Sophomore's Condition Improves As Police Hunt for Fifth Suspect

Paul A. Vernaglia Jr. '70 is recovering "very well" from the head injuries he suffered in Saturday night's gang beating, his father said yesterday.

Dr. Paul A. Vernaglia said that surgeons feel his son "will probably suffer no permanent damage" as the result of the injuries he suffered when he and Charles P. Pieper '69 were attacked and beaten by a gang of five men on Dunster Street in front of Kirkland House.

Vernaglia remains on the "danger list" at Massachusetts General Hospital, but his father said that he has "regained consciousness at rare intervals" and spoken a few words. Last night Vernaglia was able to drink some water, and his father said that doctors are "optimistic he'll regain complete consciousness in a few days."

Arrest

Cambridge police have arrested four men in connection with the attack and are seeking a fifth. Police officials said that early confusion by witnesses had led to inaccurate reports setting the number of assailants at seven.

Yesterday morning the four were indicted in Third District Court on charges of "Assault and Battery" and "Assault with a Dangerous Weapon." The indictment alleged that the "dangerous weapons" were the attackers' car and shoes.

The four are being held at $2000 bail until a Jan. 24 trial.

Cambridge police arrested two of the suspects Sunday afternoon after a three-mile chase that began in Harvard Square. Police driving through the Square recognized a black 1960 Chevrolet with swastikas painted on the windows that Pieper had said was used in the attack. After a high-speed chase up Concord Avenue, police caught the car and took the two men into custody after questioning them.

Assailant

Later in the day, police officers arrested two other alleged assailants who were walking in Harvard Square. Massachusetts and Connecticut State Police are still looking for a fifth man, believed to be heading south.

Police Inspector Joseph Amoroso denied earlier rumors that the suspects were members of the "Deacons" gang. "I just don't think these people are Deacons," he said yesterday.