New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-27

Inc pubic inquiry Ai1' ''N
DEPARTMENTS handling of the Cruger
case. conducted by Commissioner OF
Accounts Leonard VI. Wallstein yes
terdav. shed on the blunders of the
Detective Bureau new light that
prompted Mr. Wallstein last night to
recommend to Police Commissioner
Woods that Detective Sergeant John
Lagarenne. the principal witness Of the
day. be summoned before the Police
Trial Board on charges of gross neg
ligence.
Lagarenne, tho missing persons ex-
pcrt" of the Fourth Branch, was the
first detective assigned TO the case.
He figured conspicuously throughout
the futile police investigation. There
is no implication that Lagarenne's
shortcomings are other than sins OF
omission. Yesterdays line of inter
rogation suggested the possible i'm
parchment of the entire Detective Blu
reau's system as regards the method,
or lack of it, by which missing persons
are sought in New York.
Commissioner Wallstein's Letter
Mr. Wallstein's letter to Commits
sioner Woods follows:
The evidence which has been thus
far developed in the investigation
which the Mayor has directed me TO
make into the police conduct of the
case Of Ruth Cruger requires my rec
ommendation 10 you at this time that
Detective Sergeant John L. Laga-
renne, of the Fourth Branch Detec-
tive Bureau. be placed on trial upon
charges of gross negligence.
Sergeant Lagarenne has testified
before me, and was given an oppor-
tunity to explain or justify his
handling Of the case in question. In
my opinion, his testimony, filed as
il is with admissions Of his unex-
planned failure 20 pursue lines OF in
vestigation which quite obviously
suggested themselves, proves his
guilt of the charge which ! have men
toned
The specifications of that charge,
briefly stated, are that, with knowl-
edge Of facts sufficient 10 have indl-
Gated the requirement Of such a
course, he failed and neglected to
keen Alfred Cocchi under surveil-
lance from and after the morning OF
February 10, 1917, or to recommend
10 or request of his superior officers
that such action be taken. and that,
with knowledge of facts sufficient TO
indicate the necessity for making
complete and thorough search OF the
motorcycle repair shop OF Alfred
Cocchi at SAP West 127th Street, in
the Borough Of Manhattan, City of
New York, and after having received
instructions TO make a search there
Of, he neglgently failed and omitted
10 make any but a totally incomplete
and inadequate search.
In recommending this action, |
have considered only the information
had or readily obtainable by Ser
ceant LaCarenne Immediately follow
ing Miss Cruger's disappearance, in
order TO avoid the obvious unfairness
Of bringing a charge of negligence
now in the light of facts only recent
IS discovered. In that connection ]
should add that the inadequacy Of the
so-called search OF the Cocchi shop
is shown by the failure 70 require the
opening of locked closets or the re-
moval of contents Of opened closets
and drawers and the failure care
fully 20 examine implements readily
available for the commission of an
assault
The charges herein proposed are
based upon the knowledge which
Sergeant Lagarenne had on the
morning Of February IS. 1917, for he
then knew:
/. That Miss Helen Cruger had