The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-10-03
POLICE SUSPECT
BLACK HAND IN
GROCER SDEATH
CONTINUED from First PageJ


leo had been dead at least ten hours
before the body was discovered.
No trace Of the instrument used
in killing Domico was found. Deputy
Sheriff Robert l.. Wells and County
Officer Thomas V. Garrison, who
with Detective Sergeant Fred Sand
berg, official photographer and finger
print expert OF the Washington 20.
lice department, searched the prem
| ises, took fingerprints. and gathered
other evidence which it is hoped will
help in a solution Of the brutal
crime.
Slashed With Dirk.
Domico apparently was attacked
as he stood behind the counter Of his
store. 1t is believed that his as
sailant slashed him across the throat
with a dirk or some other sharp in
strument. and when the Italian fell
dragged him into a rear room. There
were no signs OF a desperate struggle.
1t is believed that the first blow that
struck the italian had deadly effect.
The slayer, apparently to be sure
OF the Italians death, dealt blow
after blow with the sharp weapon
over the heart Of his victim. Detec-
tive Sergeant Sandberg. of Wash
ington, gave it as his opinion that
| the blows on the head were admin
istered with meat cleaver, or sharp
Ratchet. But Domico's cleaver and
Ratchet showed no blood stains and
were eliminated by the authorities.
After Staying Domico. the murder
er then rifled the mans pockets,
stealing a small khaki cloth bag con.
] atW,tN AZ ILL
in change also were found missing
from the money drawer. The slayer
then went TO a room on the second
| flower where Domico slept. In this
| room two trunks were ransacked.
their contents being scattered over
the floor. A bureau also had been
rifled.
Whether the slayer was in search
! OF whiskey, money, or papers be
lieved to have been in Domico's pos
session, is a question the authorities
are endeavoring to solve. 1t is be-
lieved that II the mans wife is 10.
Gated, much toward solving the iden.
tity OF the slayer will be discovered.
Had No Enemies.
Howell. one OF Domico's closest !
friends. declared this morning that the
Italian had no enemies as far as he
knew. The last visitor he had, said
Howell. was a man from the knights
of Pythias, who brought him his sick
benefits from the order, Domico hav.
ing lain i'll with rheumatism for
several weeks before.
while Domico lay ILL.," said Howell
Il looked after the store for him.
also waited on his customers when
he went TO town."
When the police arrived yesterday
| to investigate the staying, Howell
stated that Domlco always kept a bag
containing anywhere from $50 to 500
on a shelf in back Of the store.
Il knew the money was there" said
! Howell. because frequently Domico
told me to use the cash when the
baker, the meat man or others called
to collect their bills"
The money was found where How.
oil stated II had been kept by Domico,
there being about SOS irt the bag.
Domico was seventy-seven years cid,
but unusually active for a man OF
that age. He went to Capitol Heights
to open the general merchandise shop
after he closed his liquor store in
Washington. He rarely spoke of his
wife. even to his close neighbor, Philip
Montanaro, employed as a butler in
Washington. The Montanaro home is
about fifteen yards from Domicos
store, but the buffers wife said this
morning that she heard no disturbance
IN the shop on Saturday night, when
il is believed the Italian was killed.
Store Closed at 10.
MIR. Domico frequently called to see
u.s. said Mrs. Montanaro this morn
ing" but l did not see him after Satur-
day afternoon. My husband returned
home about 10 o'clock Saturday night
and told me when ne arrived that
Domico's store was closed. We then
went to bed. not hearing any trouble
in the store"
Domico was a native of Italy, but
when a boy was taken to Africa by his
parents. He came to Washington as
youth and helped build the founda.
ton for the city postoffice.
Domico's store was well stocked, and
he had an acre truck garden which
he worked himself when not busy
waiting on his customers. He was
seen at the store at s o'clock Saturday
night, and 1t is believed his slayer
attacked him shortly after that time.
After killing Domico the slayer ap-
parently locked the front and back
doors of the house and made his escape
through the side door. which Mr.
Howell found open. The lock on the
gate also had been broken, indicating