The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1917-06-25
COCCHI DECLARES
RUTH CRUGER IS
HIS ONLY VICTIM
Tries to Kill Himself After
Adding to His Previous
Confession.

BOLOGNA, Italy. June 25.-After
having been again interrogated by
Judge Zucconi. Alfredo Cocchi tried
to kill himself by dashing his head
against the stone wall OF his cell.
Guards quickly ovorpowered him.
For some time he was in n frenzy.
but became quiet when the Jailers
produced a straltjacket and threat
ened him with It.
italian law forbids the giving out Of
an official version OF an Interrogation,
but, according to an unofficial ver-
sion, Cocchi said to Judge zucconi
while recountlng his history in
America:
MY machine shop gave me a salts
factory position. | earned sometimes
500 n week. 1 had never seen Ruth
Cruger before she came to my shop
to have her skates sharpened. From
the very beginning l felt something
strange when her dark. penetrating
eyes were fixed on mine.
Il was still more disconnected when
she came again Feb. 13 to get her
skates. An overpowerlng attraction
for the young woman seized me.
What happened afterward seems like
a dream. My memory at this point
fails mo utterly.
I'm view OF the facts which have
been presented. it must be true / at
tackled and killed her. But, God help
inc, didn't mean to. My will power
could not resist any more. when I
returned home 1 was like a person In
a trance. l remember speaking OF
thought was IN.
81 began to realize the gravity OF
my position the morning OF Feb. Is,
when newspaper reporters camo TO
my shop TO make inquiries and no-
licemen questioned me. felt then
as II were lost. My only anxiety
was TO escape. l secured n passport,
which l kept among my papers, and
succeeded in reaching Italy. on my
arrival was overcome by remorse
erto unblemished life has been de-
stroyed forever. This Is my FIRST
ofTense. but 1t is or such a nature
that L cannot believe 1t to be true.
! The greatest punishment is to think
what suffering and agony my wife
and children are undergoing. as, not
withstanding our MISUNDERSTANDING,
we love each other most tenderly."
Previously Cocchi had taken a diff
ferent line, and declared he had
been Induced to kill Miss Crugcr
because OF insults she offered his
nationality"
He is being guarded most care
fully and is not allowed TO have in
his possession any article with which
/ he might make away with himself.
Towels. bed sheets. suspenders. belt
/ and any cloth with which he
might make rope to hang himself
have been taken away from him. So
! too have the metal knives. forks and
spoons with which prisoners are
usually provided.
/ Cocchl Is in deadly fear that the
Italian Government may permit hts
extradition to America. He bursts
into fts OF hysteria when he thinks
of that possibility. and he talks Of
the capital punishment which pre-
walls in the United States.
But his moods change. Sometimes
he Is so cheerful that he sings.
Again. he is plunged into deep
dependency.
Slgnor VenturlnI. counsel for
Cocchi, asserted to-day It was i'm
possible TO say much about the case
until he had been permitted to see the
evidence from the United states and
also to learn what witnesses woull
say in favor OF Cocchi.
"Often persons are accused q
crimes under such peculiar circum.
stances that they cannot produce any
facts to defend themselves" said Sig
nor Venturini.
Thus their deposltlons are harm
full to themselves. while evidence
gathered by friends throws an en-
tirely different light on the allegeC
crime. In any case the eNtraditioI
OF Cocchi is absolutely Impossible un'