“on them all yet” (p. 191): Julius J. Kron with Isabel Stephen, “The Inside Story of the Ruth Cruger Case,” True Detective, May 1926. All the dialogue from Kron, McGee, and Maria Cocchi is from this source.
through the coal vault (p. 193): “Mrs. Cocchi Forces Cruger Case,” New-York Tribune, June 15, 1917, 9. Borough sidewalks had vaults: open spaces beneath the sidewalk sometimes covered with metal grates. The main reason for sidewalk access was to make coal deliveries less messy. Some people were known to turn their vaults, often lit by glass sidewalk tiles, into makeshift underground apartments.
“They’re crazy” (p. 194): “Ruth Cruger’s Body,” New-York Tribune, June 13, 1917, 16.
“resumed tomorrow” (p. 195): “Mrs. Cocchi Forces Cruger Case,” New-York Tribune, June 15, 1917, 8.
the opening of the vault (p. 195): “Ruth Cruger’s Body,” New-York Tribune, June 13, 1917, 16.
“for a grave” (p. 196): Julius J. Kron with Isabel Stephen, “The Inside Story of the Ruth Cruger Case,” True Detective, May 1926.
placed it in his pocket (p. 196): “Dig for Cruger Clues,” New York Times, June 13, 1917, 22.
“bossing the job” (p. 197): “Bone Unearthed,” New York Sun, June 13, 1917, 6. “If I could get Cooper’s authority,” Kron said. “We could go ahead and dig. But I’m hungry and awfully tired.”
“trick on you” (p. 197): Ibid.; “Ruth Cruger’s Body,” New-York Tribune, June 13, 1917, 16. Kron took the bone to a dentist he knew at 70 Manhattan Street. Dr. George Butterworth looked at it and said that it was most likely from a cow. Another doctor, Dr. O. C. Rever, said, “[I]t’s a hip bone, but I cannot say definitely whether it is from a human being or an animal.” The police said they were most likely relics from the days when Cocchi’s basement was a butcher’s shop.
“hungry and awfully tired” (p. 197): “Bone Unearthed,” New York Sun, June 13, 1917, 6
won’t give up the keys (p. 199): “Blocks Cruger Search,” New York Times, June 14, 1917, 9.
“investigation in the past” (p. 199): “Mrs. Cocchi Halts,” New-York Tribune, June 14, 1917, 16.
“manner in New York” (p. 200): “Vital Events That Followed,” New York Evening World, June 18, 1917, 2.
agreed to help (p. 200): “Cruger Inquiry,” New York Evening World, June 27, 1917, 2. Solan would later claim—under oath—that this was his idea, but the absence of his name until exactly this point in the story seems to suggest otherwise. He said that Kron and McGee were out on the sidewalk when he made the discovery of Ruth Cruger’s body. He was superintendent of Grand Central Terminal and knew Henry, whose office was also located there.
to buy it (p. 202): “Cocchi Is Indicted,” Auburn Citizen, June 18, 1917, 9; Julius J. Kron with Isabel Stephen, “The Inside Story of the Ruth Cruger Case,” True Detective, May 1926; “Ruth Cruger’s Body,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, June 17, 1917, 1. Some accounts have the auctioneers, Mr. Lind and Mr. Greenberg, authorizing entry to the Cocchi shop or even buying it themselves.
“Hurry back here” (p. 202): Grace Humiston with Isabel Stephen, “Won’t You Help Me Find My Girl?” Actual Detective, May 4, 1938.
“around the neck” (p. 205): “Ruth Cruger’s Body,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, June 17, 1917, 1.
Cruger family physician (p. 205): “Mrs. Humiston,” New York Evening World, June 18, 1917, 2.
a material witness (p. 205): “Mrs. Cocchi Is Held,” Ellicottville Post, June 20, 1917, 7; “Ruth Cruger Was Killed,” Washington Herald, June 18, 1917, 1.
in the care of neighbors (p. 205): “Ruth Cruger Ripper,” New-York Tribune, June 18, 1917, 12.
“is a murderer” (p. 206): “U.S. to Bring Pressure,” New-York Tribune, June 24, 1917, 6.
“HOLD COCCHI” (p. 206): “Ruth Cruger’s Body,” Washington Post, June 17, 1917, 9.
12: A SECOND GUESS
Captain Dan Costigan (p. 207): “Ruth Cruger’s Body,” Washington Post, June 17, 1917, 9.
“under way, will develop” (p. 208): “Police Should Have Found,” New York Evening World, June 18, 1917, 2.
“Spare no one” (p. 208): “Police to Excavate,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, June 20, 1917, 1; “Woods Orders,” New York Evening World, June 20, 1917, 1.
fled Bologna (p. 208): “Italy Asked to Seize,” New York Sun, June 19, 1917, 5.
traffic in white slaves (p. 208): “Swann Aids Search,” New York Sun, March 1, 1917, 8.
Consuelo La Rue (p. 209): “Drugged, Abducted, Enslaved,” New-York Tribune, July 4, 1917, 12; “Mrs. La Rue Tells of Drug and Kidnappers,” New York Times, June 26, 1917, 3. “Try to Murder,” Evening News, June 19, 1917, 1; “Louise La Rue Tells How She Was Trapped,” New York Times, July 4, 1917, 1; “Beat Informant,” Washington Times, June 19, 1917, 1.
what I’d done (p. 209): “Girl Charges Men,” New-York Tribune, June 20, 1917, 16.
had been choked (p. 210): “Woman Whose Tip,” Leavenworth Times, June 20, 1917, 1.
he found substantiation (p. 210): “Cocchi Attempts to End Life,” New York Sun, June 25, 1917, 5.
“you to say anything” (p. 210): “Police in Row,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, June 19, 1917, 1.
“detective searching for her” (p. 210): “Sensation over Attack,” Kingston Daily Freeman, June 19, 1917, 6.
ransacked apartment (p. 210): “Try to Murder,” Evening News, June 19, 1917, 1; “Mayor Defends Woods,” New York Times, June 22, 1917, 3.
La Rue told police (p. 211): Julius J. Kron with Isabel Stephen, “The Inside Story of the Ruth Cruger Case,” True Detective, May 1926; “Mrs. La Rue Tells of Drug and Kidnappers,” New York Times, June 26, 1917, 3. Elements of the Stephens story seem overly imaginative: Kron claims to board the boat to Argentina to follow another of the count’s victims. Over the course of a three-week trip to Buenos Aires, Kron recognizes a fellow female detective who helps him stop the slavery operation.
if she tried to escape (p. 211): “Death Threat for Girl,” Pittsburgh Press, June 21, 1917, 1; “La Rue Mystery Is Likened to Fiction of East,” New York Daily Herald, August 5, 1917, 3. New Yorkers read this in the paper and thought of Mata Hari, who had just been put on trial for being a German spy after being arrested on February 13, the same night Ruth Cruger disappeared.
“nothing more to say to you” (p. 211): “Police in Row,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, June 19, 1917, 1.
against injury or intimidation (p. 211): “Cruger Demands,” New York Times, June 21, 1917, 1.
on guard at all times (p. 211): “Two Policemen at the Bedside,” New York Herald, June 21, 1917, 3; “Another Girl Escapes Fate,” Pittsburgh Daily Post, June 20, 1917, 7; “Mayor Defends Woods,” New York Times, June 22, 1917, 3.