New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-07
'STHROATCUT
MOTHER ACCUSED
Parent Told Him to Say a
Man Did 1t, Declares
Child of Five

Mrs. Philippine Bloccocio. of 702
Eagle Avenue, The Bronx, was arrested
last night charged with felonious as
sault in having cut the throat of her
fve-year- son, Johnnie. The boys
iugular vein and windpipe were sew
cred. He is in Lincolp Hospital in
serious condition.
For nearly an hour the youngster
repulsed the persistent questioning OF
detectives. His injuries made il diff
cult for him to speak, but in a weak
whisper he repeated his answer to the
persistent question: who did it,
"A man" would come the faint
answer from the hospital cot.
At last the tears came to the boys
ewes. and watchful physician stepped
forward TO forestall further questions.
Mamma told me to say man did
IT," came the querulous murmur.
"Who did it?" demanded Detective
Never. as the physician paused at
Johnnies whispered accusation.
Mamma did
The answer was barely audible, and
physician and detective leaned forward
10 catch the words. The imperative
gesture Of the doctor was not neces-
sary TO warn the detective that no more
qCcsIloHS must pS "'NN"' ~ We"
Through.
Neighbors Heard Childs Screams
Neighbors heard Johnnie screaming
in the yard behind the house during
the afternoon. Looking from their
windows they saw his mother holding
him There was handkerchief around
the boys neck.
Get doctor" called Mrs. Bloccocio.
"Some one mas stabbed johnnie
To policemen who came with the
ambulance, she said that she had been
scrubbing the vestibule floor, one OF
her regular duties as janitor of the
house. and had sent Johnnie into the
ward to take care of his two smaller
sisters. She had just found him with
the handkerchief around his throat
when the neighbOrs' windows went IN,
she said.
A trail of blood led from a sink III
the cellar to the door Of the furnace
room. which was locked Mrs. Bloccocio
asserted that she did not know where
the key was. The police forced the
door. In front Of the furnace was a
dark stain, similar to the trail that
had led them to the locked door. Rum
maging in the ashes under the freboN
they discovered razor blade.
An empty razor case and two razorS
whose blades were similar to the one
found in the ashes were discovered in
the Bloccocio home. The woman's hus-
band, on returning from his work, ad-
mitted owning three razors, but said
he could not identify the blade the de-
tectives had found as his. He as
serttd according TO the police, that his
wife had sometimes beaten the boy
until blood flowed from his nose.
Boys Life Insured
An insurance policy for $50 on
Johnnie's life in favor of his mother
was found. The police, however. do
rot regard this as likely motive. for
the boys father earns SIC week and
they live rent free and pay for neither
heat nor light.
When Mrs. Bloccocio was searched
at the branch detective bureau 1t was
found that she was wearing IA stained
apron, rolled up under her black skirt.
/ Taxed with having put on the apron
and led her son TO that remote part of
the cellar to cut his throat, the woman
made a frenzied denial. The apron
will be submitted TO chemical anal
ysis to determine the nature OF the
stains.