New Britain herald., 1917-08-03
GOTHAM HAVEN FOR
 THE LIGHT FINGERED
Only 10 Per Cent. of Crooks
 Arrested Out of $500

New York, Aug. 3.-A sweeping in- vestigation of the police department, in which the failure in the Ruth Cru ger case is expected to play only a minor part, Is being planned by Spe- cial Deputy District Attorney James w. Osborne, when the grand jury or dered by Governor Whitman for a special term of the supreme court under Justice Golf is impanelled Aug. 27.
 This, it Is expected, will include an inquiry into the failure of the police to catch the men responsible for a large number of robberies in the city during seven months. The number of such robberies was given yesterday by Judge Mcintyre of general ses- sions, in dlscharging the grand jury as $500. in less than 10 per cent. of which, the judge said. the thieves had. been arrested.
 Mr. Osborne had within the last week told Governor Whitman the ex- traordinary grand jury was needed, and the governor outlined the work that he would approve. Before the new term private detectives will work under the direction of MT. Osborne. A large agency has been engaged. and a score or more operatives will delve into the activities of the po- lice. MT. Osborne refused yesterday to divulge any information which led him to ask for the special grand jury.
 The additional grand jury before which the testimony relating to the Cruger case has been presented will conclude it's labors today. Two in- dictments are predicted and a pre- sentiment criticising methods in the detective bureau.
 Detective Files Demurrer.
 c. J. Sullivan, counsel for Detective John Lagarenne, indicted a week ago for alleged neglect of duty in failing to discover the body of Ruth Criger, yes- terday asked Judge Mcintyre to sus- tain a demurrer to the indictment, on the ground that the regulation which Lagarenne is accused of having v1o- lated Is a rule of the police depart ment and not a law.
 Assistant District Attorney Talley told the court a rule of the depart ment had all the force and effect of law, and ignoring such a rule was within the criminal statute. MT. Sul- livan replied that the statute under which the indictment was found ap- piled only to pToClnCt who fail to enforce laws relating tc disorderly houses. Judge Mcintyre reserved decision. He added:
 1T am glad you were working along the lines that have brought so much complaint from the merchants of the city The police department records show that since the 1st of January there have been $500 burglaries committed, less than 10 per cent. of which have been cleared up or the thieves apprehended. This is a con- dition that does not merit commenda- tion.'
 How far the special grand jury will go will depend on the work of the private detectives. Reports have reached the district attorney that in one instance a policeman made a proposition to burglar whom he had just arrested that for $1,000 he would be permitted to go free. The burglar is said to have said he took police man to a bank to show he did not have the amount demanded and the arrest was then made.
 The prosecutor has also obtained records of alleged receivers of stolen goods against whom sufficient evidence was not produced.