New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-22
if such develop, based upon your stud
of this case"
Hearings To Be Public


In reply Commissioner Wallstein is
sued the following notice:
Pursuant to the Mayors direction
for my investigation of the police con-
duct Of the Cruger case, | shall begin
the Investigation Immediately. The
hearings will be open TO the public and
will begin tomorrow, Friday, morn
ing, at 1880.
"The purpose Of my investigation Is
10 fix responsibility for the failure OF
the police to find the body and TO pre-
vent escape of the murderer, together
with the reasons therefor. To this
end | shall conduct a public inquiry
into all phases of the police handling
of this case, so that all who have been
guilty Of misconduct, malfeasance or
negligence may be discovered and
punished.
"The witnesses who will be called
at the first public hearing tomorrow
morning, which will be held at my
Office, Room 1900, Municipal Building
will be Acting Captain Cooper, Detec-
tive Sergeants Frank Niece, John l..
Lagarenne, and the other police Off
GERS who had any relation TO the case.
Public hearings will be continued daily
thereafter until the investigation is
completed.
ii have conferred with the District
Attorney, and it has been arranged
that my investigation will in no way
conflict with his. Rather, it will sup
plement his. If in the course of my
investigation reason is developed fol-
suspecting that any member Of the
Police Department has been guilty OF
crime. the evidence will be forthwith
transmitted to the District Attorney
In reply TO the letter sent TO him by
Mr.. Cruger, the Mayor wrote:
"Your letter has been received. May
/ take this opportunity of telling you
/ how sincerely you have my sympathy
/ in this matter and how very deeply
concerned | am over your bereave-
ment? | have consulted frequently
with Commissioner Woods concerning
| this matter within the last few days
and can assure you that the city gov
eminent will leave no stone unturned
| to determine why the work of the po-
| lice was not moro effective and to make
as certain as possible that such things
/ do not occur in the future.
81 want TO assure you that my in
! ouiries into the matter convince me
/ that the Police Department held nc
/ theory which In any way reflected upon
/ the character of your daughter and
/ that no statement containing such re-
/ Election ever issued from the Office OF
/ the Commissioner. You have been mis-
/ led in this regard. In fact, ! am told
| that their investigation revealed moth
/ ing in any way discreditable to your
daughter.
/ "For the failure of the police TO dis
! L h. ao
cane of the murderer there is no ex-
/ cuse. Culpabilty will be established
shortly. and whether it consist of mere
stupidity and incompetence or of worse
/ it will be punished.
Refuses to Remove Woods
with respect to the administration
/ Of the Police Department, about which
YOU speak to me, must remind you
/ that the present Police Commissioner
( las been in Office for upward of three
years; that this period has been
marked By a steady improvement in
the efficiency and in the morale Of the
/ force; that besides this general i'm
J provement there have been many diff
cult cases solved by notably skilful
detective work. the figures showing
each year more successful than the
one before; and ! have felt. and | be-
/ liove the city as a whole has felt, that
/ the work Of the Police Department was
and is steadily improving.
/ Through n period of Unprecedented
stress and public excitement a well
disciplined, well-organized. loyal and
/ foresighted Police Department has in
sured and maintained public security
tranquility and order. This result has
/ been vital 10 the city and the country
Sound judgment cannot be predi-
Gated upon an isolated act or omission
unfortunate and deeply regrettable as
/ that omission may have been. Lamen-
table as is the failure of the police IA
succeed in your daughters case, it is
clear that when one considers such
questions as the success of n police
administration one must consider its
whole history and record"
Mrs. Humiston to Testify
Mrs. Grace Humiston will be wit
ness before Commissioner Wallstein
on Monday. 81 will give him just
three ideas" she said, last night
land then III claim privilege as Mr.
CrJgar's attorney"
Mrs. Humiston denied that she had
inspired Mr. Cruger's letter 70 the
Mayor in which he demanded the re-
moval of Commissioner Woods and
the reorganization of the Police De-
partment.
II never saw the letter or knew that
Mr. Cruger contemplated writing ne.
' abe raid. 81 must decline to answer