Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-03-16
RUTLAND OFFICERS
BELIEVE RAG05TO
WAS MURDERED
DO Not Accept Theory That Man
Clicked to Death-POisOn
Theory Advanced.

Rutland, March 10.--That Domenico
Ragosto. the Italian woodchopper. whose
body was discovered OF the third floor
or "A tenement house on Meadow street in
this city Wednesday was foully dealt
with for the purpose of robbery, notwth-
standing the disclosure at the st-mor-
TEN examination that his trachea was
filled with some greens which he had
eaten and the opinion expressed by DR..
II. II. Stone OF the State laboratory of
hygiene at Burlington that the man
choked to death. is the opinion Of state 5
Attorney G.. V. Pouin and Deputy Sheriff
Pascal Ricci of this city, who were i'll
Dandy all day yesterday working on the
case, completing their investigations at
three O'Clock this morning.
The choking may have hastcned death
hut the theory of the authorities is that
Ragosto was the victim OF poison or was
at least drugEcd by means Of ''doctored'
wine, conditions about the room where
his body lay on the floor, face upwards,
showing that some of the beverage had
been consumed a report is awaited from
the State laboratory at Burlington, where
the Italians stomach and other organs
are being examined. to see IL any traces
Of poison can be found.
Acting on the strength of evidence he
found yesterday states Attorney -. V.
rouln has issued Warrants for tine arrest
OF Mr.. and Mrs. Louis Gruppo, occupants
Of the tenement whore ltacost" mo- his
end, and another man whose name has
not been made public and who is said to
have been with Ragosto last saturday
Mr. rouln to-day made the following
statement: II received at Boston, where
was on official business, a telephone
message telling of the finding of the body
within 81 minutes after it was discovered
.Ascertaining such facts as | could by
telenhone I returned to Rutland as soon
as could leave and went at once to
DANNY where with officers, ] was busy
until an early hour this morning. 1t Is
my belief that there is good ground for
the robbery theory. Ragosto was in
Danoy last Saturday aud secured about
$50 which his former landadv had been
keeping for him. lie also drew some Sli
which was due him in wages from the
Emporium Lumber company. He came
to Rutland that night on the $50 o'clock
train. presumably bringing the money
with him. It was RagoSto'S hahit to carry
money in his stocking and when his body
was discovered one trouscr leg was slit
for several inches at point over the top
Of tho sock, indicating that tho cut may
have been made to get at the money
quickly.
With knowledge ~ this and taking
into consideration that the occupants oi
the Meadow street tenement have dis
appeared without announcing their in
tcntion. to anybody: hat their apart
mcnts are said to have had a reputation
not of tho best ;n1 that There Was re
money on tho body. | believe that there is
good reason 30 believe that Tho man met
with foul play and | shall leave nothing
undonc TO give the case thorough i'll
vcstigation.'
Mr. Pouin is Of the belief that RaroStc
may have eaten the greens som" hours
before and not on the night of his dealt
and that some drug which hc swalloWNc
unknowinGly may have caused nausea
he man being so weakened that he wa!
unable TO cXpen the food from his mouth
Thus lie choked.
There were no bruises on RaSostp.
body and the autopsy, which was per
formed on Wednesday nJ"l't, showed n
cause FOR death other than the chnh ing
so that the dope theory is the only ON
the officers have to work upon,