The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-06-25
POLICE LAXITY PROVED.
1viAeaee DiseevereA IN Detective
Records ~ Wsllstein.

Further evidence-documentar thie
time-which shows the detectives as
signed to investigate the disappearance
Of Ruth Cruger were deaf and blind TO
any suggestion that Cocchi was a kid
napper or murderer. was discovered yes
terday in the records Of the Police De-
partment.
They were dug up by Leonard NJ
Wallstein. Commissioner Of Accounts,
who is working at the Mayors direction
TO place the responsibility for the
wretched methods employed by the
Fourth branch detective bureau. methods
which seem TO have been approved. or at
least accepted. by the responsible heads
OF the detective bureau
This evidence shows the detectives
persistently ignored credible information
pointing to Cocchrs connection with
Mss Cruger's disappearance and per-
s,stently held to the notion that Cocchi
himself was just missing person. NOT
fugitive from justice. II shows that
when Cocchi was finally located in Italy
the detectives were willing to drop all
further inquiry. The missing person"
had been located and that was all there
vss "a ~ So far a. they were concerned
the Cruger investigation was at an end.
Cocchi left a street full Of detectives
about p. NJ on February Is, two
days after Ruth Cruger disa ppeared On
February ls the first police report in the
case was made out in the form Of a card
noting fhe diss appearance. -Four days
later Detective Sergeant McGee who
WIN Detective Sergeant Lagarenne. had
the job OF tracing missing persons. re-
ported on ID. B. s. card that he was
'sull searching
Laxity discovered.
On March 4. nothing whatever having
been accomplished toward tracing either
Miss Cruger or Cocchi, and while reports
were spread by policemen that Miss Cru
gers reputation was bad and that Coo
chi was a perfect gentleman. McGee re-
ported that enquiries should be made in
Deroi, through the chief of police
there" On March "a. twenty days later.
NcGee had some intimation that Cocchi
had gone TO Italy. for he made another
report recommending that inquiries for
Cocchi be made in Bologna
Nothing seems TO have been done by
anybody connected with the Police De-
partnent al that time as regards search
ing for Cocchi In Italy. More than two
months afterward MCGEE supplied a hint
a. 10 where Cocchi might be found. He.
Mr'iee. asked that the case be dropped
because a newspaper clipping showed
hat Cocchi actually was in Italy and
there was no longer any use for the po-
Ece 10 bother their heads over a missing
person who wasn't missing Or June 4
NcGee recommended
Relative to this case would state
that Alfred Cocch! has beer located In
lialy.,from where he has written 20 his
VIE Enclosed paper clipping hereto
s'tached OF May 81. 1917. klndly close
case. Cancel alarm 40, 40, Item b"
Upon this report was tie indorsemen;
o. Lieut.. John J. Flanneliy.
Meanwhile Detective Sergeant LaEa-
Miss cruger might possibly be found
although none Of the suggestions pointed
20 the Coochi motorcycle repair shop at
- N'es; is7;h street. made ont re-
port on February &c. 1917.
Relative TO this case will state that a
quest has been made to the postal au-
tcr,ies 10 cover the mails Of Alfredo
'pcch at rs Manhattan street and AT
ssi West l27th street VIII also state
ina, girl answering the description Of
Nlth Crueer could be found al Forty
A.Ath street and Broadway"
Girl . Rsnawsy.
Further investigation showed that me
s@I ~ an address at Forty-sixth street
d broadway, was not Miss cruger. OF
.--Tse. but young woman who had
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