New Britain herald., 1919-09-29
HOT, BUT CANNOT
 ! TELL WHO DID Y
Nictim Believed to Be Shielding His ASSailant

TWO elements have entered in the mysterious shooting of James Rocco ! early yesterday morning in the south eastern part of the city, that may lead the police to a clue that will result Tn the apprehension of the assailant one, and one of the most important LIS the discovery of two counterfeit 4colns in Rocco's pockets, which are Iluentlcal to those which resulted in the arrest of Alfredo Morello at 323 Park street a few months ago, for the Worcester (Mass.) authorities, which subsequently, resulted in Morello being .sentenced in the Federal court in Boston, to nine years imprisonment There is a possibility that the assail- ant of Rocco may have been mem Der of the Morello gang, and was sus- 2pIcious that the arrest of Morello was due to Rocco.
 Woman in the Case.
 The other element that enters into sthe case is a woman, and while Rocco steadfastly refuses to connect a local woman in the case, it is known that a woman whose husband is separated from her was on intimate terms with friend of Rocco, and this man can 'not be located by the police.
 Despite the questioning of the po- 3ifce, the victim refuses to disclose the |1dentity of the man who fired the shot. 2Examlnat1On of the scene of the : shooting discloSes that the assailant stood over Rocco when the shot was Hired. There are footprints near the scene which show that Rocco left the railroad track and crossed fence, .snd near this place the shooting oc- |curred It is believed that the as .sailant stood on @ nearby bank and Iblazed away. There is no blood on the ground, and no indication of a struggle. The place where Alsop en- &countered the wounded man is about 1900 feet away.
 Officer John Sponzo of Hartford, who was in this city yesterday on bus Einess, was taken to the hospital to talk with Rocco. The wounded man told the same story to the officer re- garding the strange man, that he did the local officials.
 Is Shielding Some One. Judging from his attitude, Rocco +is shielding some one. When told in 3his native tongue of the serious man
 
 simply in gesture indicated that if 3he succumbed to his wounds there was nothing to gain by disclosing the fdentity of the man who shot him.
 Rocco, of 163 Chestnut street hs at the New Britain General hospi- tai, with a bullet wound in his side, and although his condition is serious, he refuses to give the name of his as- sailant. Rocco, was found on the road that leads from the foot of Stanley street to the annex of the New Britain Machine company early yesterday morning, by John A1sop, of I3O1 High street. Middletown, who was driving in his automobile toward home. On discovering the condition : of Rocco, MT. A1sop brought him to 3the police station, where he was sent lat once to the hospital.
 Detective Sergeant Andrew J. Richardson and Sergeant Theodore Johnson, were summoned by Ser geant George J. Kelly, and an inves- ! 'ttgation of the case was started at ionce. Rocco, who was conscious, told a story in which little credence lis placed by the police, and it is the belief that Rocco is shielding his as- Eailant.
 The wounded man, who is A years old, and of powerful physique was a resident of this city some time go, and then left here to work in Bridge Eport and later in Waterbury. He re-
 be about a week ago. On
 tight he claims to have
 peal theater when he was
 by an English speaking
 |ho told him that someone
 see him at the Berlin de-
 Tout making any further in
 Ecco left the theater and
 his boarding place, and then
 1ed to the Berlin depot where
 aited until 12:30 o'clock for the
 oposed "friend,'' ,''0 who failed to put
 an appearance. Rocco then start
 back to this city, walging along |fhe railroad track. On reaching |bridge near where he was shot, Roe leo started up the road to South Main lstreet. He said he proceeded only a |short distance, when without any warning, a man stepped up to him land shot him once, and then fled He BcIains he was able to walk from the