The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-06-24
COCCHI ADMITS
GUILT; ITALY TO
SEND HIM BACK
Prisoner COnfesses He Muir
dered Ruth Cruger Az
ter Attacking Her.
LANSING ACTS AT ONCE
Woods to Suspend IL More
Motorcycle Men After Evi-
dence Of Police Graft.

ROME. June 23.--Alfredo Cocchi broke
down to-day after persistent questioning
by Judge Zucconi and the Italian police
at Bologna and confessed that he rnur-
dered Ruth Cruger and buried her body
In the cellar Of his motorcycle shop In
New York last February. The prisoner
told the police he had been driven to
commit the murder through rage be-
cause the girl had refused his persistent
attentions The crime. he said. was
preceded by an assault.
Thomas Nelson Page. the American
Ambassador here. was formally notified
by the police to-day Of the facts and
details of Cocchfs confession and he is
now preparing papers 70 submit to the
italian Ministry OF Justice asking for the
extradition Of the murderer to the
United states for trial. II IL generally
believed Cocchi will be sent back to New
FORK
Although for the first day or two after
his arrest Cocchi maintained an air OF
bravado and cooliy inserted that he had
watched Ruth Cruger leave his shop
with her skates under her arm and that
No had never seen her until two days
prior to her disappearance, his confes.
aon was not wholly unexpected He
has been questioned almost constantly
since his arrest, either by Judge Zucconi
or detectives OF the Bologna police de-
partment
Yesterday Il was remarked that he
appeared to be growing restless in the
close confinement under which he was
kept and he frequently asked his guards
whether they had any news from Amer
lea about the murder. He also insisted
upon seeing his attorney. Signor ven-
turini but he WAS per,aitted to see no
one except his jailers. and they refused
70 discuss the case with him.
sobs a. He Confesses.
cocchi slept little last night. Several
times during the night he was taken
nom his cell and questioned by detec-
nves. and as the night wore on he got
more and more sgitated. At daybreak
he said he was I'll with a fever and
asked to be sent to the prison hospital
The prison physician examined him
eioseiy but could nnd no trace Of ILL.,
ness. Tho request was refused. Almost
Immediately after breakfast he was
taken into the presence OF Judge Zuc-
conf. who began questioning him. At
hrst Cocchi, although obviously worried
and Ill at ease, stuck to his original
story. but as Judge Zucconi hurled
question after question at him he be-
came confused and contradicted himself
Al length. after Judge Zucconi had
sharply caught him up in a contradictory
statement, Cocchi burst into tears and
cred out that he had murdered the girl
tie became so agitated that sweat poured
from his brow and he trembled 30 vio-
enty that persons surrounding him be-
leNfd he ahnnf n ha O..
nj Judge Zucconi persisted In his ques-
ions, and after a moment Of sullen ST.
ence following his shouted admission Of
he muEder, Cocchi told his story, the
words coming haltingly. from his lips
while he trembled and swea ted profuseiy.
Cocchi became more and moro agi-
uted as he told how Ruth Cruger had
repeat tedly rebuffed his advances, and
now his lust had impelled him to lure her
INTO the basement Of his shop and there
assault and murder her. His condition
nnally became such that he was unabIe
10 speak above a whisper and he showed
Gsns OF utter collapse. He was then
granted time to recover. after which he
was compelled to resume his story. AZ
Ter being attended by q physician. Coc-
chi appeared more at ease and talked
freely and without reserve. giving to
Judge ZuGconi full details of the crime,
Including the digging Of the grave and
" burial Of the body.
Statement Is signed.
After his story -n4d been completed
suose Zucconi directed the clerk Of the
court to read to Cocchi the full report
OF his statements. The prisoner said II
was correct, and later signed it. He was
thsn returned TO his cell. and there said
70 MS prison attendants:
AT last / feel relieved. have freed
myself from a nightmare which tor
'ured my conscience. Now I have told
everything. and I am ready to suffer
any penalty"
signor Venturini was permitted to see
he prisoner after he had been returned
70 his cell To the lawyer Cocchi told
me complete story Of tho crime, which
nignor Venturini said was Identical with
,ne statement he had made before Judge
aacconi. Prior to the confession .Signor
vsnturini announced that he had pre-.
ssnted to the court a petition to refuse
me extradition OF Cocchi. and the
Ministry OF Foreign Affairs has been
asked by the court TO obtain the
wldence against the prisoner through