Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-06-22
POLICE UP FOR failure
TO DISCLOSE MURDER
Thorough Probe Being Made in New
York in Connection With
Ruth Cruger Case.

By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK. Juno "a thorough
investigation Of police activities in the
Cruger murder case and the failure to
ind the body OF tho slain high school
girl in tho cellar of the motor cycle
repair shop conducted by Alfredo
Cocchi was begun today by Leonard
NJ Wallstein. city commissioner of ac-
counts. Orders for the inquiry were
issued by Mayor Mitchell yesterday, aft
er he had replied to a letter from
Henry D. Cruger, father of Ruth Cru
ger. demanding that the police depart
ment be reorganized. The mayor told
Mr.. Cruger that he had implicit con-
fdence in Arthur Wood. police commits
sioner. and that the failure of the
police to find the murderer of his
daughter. whether from stupidity and
incompetence or of worse" would be
punished.
Witnesses summoned to appear be-
fore Commissioner Wallstein included
Mrs. Marie Cocchi. wife of Alfredo
Cocchi; Acting Captain Alonzo Cooper.
detective Sergeants Frank MCGEE and
John Lagarenne and other police off,
GERS OF the fourth branch detective bu-
reau. cooper, MCGEE and Lagarenne, to-
gether with Detective Edward Billion,
have been relieved of all police duty
and ordered to report to Inspector Jo-
seph A. Faurot, who is in charge of
the police investigation ordered by the
mayor.
No Official Notice of Arrest.
Reports that Cocchi had been ar
rested in Bologna. Italy, where he fed
when his name was mentioned in con-
nection with the disappearance four
months ago of Ruth Cruger, brought
an announcement from the S>ate De-
partment at Washington that no off,
ctal adyices had been received from
Italy in reply to tho request that
Coccht be held in custody Professionally.
The inquiry conducted by Commits
sioner Wallstein will be open to the
public and. before Its conclusion 1t
is expected that much evidence con-
corning the white slave traffic in this
mission. the CruEer family lawyer. who
directed the search that resulted in
finding ths body of Ruth Cruger buried
in the cellar of Cocchi's shop. is ex-
pected to be one Of the most important
witnesses during the inquiry.
A table knife, identified as one the
fugitive Cocchi always kept on his
desk in the shop. was taken to the
district attorneys office yesterday. Dis
trict Attorney Edward Swami asserted
have been used to inflict the ripper"
wound found on Miss Cruger's body.
The stains on the knife were to be
examined today by DR.. Otto H. Schultze.
medical assistant to the district at
torney.
Finds Trace Of Blood.
Before examining the stains DR..
Schultze reported that an analysis of
scrapings taken from the metal heat
register in the floor of Cocohrs. store
showed a considerable quantity of
blood. This apparently strengthened
the police theory that Miss Cruger was
murdered In the store and her body
lowered through the hot air fiue to the
cellar.
The police today confiscated letters
discovered in Cocchi's shop. Examine
ton disclosed the names of twenty
four women. and detectives were as
signed to ascertain their relations with
the motor cycle dealer.
A young woman who said she went
to Cocchfs shop last summer to hire
a motor cycle told detectives today that
Cocchi attacked her in a small Office
to which he had summoned her to sign
a receipt. She fought him off. she said.
and escaped. but did not report the af-
fair to the police because she feared
publicity.