The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-06-21
CRUGER MURDER
CONTINUED from First Pags.)

room was cigar DoX containing a
wonan's purse.
The reports regarding the missing
girls are on nile at police headquarters.
II was learned. 1t was conceded that tho
police we're without accurate fgurcs us
10 the number of these who had returned
home. More detectives have been at.
tached to the departments bureau of
missing persons Mrs. Humiston has
been quoted as saying she knew OF u
number Of incidents, involving missing
girls. which parallel the Cruger case.
The $1,000 reward which Miss Cruger s
father had offered for his daughters re-
corerT. II was announced today. Will be
nucleus Of a Ruth CrGgcr fund which
will be used in the search for missing
girls. Mrs. Humiston had received the
reward but returned It.
While renewed digging In the cellar
of Cocchis shop was in progress various
articles of girls clothing found there
were placed in room at the district
attorneys Office so they may be viewed
by relatives Of missing girls. Members
identify these articles as her posses
sions.
Commissioner Woods issued state
ment urging parents OF girls TO report
attentions TO their daughters.
A length OF bono. charred. was uh-
earthed in the Cocchi cellar today.
Murdered ny Mistake.
1t became known today that District
Attorney Swami Is investigating rumors
that Miss Cruger might have been MUIR
dered by a woman in mistake for an
other. Tho district attorney yesterday
expressed the belief that the, girl was
killed In Alfonso Cocchrs bicycle repair
shop and not in the basement below.
where the hody was found.
Importance is attached to the state
ment made by Miss Consuelo La Rue that
she had jumped from window Of her
killed by two mon who attacked her be-
cause she had given information which
resulted in Miss CruBers body being
found. Whether Miss La Rue had any
definite connection with the Cruser case
had not been finally settled today; She
is said. however, to be in possession or
much valuable information regarding the
white slave trafic. and II Is reported she
IS prepared 10 make revelations almost
as startling as those In the Cruger case.
Word was expected today regarding
whether cocchi has been requested OF
the Italian authorities Of the state de-
partnent, has been arrested In Bologna,
Italy The local authorities arc much
concerned over the delay In receipt OF
such news. fearing Cocchls friends here
might have warned him In time to permit
him to escape. .
The police received information today
that Cocchi had lured other girls to his
shop previous to Miss Cruger's disap-
pearance. Madame Mureal. a resident
of the netghborhood. said that last Sep,
tembcr hor daughter. Is years old. had
visited the shop on Cocchis invitation 70
be shown how a motor might be at
tached to a GIRLS bicycle. The mother.
becoming suspicious. followed and. she
told the police that she saw her daughter
struggling with Caochi. endeaVoring TO
escape from his embroce- Desiring no
notoriety. no complain was mace oy
Mrs. Mureal at the time.
Woman Uudor Guard.
A. q result Of Information given the
district attorneys office tonight Two
policemen were detailed at tho Poly
cline hospital to guard Miss Consueto
La Rue. who was taken there YESTERDAY
after leapinE from window In her
apartment. she declared. to escape the
men who threatened her with death Pc
cause Of Information she had given Mrs
Humlston concerning the murder or
Miss Cruger.
Tho authorities took this. precaution.
they declared, because they have reason
to believe there are persons who would
stop at nothing short OF murder 10 pre-.
vent Miss La Rue from revealing what
she knows OF the CruEer case and the
white slave tracfi In New York.
An attempt has been made to get at
the patient in the hospital. said Assist
ant District Attorney Rorke. and We
deem II advisable 10 protect her against
Injury or intimidation"
Mrs Humiston declared she had prom
ised protection would be provided any
person giving Information about tho
white slave trade in New YORK