New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-04
Whitman Orders Swami to Begin
Police Inquiry in Cruger Case
Policeman Accused as Cocchll's
Companion on Day Of Murder
Jantress Says T. NJ Kerrigan Two Weeks After Italian
Fled Told Her He Was with Slayer After the
Girl Was Slan-Charges Are Denied

Mrs. Mary McDonough, janitress at
229 West Eighty-third Street, where
Alfredo Cocchi formerly conducted a
motorcycle repair shop, yesterday iden-
titled Motorcycle Patrolman Thomas NJ.
Kerrigan as the policeman who visited
( her two weeks after Cocchi fed, told
her he had been with the Italian on
the afternoon Of the Cruger murder,
and warned her to keep num- on the
case.
Fourteen motorcycle policemen were
/ lined up in the Office of Leonard NJ.
I Wallstein. Commissioner Of Accounts,
conducting the police inquiry, and Mrs.
McDonough was told to look them over
through two eyeholes in a screen which
separated her from them.
That's the man the third from the
left" she exclaimed, after moments
examination. "He told me not to say
anything about Cocchi's motorcycle po-
lice friends"
Report of Kerrigan PigeOnholed
In connection with this testimony
it was shown by Police Department
records that the policeman's visit to
+ Mrs. McDonough and his warnings and
injunctions to silence had been discov-
cred by Detective James j. Finan. Of
the Four1n Branch Detective Bureau,
and reported in writing to Captain
Alonzo P. Cooper. then head of the bu-
reau, who pigeonholed the report,
after noting and approving" its con-
tents.
The report, signed by Detective Finan
and Captain Cooper, was Immediately
turned over to District Attorney Swami,
on whose instructions KerriGan and
Mrs. McDonough are being held as ma
terial witnesses.
Mrs. McDonough was called to tes-
tify following the discovery by Com
missioner Wallstein of Detective FL
mans report among the bundle of Po-
lice Department records received from
Police Headquarters. The report on
the formal police blank and bearing
the date of June 20 was as follows:
Fourth Branch Detective Bureau
Commanding Officer. Detective Bureau.
Sir:
On compliance with orders. l have the
following report to make:
Il interviewed Mrs Mary McDonouEh, the
janitoress Of 229 West Eighty-third street,
at.g,HaN Arr
/. 1917. a motorcycle policeman. whose name
she does not know. called on her and told
her that if any one called on her 10 ask
about Cocchi she was TO inform them mat
she did not know anything about him. She
further stated 70 me that the said motor
cycle policeman had informed her that he
has been out automobile riding with Cocchi
around the date of the disappearance OF
Ruth Cruger. She also stated that n number
OF men. whom she knew TO be motorcycle
policemen. had their motorcycles repaired
by Cocchi.
"(Signed) JAMES j. FINAN.
Contents noted and approved. A. P. c.
Acting Captain Commanding Fourth
Branch Detective Bureau. Ads. No 3l3.
Fourth Branch Detective Bureau
Cooper Silent on Report
The discovery of the report was a
great surprise to the Investigators, in
asmuch as neither Captain Cooper nor
any of the Fourth Branch detectives
examined had referred to Detective
Finan's discovery. at is the duty Of
the police to assist in revealing and not
aid in suppressing evidence Of crime
said DR.. Louis 7. Blan, the examiner
in Commissioner Wallstein's Office who
directed yesterdays inquiry IN the alb
sence of the Commissioner from the
city. accordingly the District Attor-
new was notified Of the discovery and
efforts made to locate Mrs. Melon
ough."
/ The woman was found and questioned
/ briefly las. Monday. Yesterday she
vas examined in detail and finally re-
| quired 10 pick out of fourteen motor
[ cycle patrolmen the man she accused
/ She was made TO examine the men
/ through a pierced screen because OF the
/ fear that means 20 lntlmidate ner
would be used If the policemen were
| allowed TO see her. After she had m
/ Dictated Kerrigan as the man who VS.
| tied and warned her the accused blue
coat was told to step forward from
/ the line.
"That's him." almost screamed the
ianitress. 81 could tell him from a
hundred. He's the man who told me
To- keep num-
Mrs. McDonough said Kerrgan had
gone TO her house about March J.. II
Vas on that date that Henry d. Cruger'
father Of the murdered girl, went 70
District Attorney Swami and lmpIorea
rim to investigate his daughters DIS
anrearance The Wallstein invest-
c,ators believe that the policeman 5
,,;cit "a the ianitress was inspired by
~ foar that the new inquiry about 70
h. launched would result in her being
called to testify. A.. IL
The woman said yesterday that de-