New-York tribune., 1917-06-23
Acting Head of Detectives
Testihes at Wallstein
Inquiry
E,xtradition To Be
Fought by Cocchi
d Of Motorcycle Squad Sus-
pended; Italians Wife
Faints at Hearing


,b. .th Branch Detective Bureau ap-
,.sred yesterday as a witness at the
;nouirv which Leonard NJ. Wallstein,
Commissioner of Accounts. is conduct
no into the case of Ruth Cruger, a.
~. reouest of Mayor Mitchell, and by
his testimony virtually admitted every
charge Of laxness, carelessness and
s,ppjdity that has been made against
him and his detectives.
While officials here were trying TO
place the blame for the bungling OF
the case. Alfredo Cocchi. charged with
the murder of the girl, was fighting IN
Italy desperate battle TO prevent eX-
tradition. Declaring his innocence, he
demanded his rights under the Italian
law and submitted that there was no
valid reason for his return to the
United States. United States officials,
state and city, are preparing to press
pnon the Italian government their de-
mand that Cocch be surrendered.
Digging in the various shops and
Easements formerly occupied by Cocchl
in New York City continued under the
supervision Of Inspector Joseph A. Eau
rot. Several "new leads were OBJ
tanned as result, but they were Sec
ondary in Importance to information
derived from witnesses examined DUR
ing the course Of investigation directed
BY District Attorney Edward Swami.
-Four Policemen Suspendedr1
Four motorcycle policemen. known
70 have been intimate with Cocchi, yes
terday were suspended from duty by
Commissioner Woods, following the
discovery of irregularities in connec-
ton with the service OF summonses
upon speeding auroists and motor
cyclists.
ANONYMOUS complaints which have
been pouring into the Office Of the Dis
trict Attorney from victims of police
extortioners resulted in an investiga-
tion. The suspensions followed. They
are Willard A. Helms, jr., John Ker-
rigan, John L. Ochsenhirt and William
II. Eynon. The last named is the man
who gave 10 Cocchi a card inscribed:
Take care of Alfredo Cocchi he's O.
X. Billy Eynon."
The complaints Of victims who have
been Shaken down" by members of
the motorcycle squad led District At
torney Swami TO believe that graft
was widespread. All the protests re-
eeived have been complete in regard
10 the details of each case OF police
imposition. Most Of the victims have
elected TO keep their identity secret
through fear Of subsequent annoyance
or molestation.
Evidence of Graft Revealed
But one man, physician, called on
District Attorney Swami yesterday, in
troduced himself and exposed what the
District Attorney afterward described
AZ graft system which seems TO per-
rneate far" The physician said he had
been mulcted Of SO by the system,
which included the service Of sum,
monses written in pencil and served
upon speeding autoists by motorcycle
policemen.
These summonses, it appears" said
District Attorney Swami, were gen
orally served on automobilists who
have machines registered in New Jer-
sey or other places out OF New fork
State. The summoned autoist was d.
rected 10 20 TO such -and-such an ad-
dress before leaving the state. The
address given was that OF Cocchl or
some other coworker in the graft.
When the sutoist got there he was
shown newspaper clippings quoting
Magistrate House on what he expected
70 10 with the next speeders who
should be brought before him.
"The victim, properly impressed, was
then told that for so much he could
escape. Cocchi or others believed TO
rave been in the scheme then took back
the summons and the money and di-
yloed 10 with the man who issued II.
The summons, written in pencil, would
ther be erased and used again. At
least four motorcycle policemen are in
Yolyed, and possibly more
Wallstein Gets Records
Commissioner Woods has turned al
records bearing on the arrest Of speed
ing sutoists By members Of the motor
cycle squad over % Commissioner
Nallstein. For more than a month, he
'aic, an investigation into the question
o. possible graft In connection with
ne issuance Of summonses has been in
progress. i was as a result Of this in
c9iry that the four motorcycle police
men we're suspended on technical
charge Of violating the rules concern
lng ne making out Of summOnses.
Following the foregoing disclosures,
ars. Maria Cocchi appeared as a wit
ness again yesterday before Assistant
District Attorney John T. Doolng. I'm
ntdistely on arriving az the Criminal
courts Building from the Harlem pris-
On she tainted. Revived, she continued
% be greatly agitated. expressed her
ataire - cell everything" A. well as
her fear 0f what would happen when
certain members % the police force
htard ~ her testimony.
Ar. DOoling offered % postpone her
examination until she should be more
composed, but she refused, saying that
tns had been vainly endeayoring 20
reach The District Attorney By tele-
phone since last Wednesday night, but
nat officials of the Harlem prison had
prevented her A. n result Of her
,taitmsnt an inyestigstion will be made
BY the District Attorney 70 establish
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