The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-07-28
THREW OFF SUSPICION
Admits He Knew Six Police
men, but Denies They
Helped Him Escape.
SAILED ON MUNITIoN SHIP
Begs Now to Be Allowed to En-
ter the Army and Hopes
He VIII Be Killed.

BOLOGNA, July 27.--The text Of the
various statements made by Alfredo
Cocchl. murderer Of Ruth Cruser, in his
eight interrosations by Judge zucconi.
Nss received by Attorney venturini, the
prisoners counsel. to-day. The interro-
cations were made between June lS and
July 20.
Coechi denies charges OF association
with policemen for unlawful purposes
and insists that he had no aecompiice in
the murder. He says that Father Nor
retto, manager Of the st. Rafael Society
for Italian Immigrants. to whom he con-
f.ssed, was the only person In New
York who knew or the killing at the
time Of his departure, and no one as
sisted him in getting out OF the country.
The first policeman who went TO his
cellar after Ruth Cruger's disappearance
was unknown to him, he says, Many Of
the details Of the confession have al
ready been cabied to New York.
When he was first questioned. the
record shows, Cocchi denied ali knowi-
edge Of the crime, saying that he left
New York because OF his wife's out
bursts OF jealousy and the quarrels to
which these led. He admitted that he
had sharpened pair Of skates for Miss
Cruger.
cit IL True, Killed Her."
On the second Interrogation Cocchi de-
cared that Ruth had come to his shop
IN the company OF two Italians who were
unknown to him and who ordered him
to leave, he doing so and they remain
ing Under cross-examinhtion by Judge
Zucconi. however, Cocchi began to weep.
snd, holding his head Ia his hands, de-
tlared:
1T is true; killed her. For week
had been constantly uuarreiling with
my wife This day, February 13. when
] ate my midday meal At home drank
FIVE glasses of California wine to make
me forget my family troubles. In a
nervous condition I went to my shop
about 20 o'clock, when there triIne-
diately entered the girl who. before
boon had left her skates for sharpening.
she was very beautiful and 1 lost my
head. 3
when she went to the rear OF the
Shop TO get her skates. without seeing
me, ! barred the street door with a
block OF wood so that no one would be
able to open II from the outside. Then
! started to embrace the gifl. but she
vas very strong and threw me back
ward. ! tried again and succeeded. de-
s7te her resistance. picked her up
and dropped her into the repair room
below through a square door. feet first.
holding her by the head and shoulders.
All the while she was screaming Police !!
rolicer
Tells of Struggle and Murder.
she fell about twelve feet, striking
motorcycle side car on her side. but
was not hurt, jumped after her. she
being again on her feet fighting and
feSiating with all her power ] teulem-
oer that before dropping her into the
cellar said to her. Please say moth
ing. as I have two boys but she con-
tinued shrieklng for the police. though
! DO not believe any one heard her.
When I Joined her in the lower room
ny head was gone. ] again tried to
embrace and kiss her. but failed, so
strong was she. l remember she was
o. dark complexion and stout of body,
also that her hat fell of when 1 hrst
attempted to embrace her. 81.
Finally, exasperated by her sresist-
ahce, | grabbed a stick OF heavy wood
yard long with Wy left hand and
struck her two or three times across the
nack OF the neck. holding her with my
nght hand. She Sroaned and sank
Gown, her head bathed In blood.
Horribly frightened and sorry l
would have killed myself IL / had had
revolver. Expecting to be discovered
any moment took the body. which
vas still warm, and draeged It into a
oox In the left hand corner OF the room,
putting the head in frSt and then the
oooy That day ] left II so, placing the
.ool chest across the opening in the
oWer room. finished by I o'clock. but
'tmalned In the shop until o'clock
seaning with benEine the black gloves
mad used in handling the body.
He couIdn't Eat or sleep.
"on the night OF February 10 neither
ut We nor slept On the morning OF the
hlh hurried to the shop at O'Clock
sla covered the box containing the body
YIN coal and pieces Of old iron and old
aiming. read the newspapers telling
the girls disappearance. Then came
% % parents OF the girl and a policeman
ShkAown TO me-
Arer troubled day and a sleepless
- "eht' OF tue lOIn, ABOUT y 80
ssuock' and confessed TO the crime 70
,,s,her Morretto. who had married me-
hen decided to return to Italy. Leav-
~ my house at o'clock took the Iio-
SHeh ferry and slept that night IN Wee
l,swhen ] went to Philadelphia on the
''m' spent the day looking for Chance
"ork my passage on a ship and slept
nano
oh the nth young American who
Az N the same place showed me
~Snlpplng agency on South Second street
mere under the nAms Of Louis LeroI, I
u.ppen as sailor on the munitioh ship
ashShester reaching Havre on Febru-
~ shipped as an Italian subject
"000dy asked me for passport.
Hopes TO he killed I'm war.
What have related is the truth
~" i ask merely 10 be allowed TO 20
NJ M me army, where / hope shall be
u.u, swear before God and man
~ ! did no carnal violence TO the girl.
Phe had pardoned my FIRST offensive