The Crime of the Camora

Summary

In the gas-lit bowels of Naples, where laundry flaps like surrender flags between baroque balconies, Detective Taris—part bloodhound, part patron saint of lost causes—patrols a city that treats morality as a spectator sport. When a war chest for rigged elections is locked inside the Commercial Bank of Gerad, Occhisbelli, the Camorra’s philosophizing maestro of violence, counterfeits the face of a mild night-watchman, slips past the carabinieri cordon, and garrotes Taris beside the iron vaults, pocketing only what banknotes fit inside his waistcoat. Dawn reveals the corpse; dusk births Ida Taris, the detective’s violin-prodigy daughter who trades concert halls for catacombs, secures badge No. 399, and stalks the assassin through taverns thick with anchovy smoke and threats. Disguised first as a crone, then as a scullery maid in Occhisbelli’s own villa, she harvests confessions, survives a knife meant for her throat, and herds the entire Camorra court into a trap sprung by secret police. The hangman’s rope becomes her finale applause; her father’s bloodied badge, now hers, glints like a newly coined star over Vesuvius.

Synopsis

The life of Detective Taris, one of the greatest criminal hunters in Italy, would have been prolonged if duty had not compelled him to be hated by the most noted gang of cut-throats that ever existed in the suburbs of Naples. Italy, under the leadership of Occhisbelli, the brains of the local Camora. Owing to heavy political activities, several large sums of money had been deposited in the Commercial Bank, Gerad, in order to meet the expenses of a general election. The bank had been victims of several small robberies lately, and the heavy deposits induced the director general to have a guard placed around the bank in order to safeguard the money entrusted in his care. The chief of the police, after consulting with the director, orders Detective Taris and a few trusted men, to keep watch on the bank. Occhisbelli, the Camorist, obtains reliable information as to the large amount of money deposited, but it is hard for him to break in. Some new way must be formed to enter the hank. The photograph of the head of the watchman is procured, and Occhisbelli disguises himself accordingly. He has no trouble in getting past the outside guards and the watchman. Entering the room where the safes are, he sees the detective. Without any hesitancy he goes for the detective. A terrible struggle starts, where one man fights for his life and honor, and the bandit to keep his neck from the gallows. The straggle ends and there is another murder added to the long list of crimes indicted to the Camora. Having killed the detective, he looks around, takes what he can easily carry in money, and leaves the building. Nobody attempts to stop him as the disguise is perfect. He is taken for the watchman. At the door he meets the guards placed there by the detective, Taris, but little did they suspect that their chief had lost his life in the course of duty. They don't recognize Occhisbelli disguised as the watchman. Next morning the real watchman opens the door of the bank and meets other night employees. Stunned for the moment, they cannot understand how he went out. In a few moments the terrible truth dawns on them and they rush to the strong room and find Detective Taris foully murdered. Ida Tarts, his daughter, is informed of the terrible sacrifice her father has made for duty and wants to bring the guilty to justice. She requests the chief of the secret police for a detective badge for only a temporary appointment. The chief, knowing that Ida being a clever young woman, who has often worked with her father in some of the great criminal cases, decides to give her a detective badge. No. 399. She starts out in search of Occhisbelli, whom she already suspects. Disguised as an old woman, she enters the Apaches' den, where the Camorista are in the habit of meeting, and there overhears a conversation between two of Occhisbelli's pals, in which they mention his name. After a while they leave the den. Ida follows them a long distance, in which she is several times nearly discovered, sees them enter an old building in which the Camora gang have their headquarters. She tries the door and finds it locked. There is only one way to gain admittance and that is through the open window. Perilously she scales the wall and overhears more conversing, pertaining to Occhisbelli not having shared the plunder from his recent murder with them. They write him a letter in which they demand an equal share of the money which he stole from the bank when be killed the detective, or they will get his life, in which she overhears his address. As Occhisbelli lives in one of the best sections, on the outskirts of Naples with his sweetheart and a leader of blackmailers. Ida goes for help. When she reaches the house, she finds Occhisbelli, through a clever ruse, by hiding himself in the trunk, has escaped, but Ma is not to be outdone. Later she follows up the trail and manages to enter his employ as a maid, and at the opportune time she signals the chief of police and his aides. After a severe struggle he is captured, in a company of the Camora that had come for their share of the robbery, which he refused to give them. Occhisbelli tells the police that they have no evidence against him. Ida removes her garb as a maid, and confronts him. He is stunned to think a young woman has tracked him and obtained the evidence that will send him later to the gallows. Ida, having fulfilled her vow, is congratulated by the chief of police for having brought to justice the most feared lender of the Camora and avenged the murder of her father.