New Britain herald., 1927-03-31
ITALIAN ARRESTED
after ATTEMPT TO
Kill VICE consul
John D'AuSiio Of West Hartford
Captured Following Murder.
Gus Attack in New Haven
FUGITIVE is FOUND AT
HOUSE IN BRIDGEPORT

shot Pasqualc De Cicco With
sawed on Shot Gun-Apparcntly
Was Breeding Over Fancicd
Wrong.
New Haven. March 81 LF-While
PasGua!e De Cicco, Italian vice.
consul stationed in this city. re-
manned in a critical condition in ST.
Eaphael's hospital with a number of
wounds from bullets fired at him
yesterday in his office, New Haven
police were holding Giovanni D'Au-
silo. a wood worker and upholsterer
as his alleged assailant
Used Sawed on Gun
\ man alleged to be D'Ausilo ap-
pcared in DE Cicco's office and after
a brief conversation pulled a sawed
off shot gun from beneath his coat
an fred. A number of leaden pei
lets entered the vice consul's head
through the eye. He was rushed to
- hospital. where his condition
was pronounced dangerous.
D'Ausilio was captured by two
local police officers In Bridgeport
carly today and brought back to this
city.
Some time ago D'Ausilo tried to
have his wife declared insane and
deported. and sought the aid of the
vice-consul, who had the woman ex-
amincd by physicians and dropped
tho case when she was found sane.
Police believe that his failure preyed
on D'Ausilio's mind, and De Cicco
began to receive threatening letters
from him.
D'Ausilio is known to have APP
piled for treatment at q Hartford
hospital early this year. and physi-
clans then expressed the belief that
he was suffering from mental
strain
He and his wife mad been di-
vorcod. and she had relnarrled. To-
lice in Bridgeport We're notified to
watch out for D'Ausilio when it was
found that his forlNer wife was liv-
ing in that vicinity, as it was fear
ed that he would attempt violence.
Consul Well known
De Cicco spent about Is months
in the Italian diplomatic service
during the war and for 81 months
served on Intelligence work with the
fourth artillery regiment. In 1918
lie was awarded the cross OF the
Cheyalicr for his distinguished work
among the Italian Americans in
Connecticut The same year he was
made acting yice-consul here in W.
became vicc-consuE
De Cicco was made second wee
president of the Congress Bank ana
Trust company here last January,
after serving for a year as d.rec-
tor He is a member OF Sons OIL
Italy, the society OF Easiiicata, the
Gar!baldi society and of the Italian
Legion, Post 81.
flushed Past Girl
The shooting was witnessed by
Miss Nina S1nte!la, stenographer at
the consulate. Believing D'Auslllo
unfriendly to her employer Miss
Suntel,a asked him his business
when he entered the outer office, but
she told the police he pushed past
her and shot De Cicco, sitting three
feet away at his desk. The face of
the victim was badly mangled by
the concentrated charge from the
weapon.
With an oath, the assailant thrust
the weapon beneath his coat again
A.. !, in Mice ,111
gave the alarm, describing the man,
and called a doctor.
An operation for removal of the
siugs WAS performed at the hospital
within am hour of De Ciccos arrival
there. A preliminary investigation
WAS started Immediately by Coroner
Eli Mix,
Described As Queer
D'Ausilio was discharged about
month ago by the firm for which he
had been employed in a warehouse.
He was described by momb of the
firm, David +. Bernard. as queer"
crratic. and couldn't get on with
tn" rest of the men,
Mrs. Asa Howard Backus, in
whose home he roomed in Hartford.
said D'Ausilio had told her his
father and sister were insane, while
another sister. married, was a pa
tent In the state Hospital at Mid
dletown.
Probably Will Die
DAusilio secured as his counsel
JAl - ! llx,
of Bridgeport and this noon both
Informed the coroner of the fact.
Coroner Mix called in a number
OF witnesses. including DR.. Mail
house, specialist in mental diseases.
and subjected D'Ausilio to close
opinion to Mr. Mix.
The condition of Mr. De Cicco
this noon remained about the
same. with little hope OF change
for the better, as the facial wounds
from the charge from the sawed
off shotgun are frishtful. Much of
one side of his face is gone. In the
office of the vice consul today in
spcction showed that portions of
the face bones and the flesh had
been scattered by the gun charge
over the floor and wall. The Office
had been cleaned up after it had
been viewed by Coroner Mix, who
is holding an inquest in view of the
imminenco Of death of the victim
OF D'Ausilio's attack.
The best among he surgeons OF