Page:Edward Prime-Stevenson - The Intersexes.djvu/509

 and with Nazzareno S— in Sorrento, would become a topic of letters to the banker's friends, to his club, etc. The blackmailer in fact possessed indiscreet notes. The offences had been committed in Italy; there was no ground whatever for his being criminally held in America. But the social scandal was enough to chill the banker's blood! He promptly paid the sum demanded. A long history of victimizing followed. For nearly two years, the unfortunate man was mulcted, without being addressed in a single letter; but by visits, made in spite of all precautions. In vain did he try to purchase the incriminating letters—only four. The sum turned over to the impudent agent of his ex-amorini was to the total of thousands. At last with a request for one hundred and fifty dollars, from the representative of Vasco and Nazzareno, the banker trapped his enemy into a letter of clear blackmail. He went to the police, and stated his case as best he could. The rogue in New York was sent to prison, and the affair was kept out of publicity, even in America. This rescue of the banker was easier; for the enterprising rascal in New York had a charge of graver sort hanging about him that might have extradited him to Italy. Hence as soon as released, he disappeared.

Two recent Italian examples of audacious blackmail, through the leverage of mere social terrorizing, are as follows. In the end of March, 1909, before Section XIII of the Naples police-court, came the case of the distinguished General F— (retired) against a whole clique of young Neapolitan pederasts—Gennaro Eossi, Francesco Sarzano, Dominicis, Capezzuti and others—who had been in homosexual relations with the unlucky gentleman. They thereupon had formed a regular league of blackmail against him; threatening to publish about the city his sexual habits. The band of rascals was linked to the Camorra of Naples, and this gave them additional courage. During many years, General F— paid thousands of lire to