Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-06-25
C0CCHrS STORY
Tells of Infatuation for
Ruth Cruger
Repulses Angered. Him and He
Killed Her

New York, June 24.lAlfredo Cocchi,
proprietor of the motorcycle shop
where the body of 1Fyear-old Ruth
Cruger was found, has confessed that
he attacked and killedsthe girl, the po-
lice were informed ina dispatch from
Bologna. italy, Saturday. Cocchi is
under arrest at Bologna.
CCcchi confessed the murder to the
police of Bologna in a desperate eff
fort to save himself from the electric
chair.
District Attorney Swami made this
declara ton Saturday after reading ca
Diagrams telling Of the Italians con-
fession. Italy heretofore has stead
fasti% refused to surrender criminals
waited for trial in other countries I'M
less guaranteed that they would not
he put to death.
Cocchi's crime was so fiendsh, however,
that Swami believes an exception may
be made in his case.
Cocchi made his confession In the pres
ence of an Italian Judge. Stenogra pliers
took it down and after the statement had
been typed the murderer signed it. Cocchl
apparently was greatly relieved after he
had unburdened himself and said he was
willing to suffer any penalty the law
might impose.
Cocchi has made a conn lete statement
to the Bologna authorities, the New York
police were advised Saturday. After a
sleepless night he complained he was not
feeling we'll few minutes later he
summoned an official and confessed the
staying of the pretty young high school
girl.
Repused by Girl
Cocchi became infatuated with the girl
when she first came to his motorcycle
shop with her skates, he said When she
returned he made advances to her. She
repulsed them angrily and attempted to
escape from the shop. He took her In
his arms and then later killed her.
Whether the Italian had any accomplices
the police have not yet learned.
That and other details of the confess
sion were not mentioned in the brief ca
Diagrams from Bologna.
Police Inspector Faurot, now in charge
confession might change the entire as
pect of the case He declined to go into
particulars or to discuss the possible eff
feet OF COcchl s ADMISSIONS on the cru
SADIE against New York white slavers.
Startled by Discovery
Cocchi was employed as a mechanic
when found in Bologna. He first said
he left New York because Of trouble
with his wife and denied any con-
nection with Ruth Cruger's disappear
ance The news that the missing girls
body had been dug up in the cellar Of
his shop plainly startled him and he ap-
peared greatly depressed, the early des-
patches said.
While the police were awaiting more
details concerning Cocchi's confession
United States secret service men join
ed hands with the New York detectives
in running down an organized interna-
tional band of white slavers whose ex-
istence was revealed during the inves-
tigation of the Cruger case. Cocchi, 1t
is believed, belonged to this band.
Flynn in Change
The Importance which the government
attaches to the disclosures was evil
denced by the fact that William J.
Flynn, secret service expert. has taken
charge of the investigation. Chief
Flynn is delving into the story Of white
slavery traffic told by Miss Consuelo La
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