The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-07-11

In 1000 word sworn confession
signed by Alfredo Cocchi, in which he
describes in detail the killing of Ruth
Cruger, the murderer not only empha-
sizes the careless, dislnterested manner
in which detectives searched" the cellar
In which the girls body was buried. but
boasts of his influence with members OF
the New York police force.
He threw the body into the pit while
Il was yet warm. he says, and covered
the opening Of the excavation with a
box. Not a shovelful of earth had been
placed in the hole when the police made
their visit. The removal OF the box
few inches would have solved the mys-
terry of the girls disappearance. but the
searchers did not exert themselves even
to this extent.
my reputation with the police was so
good" Cocchi explains. that the police
detectives told me they were making
this inspection merely to be able to say
that they had done it,
The confession was cabled to Police
Commissioner Woods by Joseph w.
Grigg who is temporarily representing
the department in Bologna, italy, where
C0cchi, who went thither soon after the
murder. is now under arrest. Mr.. Woods
Immediately turned the statement over
TO District Attorney Swami.
Cocchl mentions none OF the detectives
BY name and gives no hint of the man
ner in which he acquired his good repu-
tation." He says nothing about having
slashed the body with a knife or of
binding it with ropes, nor does he throw
any light upon his own movements in
the interval between his disappearance
from his bicycle repair shop and his de-
parture for Europe.
Girl slain In Defence of Honor.
Cocchi makes It plain that Ruth
cruger was slain in a successful defence
Of her honor. He killed her while she
was screaming for help. He says he
saw her for the first time in his life
when she took her skates to his shop In
West l27th street the morning Of Febru-
ary l3. He at once formed the plan
which he attempted to carry into execu-
ton when she called for them by APP
pointment a few hours later.
He tried to embrace and kiss her. but
she fought him of. She shouted loudly
for the police, and Cocchi grasped her.
he says in an attempt to smother her
cries. He struck her once while they
fought on the first floor of the building
She proved herself strong and re-
sistant," but in the struggle she fell
through the trap door into the cellar
he plunging after her.
The term trap door is used in the
confession apparently to describe the
aperture in the floor which gave access
10 a hot air fiue leading to the cellar.
The officials are inclined to question
whether the covering OF this hole or
the piping beneath had been removed In
advance so that the girls downward
plunge was accomplished as easily as
he describes II.
In the cellar. Cocchi says. the struggle
was renewed, and he picked up heavy
piece of wood and struck Miss Cruger
two or three times on the back of the
head, fracturing her skull. She fell to
the floor, blood streaming from the
wound.
Body Buried Head First.
The confession says nothing OF the
PREPARATION OF the hole in the cellar
moor. giving the intimation that 1t may
nave been prepared beforehand. There
appears to have been no delay in bury
ing the body, which was pushed in head
nrst' When the police came Cocchi led
mem to the cellar and offered no OBJ
slacles to their search"
Cocchi says that before buying a
ucket for Italy he went TO various
SSSeamship Offices In New York The
Usrict Attorneys stan has learned that
was not on an Italian liner that he
nnally took sail, but on a British vessel
~ italy, the murderer admItA, he
a H.
was afraid tho crime would be dis
Tered and l would be taken back to
. % York and sent to the electric
S." After his arrest in Bologna the
,suan police found on him a letter
om young girl with whom he had
"or an anair after his return there.
me receipt of tho confession was cas-
the feature OF greatest interest in
,,s "s usy's developments. but there were
lets which caused sensations both IN
~, Dstrict Attorneys once and among
we police. One OF these was a state
.pent hy0ohn T. Dooling, one OF the As
- ',aht District Attorneys. which tended
eHphasize yet further the difficulties
,.Petlenced by friends of Miss CruEer
setting the fact OF her disappearance
O'e 'ho responsible police authorities
""iy of 80 Men on Duty.
az pooling said that on the night
reoruary l3 George II. Olney, MT
us-tt,,,s attorney. telephoned to Police
b. "Hquarters and asked successfully for
he Commissioner. any OF the Ave Den.
N:s 'gmnissioners and the Inspector OF
a, V''Nes' None was in. and the voice
.'' other end OF the line Is said to
""'e explained that II belonged TO Pa.
Continued on Fourth PGOs.