Evening star., 1933-01-04
WOMAN IS SOUGHT
TO SOLVE Staying
OF YOUNG ITALIAN
Police Believe Stranger Could
Throw Light on Shoot
ing of LeIIi.
GANG THEORY DISCOUNTED
AFTER QUESTIONING MEN
Mysterious Person Had Appeared
at Undertaking Establishment
to View Riddled Body.

Investigation of the murder of Julio
Lelli. 28-year-old Italian, who was shot
to death New Year eve, centered today
in search for the unknown man or
woman he often telephoned secretly
during his brief stay in Washington.
1t was believed discovery of this per-
son would give Washington detectives
definite lead to Lelli's activities after
he left Philip Adams at Fourteenth
street hotel, saying he was going out to
have good time" In celebrating the
New Year. Almost "A hours later bis
body was found, punctured by half q
dozen bullets, when two young mixers
came upon it as they walked along the
Jones Mill road between Forest Glen
and Silver Spring, Md.
Reports that woman paid a mid
night call Sunday to the Warner e.
Pumphrey undertaking establishment
at Rockville and demanded permission
to view his body were being checked
this afternoon. It is understood the
woman stated she was locking for a
man who was formerly IAN official Of
the bonus army" and had been missing
since New Year eve. When identifica-
was permitted to see Lelh, she gave a
name ana address which later proved
fictitious.
Gang Killing Discounted.
Questioning of Alfredo Mori Of Seat
Pleasant, Md; Robert E. Delay, IS, Of
the 1900 block Of Tenth street; Agitinio
Restifo, IS, of the 200 block of street,
and Adams, all of whom were held for
investigation In connection with the
case yesterday, led homicide squad de-
tectives here to the conclusion the
slain man probably was not linked up
with local bootlegging or gambling in
role OF sufficient Importance to justify
gang killing.
After talking with Mori. who lodged
Leli at his home for som time, when
the young man first cam here from
Tarrytown, N. Y, in November, and
Adams, who told police he sometimes
shared his hotel room with Lelli, De-
tective Scrgts. George Darnall and
Dennis Murphy, members of the homi-
eide squad assigned to the case, said
they found no indication Lelli drank
heavily, gambled or had money which
might have represented bootlegginY
profits.
Following further questioning of the
four men today, it was expected they
would be released unless evidence de-
velops definitely to connect them with
the crime
With other motives failing to ma
terialiZc, detectives felt today the
woman angle of the case offered best
possibilities for a solution.
Believed Slain in Washington.
A coroner's jury, empaneled in
Rockville yesterday afternoon before
Acting Coroner John Jones, decided
Lelli came to his death from gunshot
wounds at the hands Of person or per-
sons unknown" Although firm In his
belief that Lelli was killed in Washing
ten and carried to the lonely Maryland
road to delay discovery of the murder,
States Attorney Stedman Prescott an
nounced Montgomery County officials
would continue their investigation un-
less they prove the murder occurred in
the District.
Detective Theodore vollten of the
Montgomery County police force was
called as principal witness at the in
quest.
He testified he had learned Leni as
Sumed the name of Julius Morris after
coming to Washington and that he had
made frequent telephone calls to an un-
Known person, always going outside the
place he was staying to use a pay
station for his calls.
Rumors that two park policemen had
observed suspicious car carrying five
men, one of them with a newspaper
covering the face, near the Jones Mill
Dad about 4 am. Sunday, were dis
'redited by check-up today. The OFF,
'ers said they had seen such an auto
mobile sometime between noon and 2
'clock Sunday afternoon, but since
ellis body was found around l pm,
seemed improbable the car had any
onnection with his murder.