. This was a beautiful talk that spread all over Italy at that time.

In people's eyes, Don Vito has incredible "magic power".

3. fly in the ointment

But there were two accidents, one of which turned out to be the fuse of Mussolini's bloody suppression of the Sicilian mafia. If Don Vito finds out, he will still regret it.

1in the autumn of 923, Mussolini visited Palermo for the first time after taking office as Italian president, and discussed some urgent local issues with the authorities.

On that day, Mussolini had a long talk with Sicilian chief executive, police chief and celebrities in the chief executive's office. The talkative dictator made a long speech for six hours in a row, and no one else had a chance to interrupt. The mafia leaders present were furious, and they turned their attention to the "respected" Don Vito.

Don Vito was bored, but he held back, didn't show it, and didn't lead the mafia leader out. He stared at Mussolini quietly and listened.

Mussolini dressed up like a well-known socialite on the racetrack, wearing a shoe cover, a morning coat and a stick of civilization. In order to open the eyes of the Sicilian hillbilly, he paced up and down in front of his seat and made a long speech. The civilized stick knocked on the floor to attract people's attention to his beautiful clothes.

But at the end of the meeting, Mussolini couldn't find his hat-a tall black hat, and sicilian burst into laughter.

Don Vito certainly knows what's going on, but he doesn't want to work for this guy who calls himself "the leader".

The leader's hat will never be found. It has been stolen by a senior thief or souvenir hunter allowed by the club. Mussolini returned to Rome and lost two precious Persian vases. When he was humiliated again by the mayor of Kucha in Sicily (Mussolini came to Palermo for the second time in May 1924), he decided not to be polite to the mafia. On the night of his return to Rome, he called a fascist parliament and shouted to his members: "I want to wage a full-scale war against the kidnappers in Sicily!" " "

Then general Murray's cleaning.

Another exception is that the British girlfriend of Prince Lanza of Trabia lost an expensive fur coat while traveling in Sicily.

The prince tried his best to comfort his girlfriend, and personally found Don Vito overnight and asked him to help him get his coat back.

The Lanza family is a famous family in Sicily. This family came to the island 1000 years ago and fought on the side of the king of Sicily and the emperor Frederick II of Hornswain in the 13 century. The Lanza family has been advisers, governors, generals and naval commanders of kings and emperors for generations. The family owns thousands of hectares of land, the whole town, rivers, castles, mansions and villas. They can be said to be absolute "respected people" in Sicily.

Don Vito humbly apologized to Prince Lanza for this, and quickly took out all the furs stolen in Palermo these days. But the English lady's fur coat is not in it: it was stolen by an unknown straggler. This man must be from outside Sicily. He doesn't buy the account of "friends"

Only one person was killed by him.

Don Vito killed only one person in his long life, just one.

This is not for money, but for honor, prestige and defending his "glorious society".

That man angered the whole mafia, and Don Vito had to kill him himself, not through his subordinates.

Don Vito is far-sighted. At the end of last century and the beginning of this century, he realized that the "new world" on the other side of the ocean-America would become another paradise for the growth of a "glorious society". Therefore, when immigrants from all over the world flood into the United States, there are naturally passionate and romantic Italians.

1900, Don Vito organized a large number of Sicilian mafia to take advantage of it and come to the United States to explore strange and hidden places. He lived happily in this "new world" for several years. One day, homesickness came to my mind, so I drifted home.

Just like the sower, Don Vito left an organization called Black Hand on this land. Therefore, it is well-deserved to say that Don Vito is the earliest and most famous mafia organizer in American criminal circles.

Less than 10 years ago, "black hand" was a household name in America. These Sicilian fugitives quickly accumulated their strength here and did many evils, which surprised the American authorities. In a panic, the American police quickly turned their attention to Sicily: a lot of evidence shows that the Sicilian gangs in the United States are too close to their compatriots in their hometown.

1909 February, Giuseppe Petrosi Novon, captain of the Italian squad of new york Police Department, was sent to Sicily.

Maybe it's a bad thing for the new york press, because it reported in an obscure crack in the newspaper: "Petrosino tried to collect information about Italian criminals who moved to the United States."

