New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-18
PROBING MURDER STORY
Abraham & StrauS Have Grand
Jury Investigate RumorS.
ISSUE FORMAL STATEMENT
Police, Coroners and Others
Know Murder Zip" To Be
False, Brooklyn Firm Says.

The grand Jury Of Kings County has
started an investigation into the report
that young woman was murdered re-
Gently In the department store Of Abra-
ham & Straus and the news OF the crime
suppressed. The investigation was start
ed at the instance of Abraham & Straus,
who are anxious to be eIonerated. The
rumor cropped up as a tip" in the news
paper offices several weeks ago, and soon
became the common property OF the shop
ping district. city officials Joined with
the management OF the store in declaring
It baseless, but without result
II was generally ascribed to some
would-be joker or possibly TO vengeful
ex-emplOye OF tho department store. The
story became so widely circulated that
the firm decided that unless It was proved
a hoax their business might suffer. Abra-
ham & STaus issued the following state
ment yesterday regarding the report and
the steps taken to check Il:
For two weeks we have done every.
thing possible to run down the origin OF
a pTeposterous end utterly unfounded
rumor that some one had been murdered
or a body discovered in a locker In this
store. We have opened our store TO the
/ Investigations Of the police, Coroner and
state Labor Department, and requested
the authorities TO help us find out who
started the SANDER or why II was started,
all without result.
After thorough investigation on our
own account we found that no one was
unaccountably missing from our STAFF OF
employees, that no one had been assault
ed and that nobody was found, and moth
ing upon which to base In the slightest
way the story OF fnding body had oc-
Cured here at any time. All we could
discover was that some one teiephoned
the newspapers and followed this UP with
anonymous letters.
We have not been able TO find who
started the Islander, and can find no mo-
tive for such righteousness. The police
coroners and others have been investi,
eating the rumor night and day. untii
every authority I'm the city knows the
thing 70 be absolutely faIse.
The anonymous letter writing continues,
however, and we believed, In justice
TO all concerned, the District Attorney
should be asked 10 investigate the matter.
How his investigation VIII proceed Is
matter for him To decide.
Every one who has Investigated the
story realizes that the details given In
the anonymous letters prove the whole
SANDER TO be merely malicious, OF the
work, as some believe, OF an insane per
son. II Is extraordinary that SO pre-,
posterous a story should have gained
credence with no foundation-but In JUS
tIce 10 every one, we have asked the
District Attorney TO take tho matter up
and make a thorough investigation.
The people who appeared before the
grand fury yesterday included newspaper
reporters. police officials and employees OF
the store. Among the witnesses was
Harry Klein, whose news agency sent
the tip" to the papers. Mr. Klein re-
Gently told the police that he had re-
ceived the tip" from a third party ana
his personal investigation showed that It
had passed through many hands before
Il came into his. II is understood that
the grand jury investigation will con-
,fr,a to-dav