New-York tribune., 1917-06-29
Recommends Swami Act
Against Fourth Branch
Official
Urges Woods Try
Four for Neglect
SAYS Brown, Steinkamp,
MCGEE and Flannelly
Failed to Do Duty


Mayors inquiry into police negligence
in handling the Ruth Cruger case, ia'e
last night sent to District Attorney
Swami evidence which, he declared
established the fact that Detective
Lieutenant William Brown had wilfuiiy
testified falsely" when he took the
stand at the hearing on Wednesday,
Mr.. Wallstein informed Judge Swami
that he submitted this evidence "ior
apnropriate action" Lieutenant Brown
was the first police official who re-
ceived the information that huVn
Cruger was missing.
At the same time Mr.. Wallstein sub
mitted his evidence TO Judge swami
ne recommended to Police Commis-
sinner Arthur Woods that Brown, De-
tective Lieutenants Francis a. STAIN
ksmp and John J. Flannelly and De
tective Sergeant Francis McGee-ali
Of the 4th Branch Detective Bureau
be tried on charges.
In scathing Indictment OF the 4'h
Rrsncb Bureaus handling of the en-
fire Cruger case Mr.. Wallstein points
ON. that had Lieutenant Brown gwen
the case proper attention when IT was
6rst reported TO him. his detectives
"would in all likelihood have come
upon the murderer in the very act
of disposing of his victims body.
Memorandum TO Swami
In his memorandum TO the District
Attorney Mr.. Wallstein says:
81 transmit herewith a copy OF the
testimony given before me by Lleuten-
ant William Brown, of the FourIA
Branch Detective Bureau. and by Al
fred VI. Brown, Mrs. Anna l. Brown
and Edward VI. Will.
"The said testimony establishes, IN
my oninion. the fact that Lieutenant
Rrown. after being sworn as witness
in said Investigation, wilfully testihed
falsely in that he testified that at or
about midnight Of February l3, 1917,
al the Fourth Branch Detective Bureau
he told Alfred NJ. Brown and the lat
tors wife. who was then present. that
no placed the services of Detective I'd
ward NJ. Will at their disposal and
told the latter to leave the said branch
Office to prosecute investigation OF the
case of Ruth Cruger. # necessary
whereas in truth and in fact Lleuten,
ant Brown made no such statement and
gave no such direction; and IN that
lieutenant Brown testified that Alfred
NJ. Brown had told him, Lieutenant
Brown. TO hold the said missing person
case Of Ruth Cruger in abeyance and
not 70 enter the same IN the daily
record Of the Fourth Branch Detective
Bureau and not to telephone 1t to
headquarters for publication in the
next general until the receipt of fur
ther communication from Alfred NJ.
Brown or the Cruger family. whereas
in truth and in fact, Alfred ". Brown
made no such request.
"This matter is submitted 10 you Tor
appropriate action
Accuses Police of Neglect
In his letter to Commissioner Woods,
Mr.. Wallstein, after pointing 70 the
evidence he presents that Brown gave
false testimony, and that he neglected
TO push the Cruger investigation as he
should have done, says:
"The failure of Lieutenant Brown TO
make prompt entry OF and 20 take
prompt action upon the report to him
that Ruth Crugor was missing as
stated constituted the initial and a
vital and far-reaching blunder in q
chapter Of blunders that made up the
handling Of this case by the Fourth
Branch Detective Bureau.
"By reason OF Lieutenant Brown,
failure 10 make the required entry and
to take the required action. 1T was not
until after o'clock IN the afternoon OF
February IA that Sergeant Lagarenne
70 whom the case was assigned, began
his investigation. II Lieutenant Brown
had taken the action required of him
bo -, n f4L 3
namely. Immediately upon receipt OF
the information that the girl had been
missing for ten hours. Sergeant LaCa
renre would have received the case for
action when he reported TO the Fourth
Branch Office al $50 i'm the morning OF
February II.
"He would then have been at work
on the case six hours before he did
begin, and If he had taken the common
sense course Of going Immediately tc
the missing girls family for such fur
ther information as he could obtair
would then in all probability have &C.
companied Miss Helen Cruger in hei
search for the shop al which her sister
mad left her skates 10 be sharpcned
would have found the shop closed on
three separate and distinct visits AZ
long intervals during the morning. and
would then. Doe all likelihood. have como
upon the murderer in tho very act Of
disroslng Of his victims body.
Says McGee Failed 10 DO Duty
81 further recommend that Sergeant
Francis McC,se. OF the Fourth Bran, n
Detective Bureau, be tried on the
charge OF gross negligence i'm that.
having determined and having been di-
rectcd by his superior officer 10 make "A
search OF the premises occupied "a a
motorcycle repair shop By Alfredo
Cocchi, iu the Borough Of Manhattan.
City Of New York. being the premises
at which Rut Crugcr had last been seen
alive. As Sergeant McGcc we'll knew. he
ncgiigcntly failed 90 make ii complete
search.
81 further recommend that Francis A.
Stairksmp be tried for violation OF
general order No. l3. Police Depart,
rcnt, in that he entered the case Of
PUth Cruger upon the daily record
Of the Fourth Branch Detective Bu-
rtGu as the case Of missing person
reported az 9:45 a. m. Of February "a,
1917 when in truth said case had been
rorc rtcd At said Fourth Branch De
tcctiye Bureau prior thereto and at or
about midnight Of February 10, 1917.
II further recommend that John J.
Fiannelly, lieutenant Of the 4th
Branch Detective Bureau. be tried on
the charge of violating his duty az n
desk lieutenant, IN that while assigned
% and performing duty az such az
,aid an Branch Detective Bureau
rom f2:l5 n. M. 20 S:45 a. m Of Feb
fuaYy IA. 1917. and, after being ad
.fged that there was missing person