New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-27
Trial of Detective Is Asked
For Laxity in Cfuger Case

several times on the day before found
Cocchi's shop locked when she went
there TO make certain that her sister
Ruth had left her skates there TO be
sharpened.
?. That it had been ascertained
that Cocchi's shop was the last place
al which Ruth Cruger had been seen
alive; and
3 That the family Of Ruth Cru
ger were insstently advancing the
theory that the girl had been attacked
az or as result of her visit TO the
shop.
In fairness 10 Sergeant Lagarenne
two things additional should be stat
ed: First, that there is no evidence
before me thus far that his inaction
was due TO other than negligence;
and. secondly, that there were appar-
entity defects of procedure. routine
and supervision at the 4th Branch
Bureau which tended TO result in
negligence such as that with which
he is charged.
Lagarenne Uncertain Witness
Lagarenne was an interesting and
conscientious IL sonnet ines an uncer-
"
obtained from him a complete chronol-
ogy of the thirty-eight hour delay in
the police efforts 10 find Ruth Cruger.
Il follows:
Midnight. February 13-Alfred NJ.
Brown. friend Of the Cruger family,
notified the West l25th Street police
station and Fourth Branch Detective
Bureau that Ruth had vanished.
n. E1L lfaea VntaH
on the police blotter.
1915 a. m, February 14-News Of
the disappearance reaches Headquar-
tiers.
Morning. February 15-Disappear-
ance noted on the general alarm
sheet.
? p. m. February 15-Lagarenne
assigned 10 the case
The days inquiry also brought out
the lack OF cooperation between the
uniformed police force and the Detec-
tive Bureau. Lagarenne did not think
IL worth while to question any Of the
policemen on post about Alfredo Coo
chi's shop concerning the character or
habit Of the confessed slayer. II ap-
pears that this is not the custom. And
neither did the police bcstir themselves
10 aid the misguided detectives.
Woman Told of Attack
Patrolman Benjamin Koberlein, who
was on post covering the Cocchi shop
for months prior to Ruth Cruger's dis
appearance. made a surprising state
mert in this regard. On the stand
Kobcrlein testif ed that 4 woman in the
neichborhood had once come 10 him with
a story Of how Cocchi several days be
fore rad attempted 70 embrace her IN
his shop. He said ne advised the
woman TO obtain a warrant, but she
did rot. Although Koberlein said he
made no report Of the incident ne
"scolded" the woman for not reporting
the matte 70 him promptly.
"Ny good woman" he said he ad-
monished her, 81 should have known
Of this at once."
But apparently Patrolman Koberlcin
had changed his mind regarding the
Importance of this incident by the time
all New York was looking fer Ruth
Cruger. He said il never occurred
10 him 10 look up Sergeant Lagarerne
and tell him of the episode when LaCar-
enne was securing the neighhorhood
for information regarding CocchTs
reputation, particularly among women.
Called Cocchi Good Fellow
Motorcycle Patrolmen came forward.
however, with the assurance that Coo
chi was "gocd fellow" a statement
TINT made such a deep impression on
the detectives that II disarmed sus-
picion at the murderer. especially by
the Cruger family. This Lagarenne adj
mitted.
Mr. Wallstein questioned Lagarenne
closely regarding the reports Of petty
graft by motorcycle policemen.
Q.-At the time YOU began your in
vestigation in the Cruger case had you
ever heard that motorcycle cops might
be fixed in speeding cases? A.-No.