New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-05
Bamed Police
Turn to Cruger
Home for Clews
Chum Believes Missing
Girl Often Found Life
Too Restrained
Runaway TheoryG Gains
Witnesses Say Household Was
Congenial-Woman Help
ing in Quest
Runaway TheoryG Gains

After following countless trails on
the outside, the police yesterday, on the
nineteenth day Of Ruth Cruger's disap-
pearance, turned their investigation
into the girls own home.
Was Ruth happy?
Did her restless spirit chafe under
the restrictions placed about her, and
did she sometimes yearn for freer
exercise Of her own will?
These are two Of the long list Of
questions which have been put 70 a
dozen persons who knew the missing
girl in the new research the Fourth
Branch Detective Bureau and the de-
tectives OF the District Attorneys staff
instituted with a view Of establishing q
basis for a psychological study Of the
girl in her home enyirons. The in
vestigators have assembled a prodigi-
Gus amount of data, which is 20 be
scanned by experts.
The answers cover a wide range Of
variance. One schoolgirl friend Of
Ruth, who has been guest at the
Cruger home many times, stated il was
her belief that Ruth at times found her
home life uncongenial. The denied
privilege Of attending a party or the
parental ban placed upon a youthful
sutton may cause no small tempest in
the heart OF a girl OF eighteen.
Other witnesses have been quizZed
who were steadfast in their statements
that the Cruger family life was as free
from the little dissensions which roll
the domestic waters as the average
household
Parents Guarded Ruth
"Ruth's parents were careful of her."
said the mother Of one girl chum, but
they allowed their daughter every lib.
erty that girl in New York City
should expect
Another woman, a mother and a
friend Of the family, made a statement
70 the police Of her own volition. Pre-
viously an interview with her had been
sought, but she was reticent. But as
the days passed with no word from the
missing girl she said she thought the
police were entitled 20 anything she
might be able 70 tell which would shed
light on Ruth's impulses.
In view Of what they have learned,
the prevailing police impression is that
the girl ran away, or at any rate left OF
her own free will. What may have hap
pened after the first ten hours Of her
disappearance is purely conjecture.
This view IS one Henry D. Cruger.
the father, has no patience with. He
has been unable 10 understand why
detectives should show such a keen in
terest in the affairs Of Ruth's everyday
life.
Find Cocchi, Father SAYS
Find Cocchi," says the father. He
vanished as soon as they questioned
him about my daughter. He admitted
he was the last man 20 see her. He
may know something that will help
The police are wasting their time in
terviewing Ruth's boy and girl friends
Rubisns. the chauffeur, is positive
that Ruth Cruger and man got into
mis- machine at l27th Street and Man
haitian Avenue and were driven 20 l25th
Street and Lenox Avenue. where the
pair entered the northbound subway
kiosk. The man. however. was not
Cocchi Rubians knew both Cocchi and
the girl By sight.
Ruth liked automobiling. She said
one time she wished she owned a motor
car so she could take all her friends
riding.
Sunday, February II. Ruth was angry
with her parents because they had
made her break an engagement which
she had made with Richard Butler. a
Columbia student, FOR the following
Tuesday night. On Monday the Cru
gers went 10 Boston. and Ruth was left
in the nominal charge OF her two older
and unmarried sisters. Tuesday after
noon at 1880 o'clock the girl went out
10 get her skates, which had been
ground at Cocchi's shop. When she
hadn't returned at her sisters had
instituted a search.
The District Attorneys Office will
continue It's examination OF witnesses
tomorrow Two young men, one
student Of Stevens institute, the other
Columbia alumnus, will be cues
,ioned