New-York tribune., 1917-07-13
Wilson Is Asked
To Appeal for
Cocchi's Return
Swami and Woods Suggest
He Take Matter Up Direct
ly with Italian King

District Attorney Swami and Police
Commissioner Woods sent joint letter
yesterday TO President Wilson asking
his aid in an endeavor to bring back
Alfredo Cocchi to America for trial for
the murder of Ruth Cruger.
Further than this there was little
in common between the District Attor-
ney and the Police Commissioner re-
garding the days developments Of the
Cruger and corollary Investigations.
Mr.. Swami inferentially attacked the
Police Department in statement con-
cerning a number of unsolved burg
laries, supposed to have occurred in
the silk goods manufacturing district
near the Thirtieth Street police station.
Graft Exposure Promised
To this Assistant District Attorney
Alfred J. Talley added the promise OF
Startling graft revelations in the
Police Department, in the form of trib
ute levied on motorists. He referred
to the form of swindle known as the
monkey wrench graft"
Commissioner Woods answered an
earlier statement by Mr.. Talley, con-
trasting police activity in recovering
stolen automobiles for which rewards
were offered with their enterprise in
locating missing girls. The Commits
sioner produced figures showing that
between January ] and June 80 of this
year sci automobiles were reported
stolen and of this number 760, or 66
per cent, were recovered by members
OF the motorcycle squad. Ten rewards,
amounting TO $500, were paid to seven
policemen, and 10 per cent Of this sum
was deducted for the Police Pension
Fund.
In the same period 1853 girls and
women were reported missing. and all
but fifty-four were located. OF an aver
age of SO per cent.
The joint letter TO the President
from Mr.. Swami and Commissioner
Woods follows:
May we take the liberty of asking
your personal attention in the case of
Alfredo COcchi, who ravished young
and virtuous girl in this city on Febru-
airy l3 last and murdered her and mu-
tilated her body, and afterward fed the
jurisdiction and now seeks refuge in
Bologna, Italy.
'He has confessed his crime and the
case has aroused Indignation in the
minds Of people all over the country.
There is a nationwide demand that the
murderer be brought back 70 America
TO answer for his crime
"Our treaty with Italy, which pro-
vdes for eXtraditiOn in such cases as
heretofore construed in Italy, has been
held TO be subordinate to an Italian
statute which reads: 'Extradtion OF II
citizen Italian is not permissible
This, however, has been matter OF
construction only in a case of conflict
Of laws, and in view of the enormity OF
the offence and for the protection Of
American wamonhood. we hope, Mr..
President, that you may ask the King
of Italy himself to give this matter his
personal attention. so as to obtain "A
construction of the laws which will en-
able the government Of Italy 10 render
Cocchi on extradition, or to request that
Parliament now in session amend the
ton"
Obstacles in Way
A dispatch from Washington last night
said the State Department believes Italy
will present insuperable obstacles In the
way Of the return Of Cocchi. The de-
partment is without a reply from Italy
regarding the Italian practice Of per
scouting Italians who have taken out,
not only their first. but their final nat
uralization papers in this country. Ii is
thought, says the dispatch, Italy will
seek TO uphold the principle Of dual
nationality, holding persons born in
Italy 10 be Italian subjects notwith-
standing that they may have become
citizens Of the United States.
Mr Swami gave out typewritten
statement TO reporters declaring that
Morris Stern, Of NJ. Stern g. Co., 1877
West Twenty-ninth Street, and presi-
dent OF the Dress and Waist Manufsct-
urers' Association. had called with in
formation that his establishment had