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One of the most important factors which have bound together the Mafiosi in this country in their legal and tNegal activities Is family ties. The | | cloconess and cooperation of fomilles, involving fathers, soné, brothers, uncles, cougine, nophows, fothors-in-law, and brothers-in-law, among Sicilian-Jtalian criminals are a distinguishing feature of Mafia operations, Mafia familica are reminiscent of some of the notorious non-Stallan criminal | family gangs of the 1930's, notably "Ma" Barker and her sons, Strong family affitiations have tended to solidify the lawless traditions , of the Mafia. Pafiosi families resorve for themselves, rather than the police, tho viaht to revenzs the injury to or death of a member of the family. Whenever rachar of afamily is thvestened with harm, cther members are more than hai ane) ready and willing fo protect hin An offense avatust one is regarded as an (11) offence against all, which must be avenged at all costs. The closenzes ond cooperation of members of Mafiosi familles - ‘ ' are demonstreted by the lovalty of a ntece of a gambling associate of Sante ‘trafficante, Jr., a prominont Palla leader in Florida, The mece was amplayed hy a Morita telephone company. When another government agency mad? inquiries of the telephoue company concerning members of the Trafficante erg, rows of the Inquiry soon reached Jrafficante or his associates, (92-2781~ 39) { T q __ j . 7, . . . nw AS