The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-05-03


by a passing train. In her confession.
which was made without promise of
immunity, but was given in the hope
of saving herself and five children
from longer remaining prishoners.
and. as she said. that Justice shall be
done. Mrs. Romo said she realized
fully the enormity of the crime, but
that her part in 1t was compelled by
force. and fear of her husbands veng-
eance.
Confronted by Evidence.
The confession followed soon after
the detectives placed before Mrs. Ro-
mo the revolver they found buried in
the cellar and the proof they had re-
ceived that the revolver was her hus-
bands and had been purchased by
him two weeks ago in Wylie avenue
pawn shop. Other statements also
made by the detectives convinced Mrs.
Romo that 1t was absolutely useless in
her denying longer that her husband
had killed his rival. She told the
terrible story in full and also admitted
the part she had in attempting to
conceal the crime by placing the body
on the railroad tracks.
Mrs Romo walked from her cell in
the matron's department in central
station with her youngest child in her
ms. When she confronted Detective
ngelo and the matron her eyes were
red and swollen from weeping. One
Of them was badly discolored from a
beating she had been given by her
husband. she said, because she hesi-
tated in assisting him in removing the
mangled corpse. Fearful of her life
she says she agreed to do as he or
dered her.
According to the confession Romo
discovered letter that had been writ
ten to her by his rival several weeks
ago. Her husband accused her of be-
ing unfaithful. but Mrs. Romo denied
the accusation. although she admits
having seen the murdered man at
different times during the past three
years and her husband was ignorant of
his visits. After he found the letter
he swore he would kill Scrocco, but
did not have the opportunity to wreak
the terrible vengeance he had planned
until Saturday night.
L'lred to His Fate.
At that time Scrocco had been at
the Romo home with some other men.
and left with them, accompanied by
Romo. They had been absent but a
short time when Romo, according to
his Wife's confession. suggested that
Scrocco return home with him. Not
anticipating trouble and desiring to
be near Mrs. Romo. the unsuspecting
man consented to Romos proposition.
Mrs. Romo says they had scarcely
entered the house when her husband
started a quarrel with his rival. The
children were ordered to 20 upstairs
and Romo drew his revolver and made
the remark to Scrocco in Italian:
Now. prepare to die like dog and
In front of her. You have tried to fool
me. but for the last time"
The murdered man started to pro-
test. according to Mrs Romo, but her
husband waved him aside and at the
same instant began shooting. Two
shots were fired, and Scrocco closed
with the frenzied man. They cursed
and tugged at each other as they roll
ed over the kitchen floor with one on
top and then the other. In the strug-
gle the revolver which was held in
Romo's right hand was seized by the
murdered man. 1t was discharged
three times. Two of the bullets
struck the infuriated husband.
Slashed Throat with Razor.
The blood gushing from his wounds,
the wife says, seemed to excite Romo
to the fury of a maniac. Throwing
Scrocco from him as though he were
an infant. her husband drew a razor
from his pocket. He seized Scrocco
by his long hair, drew his head back
and the keen blade of the weapon was
drawn across Scrocco's throat. After
the first gaping wound had been made,
Mrs. Scrocco says Scrocco ceased to
struggle. He fell back unconscious,
but the sight of the blood gushing
from the ghastly wound seemed to
add more fury to her husbands brain.
The sight sickened Mrs. Romo and she
ran up stairs and buried her head in
the bed clothing.
Some time later her husband called
to her to come down. She obeyed and
saw the mangled form of Scrocco ly-
Ing on the floor. She could not rec
ognize him for the blood. Her hus-
band ordered her to get the hatchet
and compelled her to stand by until
he completed hacking the corpse to
pieces. He then ordered her to bring
bed clothing and anything else she
could find in which to wrap up the
dismembered torso. While she was
DONG this Romo went to the clubhouse
and threw away the razor and parts
of the body that had been severed,
Woman Feared for Her Life.
The revolver was buried in the cell
lar and the bundle containing the re-
..as1AA, 0CSA CSSO IIoE0 uIlIll lSr. II. w.
Wuerthele of 161 Greenfield avenue
had called and dressed Romo's gun
shot wounds. 1t is recalled now by
the doctor that when he wanted to 70
into the cellar to get piece of hose
to attached to the gas pipe in order
to secure better light to dress the
wounds that Mrs. Romo barred his
way to the door and told him there
was no use going there for hose as
he would not be able to find it.
After DR.. Wuerthele left the house
Mrs. Romo says her husband dragged
out the heavy bundle and compelled
her help him carry it to the railroad
tracks. Refusal on her part to do so.
she says. meant death, and she con-
sented. When they returned home
Romo ordered bis wife to clean up the
kitchen and wash the tell tale bloody
garments. He went to bed, and later
the police interrupted her and placed
both under arrest.
Mrs. Romo said last night that she
Will make an affidavit to these facts
this morning. when her statement will
be taken again by stenographer and
sworn to before a notary public and
witnesses.