New-York tribune., 1917-06-28

the District Attorney. Mrs. Cocchi, her
former neighbor said, asked II some
thing could be done about it. Mrs.
Patterson said she spoke about the mat
ter 70 Detective Sergeant Frank McGee,
of the 4th Branch Detective Bureau,
who was then investigating Ruth Cru
gers disappearance. She asked De-
tective McGee if he could suggest a
means of relief from the annoying es-
pionage which "even prevented Mrs.
Cocchi eating meal in peace
Advised to Report to City Club
McGee. Mrs. Patterson declared, sug-
gested that she report the matter -
the City Club, which, he said, accord
ing to her statement, "has the District
Attorney up on charges now
Mrs. Patterson then, on April ?. wrote
a letter to the City Club, complaining
of the District Attorneys activities
around the Cocchi shop. Nelson ,.
Spencer. the president of the club. re-
Piled. inviting her and any one else to
call on Chase Mellen, Of - CEDAR
Street. Mrs. Patterson says that she,
accompanied by Mrs. Cocchi, visited
Mr.. Mellen. who had stenographic notes
made of Mrs. Cocchi's complaint
In reply TO Mrs. Patterson's letter to
the City Club, Mr.. Spencer wrote:
Dear Mrs. Patterson: ! nave your
letter OF the I'd of April, concerning
the practices Of the District Attorney.
Your account is in line with other re-
ports which have come to IS. ! nave
referred your letter to the counsel Tor
the club. Mr.. Chase Mellen. NO. =
Cedar Street. who is. on behalf OF the
club, conducting tae stgauon OF
the charges which the club Med against
Mr. Swami. suggest that you COM
municate directly with him, although !
have asked him also TO acknowledge the
receipt of your letter and make such
use of the facts as he may ind e1-
pedient'
"Mr. Spencer has sent me your let
ter to him Of April = wrote Mr.. Mel
len to Mrs. Patterson. 81 should be
glad TO sec YOU and any one else whom
you care 10 bring to my Office IN con-
nection with this matter. either on
Saturday morning, between 10 and u
o'clock, or on Monday morning, be-
tween the same hours
Charges Against Lagarenne
Police Commissioner Woods. an
swering the request OF Commissioned
Wallstein that charges be preferred
against Acting Detective Sergeant
Lagarenne, yesterday wrote TO Com
missioner Wallstcin:
"Your letter of yesterday has been
/ received, and. in accordance with your
recommendation, | have directed the
4 chief inspector to prefer charges for
neglect Of duty against Acting Detcc-
tive Sergeant Lag,rrene. ] hope that
YOU will at once send me further evi-
dence. if YOU find it, against other
members Of the force who may also
have been guilty Of neglect in the case.
"As | said TO the Mayor in asking
for this inquiry by you, it is not mere
! ~ my wish. but. believe, the wish Of
the great majority Of the force. also,
70 find out the facts in the matter.
The competent and industrious police
men want TO know who the lazy and
incompetent men are.
Further, the big majority OF the
force, a. well as myself. want TO know
whether any one has been guilty Of
dishonesty in this case. or has in any
way protected criminal. | trust that
your examination will find such men,
or Will MAKE it clear that there are
none This is important, for the self
respect of the force and for the cor
roc. IN rrorpnafion NJ tho nuhlic -