The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-06-22
SUSPEND THE
DETECTIVE WHO
FAILED IN TIL
CRUCE.R SEARCH
PUBLIC INQUIRY IS
ORDERED BY MAYOR
To Fix Responsibility for the
Failure Of New York Po-
lice In Sensational
Case.

NEW YORK, June 21.-Acting
Captain Alonzo Cooper, who wa!
in charge of the Fourth branch
detective bureau during the search
for Miss Cruger was suspended to-
night.
Detective Sergeants MCGEE and La
Garenne and Detective Dillon also
were relieved of duty. All four men
were directed 10 report to Inspector
Faurot. who is conducting Commits
sioner Woods Investigation.
NEW YORK. June 21.-A public in
quiry into all phases Of the police
handling Of the Ruth Cruger case was
ordered tonight by Leonard Wallstein
commissioner Of accounts. who was
directed earlier in the day by Mayor
Mitchell to take a, thorough investiga
ton of the crime. The hearing will
start tomorrow morning. the commits
sioner announced, and the first wit
nesses to- be called will be Acting Cap
tain Cooper, Of the detective bureau
Detective Sergeants Frank McGee and
John La Garenne and other policemen
who were detailed to the case from
the day Miss Cruger's disappearance
was reported.
Fix Responsibility.
THE purpose of my investigation.
Commissioner Wallstein said, rs to
fix responsibility for the failure OF ths
police, 10 find the body, and to prevent
escape of the murderer together with
the reasons therefor. The hearings
will be open 10 the public daily until
the investigation IS completed"
No confirmation of 4 report that Coo
chi had been. arrested by the italian
authorities had been received here to
night. All papers necessary for his
extradition have been. prepared and
Governor Whitman, who was in this
city tonight, was said to have been In
telephone communication with the de
partment of state today. regarding the
case. 4 person close to the governor
said Mr. Whitman had been informed
the Italian government is disinclnet
to eXtradite COCchi, as there is no cap
ital punishment in Italy. and the au
thorities dislike 10 give up citizens Of
that country charged with murder
Governor Whitman, it was said, is di
recting his efforts 10 have CoCch
brought back on charge other thar
murder.
Dig Up Cellars.
The cellar of every building occu
pied by Alfredo Cocchi. in whose shoI
the body Of Ruth Crugcr was founc
buried last Saturday is to .he dug uT
by detectives to learn if more girls
met a similar fate. Work Of excavat
ing the cellars was begun today in
several buildings in which Cocchi con
Quoted motorcycle repair shops and
in addition detectives working under
direction Of Inspector Frank II. Faurot
were assigned 10 investigate every
phase Of Cocchi'S life in this city. In
Spectnr Faurot has been relieved OF
all other police duty and special orders
from Commissioner Woods placing
him in charge Of the Crugcr case. call
for the most sweeping Investigation OF
The police department since its organ
iZalion.
Policemen and detectives OF the
Fourth branch detective bureau who
had ANYTHING to do with tho CruEar
rot last night. Early today at tho con-
cIusion Of their visit the inspector said
that they had henn working on the
wrong theory. that Miss Crugcr wa9
merely missing and not that she was
dead. They &honld havc found the body
and they did not. h" said.
Search nf tho CorchI shop having
failed tn reveal airy weapon with which
Miss rrlIger wa* murdered an order
was issued today forhidding the auc,
tion sale tomorrow nf the contents by
tho new owners.
Cncchi has boon received by the police.
and 1t Is feared that he has fled from
tcoutinusd on Pare Hine.)