Alfredo Cocchi’s interrogation and confession is from “Slayer Committed Crime,” Evening World, June 23, 1917, 1; “Cocchi Acquits Police,” New York Times, July 28, 1917, 9; “Cocchi Admits,” New-York Tribune, June 24, 1917, 1; “Cocchi Tells How,” New York Times, June 26, 1917, 8. The timeline of when Cocchi said what is unclear, so I have reflected that in the narrative.
“forget my trouble” (p. 229): “Spat with Wife; Wine and Murder,” Wichita Beacon, July 28, 1917, 4.
“touching a hair of her head” (p. 230): “Cocchi Acquits Police,” New York Times, July 28, 1917, 9.
“remembered my wife” (p. 230): “Aided, Cocchi Says,” New York Sun, June 26, 1917, 4.
Cocchi attempts suicide (p. 231): “Cruger Slayer Tries Suicide,” New Castle Herald, June 25, 1917, 1.
she had been detained (p. 231): “Mrs. Humiston to Direct,” New York Evening World, June 18, 1917, 2.
“tell everything” (p. 231): “Cooper Admits Bungling,” New-York Tribune, June 23, 1917, 1.
“to commit it” (p. 232): “Cocchi Tries Suicide,” Washington Post, June 25, 1917, 3.
“She’s so jealous” (p. 232): “Aided, Cocchi Says,” New York Sun, June 26, 1917, 4.
“privation and fright” (p. 233): “Cocchi a Gay,” Washington Post, June 26, 1917, 5.
“attacks on children” (p. 233): “Bologna Authorities,” Santa Ana Register, June 26, 1917, 1.
“ashamed to tell” (p. 233): “Cocchi Confesses to His Kinsman,” Wilmington Dispatch, July 3, 1917, 1.
“degenerate by heredity” (p. 234): “Cocchi Describes Motor Shop,” Waco Morning News, June 24, 1917, 1.
“whom I can serve” (p. 234): “Cocchi Confesses,” Lima News, June 23, 1917, 1.
“I won’t see him” (p. 234): “Why Hire a Lawyer?” Independence Daily Reporter, June 28, 1917, 1.
“in this uncertainty” (p. 234): “Question Priest,” New York Times, June 26, 1917, 3.
plead insanity (p. 234): “Insanity the Cocchi Plea,” Middletown Times-Press, June 27, 1917, 1.
woman slipped into Bologna (p. 234): “Cocchi Makes Full,” Washington Post, June 24, 1917, 6.
drops of human blood (p. 236): “Ruth Cruger’s Murderer,” New-York Tribune, June 20, 1917, 16.
“the first line” (p. 236): “Slayer Committed Crime,” New York Evening World, June 23, 1917, 1.
“they had done it” (p. 236): Ruth Cruger’s Body,” New York Herald, July 11, 1917, 2.
“just ordinary ‘cock-eye’” (p. 236): Logansport Pharos-Reporter, October 11, 1917, 4. The accepted pronunciation seems to be “KOH-Kee.”
“I did it just as a joke” (p. 237): Ruth Cruger’s Body,” New York Herald, July 11, 1917, 2.
“scenes of jealousy will end” (p. 237): “Aided, Cocchi Says,” New York Sun, June 26, 1917, 4.
“my enemies in this country” (p. 238): Ibid.
15: THE SLIDING NUMBER
“strongly suspect you” (p. 240): “Record Is Altered,” New York Sun, June 28,1917, 5.
Cocchi’s father, while visiting (p. 240): “Cocchi Secreted Here,” New York Sun, June 28, 1917, 5.
refused to come out (p. 241): “Question Priest on Cocchi’s Tale,” New York Times, June 26, 1917. Grace and Kron said that they hired a woman detective in March to call Father Moretto to arrange an interview. She went to his house, but he wouldn’t answer the door; see chapter 11 of St. Raphael Society for Italian Immigrants, Center for Migration Studies, 2000, 229. Moretto had a long history of charges levied against him.
“left the prison” (p. 242): “Cocchi Secreted Here,” New York Sun, June 28, 1917, 5.
testimony of Lagarenne and McGee (pp. 242–43): “Wallstein Starts Police Shake-Up,” New York Sun, June 27, 1917, 4; “Blame in Cruger Case,” Washington Post, June 27, 5.
shaking, bleeding boy (p. 243): “Sulzer Graft Witness,” Boston Evening Transcript, January 21, 1914, 4. Dominick Celibarde, fifteen years old, had recently been released from the Catholic Protectory.
“you are honest” (p. 243): “Gross Negligence,” Greensboro Daily News, June 29, 1917, 1.
“congregation of the Washington Heights Baptist Church” (p. 244): “Two Witnesses,” New York Sun, June 30, 1917, 5.
“to help me” (p. 244): “Evasive Answers,” Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, June 30, 1917, 2.
“has been convicted” (p. 245): “Two Witnesses in Cruger Case,” New York Sun, June 30, 1917, 5.
deputized him in secret (p. 245): “Cocchi Secreted Here,” New York Sun, June 28, 1917, 5; “Native Town,” Washington Times, July 3, 1917, 5; “Death Threat,” New York Times, July 3, 1917, 4.
Grace’s scheduled testimony (p. 245): “Better Detectives,” New York Sun, July 1, 1917, 5.
Henry Ankenmann (p. 245): “Cruger Demands,” New York Times, June 21, 1917, 1.
motorcycle license (p. 246): “Cocchi’s Boast,” New York Evening World, July 3, 1917, 1. The records of the Automobile Bureau showed that Cocchi did not have a driving license, either.
Summons were served (p. 246): “Whitman Orders Cruger Case,” San Francisco Chronicle, July 5, 1917, 4.
it would resume (p. 246): “Scull Is Called,” New York Evening World, July 5, 1917, 1.
“investigation of police methods” (p. 246): “Mayor Suspends Wallstein,” New York Sun, July 5, 1917, 4.
“yet to be proved” (p. 247): Ibid.
Talley (p. 247): Ibid. Judge McIntyre instructed the grand jury that “[a] crime is an act or omission forbidden by law.”
“this means a long delay” (p. 248): “Death Threat for Cocchi’s Pursuer,” New York Times, July 3, 1917, 1.
“the dreadful electric chair” (p. 249): “Cocchi in a Dungeon,” New York Sun, June 30, 1917, 5.
“Homicidal” (p. 249): Death Certificate for Ruth Cruger, February 13, 1917, file No. 19448, Department of Health of the City of New York.
stopped at 2:10 P.M. (p. 249): “Cocchi Loses Nerve,” New York Sun, July 10, 1917, 4.
“it was not difficult” (p. 250): Captain Eugene de Beck and Dr. Carleton Simon, “Lessons from Historic Crimes,” Ottawa Journal, January 11, 1939, 10.
“they didn’t see it” (p. 250): “Her Black Eyes Tempted,” Arkansas Daily Traveler, June 25, 1917, 1.
if he had done it beforehand (p. 250): “Police Accused” New York Sun, July 11, 1917, 1.
“wherever the trail leads” (p. 251): “Cocchi Depicts Fight,” New York Times, July 12, 1917, 20.
hour each day (p. 251): “Cocchi Made Book,” New York Evening World, July 7, 1917, 3.
“any man in this city” (p. 251): “Cocchi Must Be Returned,” New York Evening World, June 23, 1917, 2.
“caused the crime” (p. 252): “Fear of Police,” Topeka Daily Capital, July 24, 1917, 10.
“to get away” (p. 252): “Cocchi Must Be Returned,” New York Evening World, June 23, 1917, 2.