Yes, Petrosino must cooperate with the Italian police to investigate the past criminal activities of Sicilian gangs who emigrated to the United States, and also investigate the links between the mafia still on the island and them.

Petrosino thinks he is safe because no one knows of his arrival except the police. However, he came to Palermo for only five hours, and before he could distinguish the southeast and northwest of this beautiful city, he was killed by Don Vito with a large caliber pistol in front of the court in the street of Mariner Square.

On this day, Petrosino arrived in Sicily, where Don Vito was having lunch with an Italian parliamentarian. Hearing the news, he suddenly stood up, left the dining table, came to the door of Palermo court like lightning (at that time, the court was holding a hearing on mafia crimes), beat Petrosino, who had just settled in Italy, with a revolver, and then casually took the MP's car back to the MP's residence to continue his lunch.

Afterwards, Don Vito was also accused of murder, but he easily escaped the investigation. Because he has a reliable alibi: the Palermo local councillor testified for him and swore that his guests had never left his official residence when the accident happened, and they were enjoying a touching statue of the Virgin together. The unquestionable testimony of members of parliament made the indictment of Don Vito, which was hundreds of pages long, suddenly become waste paper.

It was from this period of Don Vito that the "black hand" formed a "transnational giant network" and firmly attached its shadow to some government officials.

5. Image in prison

When General Murray came to Sicily, Don Vito didn't care at first.

Soon, however, when he saw Murray's reckless killing, he began to be afraid. He immediately traveled incognito and embarked on a trip to the West Silly, preparing to cross the Azov Sea to take refuge in Greece for sightseeing, but the spies under Murray, a crafty old scoundrel, were not vegetarians either. When Don Vito came to the port of Catania in the East and West, Murray's subordinates were already waiting on the luxury cruise ship he was going to take: "Now is not a good season to travel. Please go back to your hometown and enjoy your charming flowers and plants."

Don Vito was laughed at for the first time in his life. He hoped that there would be mafia minions to rescue him, but he didn't hear anything until he was brought back to Palermo: the mafia, big and small, had long been frightened by General Murray's artillery and armored vehicles.

Don Vito didn't despair. He said to prosecutor Murray, "maybe I have committed many crimes, but you can't produce any evidence." The only thing you can prove is that I am not guilty. "

Don Vito soon established supreme authority in the whole prison, just like a general among soldiers. Although they were put into a concentration camp together, the general was still a general. Order and discipline ruled the prison for the first time. He settled all the quarrels and helped his close friends solve their personal difficulties. He gives subsidies to the families of poor mafia prisoners in prison and presents to the daughter of a friend who is getting married.

All this is to make a comeback one day.

The devil is ten feet tall if he is late. The experienced general Murray was not angry when he heard what Don Vito did in prison. He just ordered his men to make a slight change to Tang's arrangement: Murray would conduct psychological warfare and crush the spirit of the mafia mentally.

Warden Murray kept Don Vito in a solitary cell, so that he could not see his relatives, friends, companions and subordinates all day. No praise, no laughter, no laughter, even writing letters to several dear relatives and friends and inviting them to visit were rejected by Lengbing. In fact, those letters that refused to visit were written by relatives and friends of Don Vito under the pressure of Murray.

A leader leaves his followers as a fish leaves water. Finally, he couldn't stand loneliness and excessive sadness and died in prison six months later.

Only then did Murray decide to come to the prison to have a look at his opponent's face after his death.

"It's really unusual."

Murray praised. However, when he saw Don Vito's small words engraved on the prison wall, "Prison, disease and poverty are real", he couldn't help laughing: "It's a cliche."

But this sentence has been engraved in the hearts of countless mafia members. In the future, prisoners in prison will nod when they read this sentence. Today, it is still a great honor for a imprisoned mafia man to happen to be locked in the workshop cell where Don Vito spent his last days.

This vicious struggle that took place in the 1920s was the only disaster that the evil mafia suffered for hundreds of years. The arrest of the world-famous Don Vito marked the collapse of the mafia society in Sicily for generations. It was not until the collapse of the fascist regime during the Second World War that the "glorious society" was "resplendent" in the hands of Don Vizzini.