The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-12-23
Gathers Important Facts
From Witnesses in Shoot
ing Case Of Albert Fucci
Girl Who Shot Him II
Chief Witness.
Police Learn Further Do
tails Of Activities Of Fucc4
Alias Festa, Whom They
Will Charge With Living
on Profits Of Assail2ut1
Vice.

In order to ge& a9 d1s 6oglnM
of the extensive white sIaya
system which Is said 10 e1ist hi
this city Coroner John J. Phelaa
held an executive session th11
morning when he started his
investigation In the case Of Az
bert Fucci, who was shot at hs
Royal hotel Thursday night BY
Lena Reck. 1,
The coroner intends to naAIkg
a thorough investigation which VIII
make it necessary to call numerous
witnesses. He fears II he made pub
lie the testimony of those he heard
today the other witnesses might be
influenced or might modify their stor-
les to conform with testimony already
given. II -i,,
Lena Reck, still wearing the wilite
furs and other shabby finery sheawcre
when arrested. was the principal Wit
ness today. The coroner said she told
him practically the same story she
had previously related to the police.
She declared she shot Fucci because
she was afraid Of him. When they
were in the hotel room she picked up
the revolver from a. chair and as Fucci
attacked her she fired. From her
testimony the coroner said he had no
doubt but that Fucci had at least been
partially supported by the earnings Of
the girl, whom he had sent out on the
street. The coroner said he could not
give out anything further regarding
the girls statement.
John Havery, clerk at the hote'.
told how the couple had registered
He identified Lena Reoss as tie girl
who had been with Fucci. Later thai
clerk heard the report of "a pistol shot
He was sleeping at the time but the
sound awoke him. Going to the room
occupied by. the Couple he saw Fucci
on the floor. The clerk then tele-
phoned for a physician. 1t was the
latter who summoned the police
Other witnesses at the hearing
were Sergt. John Barton and Police.
man Tierney, Kelly and Weller They
related what they saw when they ar
I'rived at the hotel. <i>
The coroner said he would have no
further information to give out until
about the middle of next week
Fucci, who is known among his
countrymen as. Festa, name which
the police believe to be the right one,
rs fast recovering from the effects of
his wound. The bullet after pene-
trating his left shoulder was split by
contact with the shoulder bone. Part
of it lodged in the bone and other
half punctured his left lung and lost
itself in the body.
The physicians state there is little
chance Of his dying, unless pneumonia
develops. They will not probe for the.
leaden pellet. and state they will allow
it to remain in the body. The in
jured man has stuck to his story that
she was shot at State and Courtland
streets, refusing to admit that the girl
fired at him or that the affair took
place in the hotel.
The girl is locked up on charges of
assault with intent to kill and thus
far has been unable to obtain bail. 1t
was brought to the attention of the
coroner today that about six months
ago Fucci had taken the Reck girl to
Holyoke, going there weekly to collect
her earnings. 49,
/ She tried to get away from him, but
he brought back to Bridgeport, after
threatening her with revolver 1t
was alleged that about a month ago,
Fucci, when she refused him money,
slashed her on the leg with razor
and she bears the scars of the WOUND