Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-07-28
|l)CCI ESCAPED
FROM THIS PORT
Ruth Cruger's Slayer Sailed
on British Ship Under
4. Assumed Name
ENGAGED AS A SAILOR
Member of Crew of Manchester
Exchange Gave Fictitious Ad-
dress in This City

\ Alfredo Cocchi, confessed slayer Of Ruth
crueer. the New York high school student
vbo. according to a cable from Bologna
Staly. sailed from this city for Havre, France
Alter fleeing from New York, II developed
today, took passage as an able-boded sailor
under the name Of Lewis Campi," instead
Of the name Of Lewis Leroi," as reported
For ten days before Cocchrs confession.
n was learned today, a representative Of
district Attorney Swami, of New York. and
a representative of the State Department in
washington, have been working in conjunc-
t,on with the British Consulate in this city
IN establish whether Cocchi actually did sail
from this CITY,
c,occhi in his alleged confession said that
after killing the girl February 13, 1917. he
remained at his New York home and on
February 1e came to this city. He said he
slept at the home Of a man named "Ro-
mano," and that on February II he sailed
on the steamship Manchester.
Inquiry made at different shipping agen-
cies brought forth the reply that Cocchrs
picture had been shown to them weeks ago
BY the authorities and man from the State
Department, but that they were unable to
Identify 1t.
. At the British consulate It was learned
today that the British liner Manchester Ex-
change sailed from this city February II
bound for Manchester, Eng. At the consul
late II was stated authorities from New
York had informed them that Cocchi had
sailed under the name of Lewis Campi"
Scrutiny of the manifest of Captain r. B.
Smith, skipper Of the Manchester Exchange,
attaches Of the British consulate said today,
showed that a Lewis Campi' had taken
passage on that. ship under the name of
"Campi." after declaring himself to be an
Italian subject, and giving his Philadelphia
address as "447 South Lenord street" The
manifest also shows that Cocchi didn't OBJ
tain passage as sailor from a shipping
agency. Instead he personally went to the
captain of the ship while that vessel was
anchored at Pier D. Richmond.
The Philadelphia directory contains no
South Lenord street" There is a Leonard
street" in Frankford but that street doesn't
fest
The murder of the Cruger girl was one
of the most sensational cases New York
has had in many years. The young girl
took her skates to the Italians shop to be
sharpened and after noon of the same
day she returned to get them.
According to Cocchi's own statement he
lost his head when he saw her. lie says
he barred the front door while she was not
looking, and killed her with a stick be-
cause she would not quit calling for help.
He says he confessed to Father Morretto,
who married him, two days after the murder
and before he left New York for Phladel-
phia.
After Cocchi disappeared from New York
the police searched his house and found
nothing. Later, led by a woman lawyer
who was interested in the case. they found
her body buried in the cellar. Cocch now
asks that he be allowed to join the Italian
army and in his statement says he hopes
he will be killed in battle.