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5 ) - 3 1 4 5 i ; 4. Crimes: Chiefly Cattle Ruatling, Extortion, Kidnapping, Murder == *F" a) The cosche engaged chiefly in cattle rustling, extortion, and - > 10 me deaasional kidnapping for ransum. Often an ally of the cosca would offer to | 12 r¢dover stolen cattle for the owner, and if such an offer was accepted, the _ c¢fle would soon be found wander'ng about the countryside and the "friend" i wp&ld be indemnified for his expense” to the extent of a third or a half of “he, whet 49 i uss value of the cnitle, Murder, of course, was common, growing out of P rfcalry between Mafissl or between groups of them. ‘ m3 . ‘95 5, Controlled Extortion: A Widespread Protection Racket er aA - &F oo ene Er As ar - In regions where agriculture was intensive, atribute system . =: - Ale pf 2vailed. Every landowner or tcnant paid to the cosca an annual tax higher | . TO I tren the combined imposts of the state, provinec, and commune. Refusal tapay was punished by destruction cf trees and vines and the slaughter of oo I leatock. Letters demanding the deposit of a sum of money at a designated . “4 _ pb ive or its conslenocat to a desic ated messenger were a method generally I. 4 . vged by novices, Ho 43 A cosca, through more “v lees veiled threats, would often induce 44 alpndowner to entruct the marketin of nroduce to one of its members, or to legre his estate to persons in thelr confidence. In the first case, small thefte ig 50 51. 52, - 26 - yee 53: y- £55 4 “56 57 | 58 59, . | Wench Gee pare ee rerenanaciainama Samarra HO TPEEPOpOPvEE - rh