New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-06
Wallstein Charges Name
Capt. Cooper, Lieut.. Miller
and Detective Dillon
Woods Testihes
Before Grand Jury
Commissioner Questioned
for Two Hours Following
Judges Charge

Police Commissioners noVuS' WV wv
ond witness called before the Grand
Jury, which yesterday began its inves-
tigation of the Cruger case, returned to
his Office after two-hour examination
10 find a letter from Commissioner OF
Accounts Leonard A. Wallstein, recon-
mending that three more policemen be
tried for negligence.
The recommendation that charges be
placed against Captain Alonzo cooper,
formerly of the 4th Branch Detective
Bureau; Lieutenant Theodore Miller,
of the 36th Precinct, and Detective Ed
ward ]. Dillon, of the 4th Branch. con-
stituted the last phase of the Wallstein
inquiry which was superseded by the
Grand Jury investigation ordered by
Governor Whitman. This raises the
rumber Of accused policemen to twelve.
FIVE of whom are under suspension.
What Charges Consist Of
Mr.. Wallstein's accusation against
Captain Cooper is that. "as the COM
handing officer of the 4th Branch De-
tective Bureau. charged with the i'm.
mediate direction and supervision OF
the search for Ruth Cruger, he negli-
gently failed and omitted TO properly
direct and supervise such search IN
that ne failed 10 cause a complete and
ADEQUATE search TO be made OF the
premises occupied as q motorcycle re
pair shop by Alfredo Cocchi. at 542
West 12fth Street, in the Borough of
Manhattan. City of New York, being
the premises at which Ruth Cruger had
last been seen alive. as Acting Captain
Cooper well knew, or TO ascertain that
q complete and adequate search OF
these premises had not been made. and
in that. with knowledge OF facts suf-
fcient 10 have indicated the require
ment Of such course, ne failed and
neglected 10 have Alfredo Cocchi kept
under surveillance from and after the
morning of February Is, 1917, and in
that. generally, throughout the investi-
cation by the 4th Branch Detective
Bureau Of the disappearance Of Ruth
Cruger and of Alfredo Cocchi, he
neglgently failed and omitted to eff
fectively supervise the work of his
subordinates assigned to such investi-
cations, or to give prompt and adequate
directions as TO the manner in which
such investigations should be con-
lucted.'
Lieutenant Miller is charged with
failure 70 record the girls disappear
ance on the station house blotter at
the time the information was received.
Dillon is accused of neglecting TO make
an adequate search Of Cocchi's shop.
Should further investigation establish
that COcchi sailed on the Giuseppe
l. 81
1ould be tried for gross negligence in
.ailing 10 ascertain that fact. as he had
been directed TO watch that vessel.
Concluding, Mr.. Wallstein says:
"A few days ago I discovered and
turned over TO the District Attorney a
report by Acting Detective Sergeant
Finan, submitted 10 Captain Cooper,
under date of June 20, 1917. Mrs. Mary
4. McDonough testified at this Office
that no further inquiry in reference TO
the facts stated in that report had
been made of her by any member of
the Police Department. Obviously, it
was the duty of some Official of the
Police Department to follow up this
report by ascertaining whether Mrs.
McDonough would identify the motor
cycle policeman TO whom she referred.
In the absence of adequate explanation
the official responsible should be disci-
pinned
Referred to Inspector Faurot
Commissioner Woods was asked
about the Finan report. He said the
normal course of events should have
taken the report 10 Inspector John j.
Cray. Inspector Cray referred inquir-
ers 20 Inspector Joseph A. Faurot. In
spector Faurot said a copy of Finan's
report was received at Headquarters on
June 20 and filed. On June 81, he said,
the original copy, along with the other
Attn Branch Cruger records, went TO Mr..
Wallstein's office.
Commissioners Woods and Wallstein
were the only witnesses heard by the
grand jury, which Judge Mcintyre
charged TO sift the Cruger case thor
oughly and spare no one. "If there is
any dereliction of duty on the part of
any public official, no matter who he
may be, in connection with this case,
said Judge Mcintyre in his charge, at
amounts 20 a failure on the part Of the
Police Department or some one con-
nected with il 70 perform a public
duty; and II you have evidence here
after brought before you tending 10
establish the fact that have just men
toned II becomes your duty 20 indict.'
Commissioner Woods Testifies
Commissioner Woods and his deputy
Guy II. Scull, appeared at the Criminal
Court Building early in response TO
subpenas. The examination OF the Po-
lice Commissioner continued, with only
one ten-minute recess, until after
o'cock. The Commissioner was then
excused 20 attend the funeral Of Pa
trolman John p. Flood
Deputy Commissioner Scull, Henry
d. CruRer, the father Of the murdered
girl. and several policemen probably
VIII be called to-day.
10 was learned from District Attor-
rey Swami that the letter written Ia
Commissioner Woods on February ID
By Attorney George II. Olney. calling
the department heads attention TO the
Cruger family's suspicious about
Cocchi. will become a grand jury ex.
hibit. Commissioner Woods said he or.
dered Captain Cooper 70 make an in
vestigation along the lines suggested
In the letter the day il was received