The sun., 1903-06-25
THOUGHT POPFO A MURDERER.
SWEETHEART CONFESSES THAT
SHE WASHED BLOODl COAT.
Driven by . Girls story Bcrnarti'na ser.
rafTo Says That which May Convict
italian OF KILLING Policeman Ahearn
May He Held a. AccOmplice In Murder


May Bc Held as Accon,plice In Murder
NEW ROCHELLE, n. Y, June 24.-An I'M
portant witness whose testimony has done
more than anything else to clear up the
mysterious murder of Policeman Maurice
Ahearn and fasten the guilt on Frank Poho,
the Italian who is now under arrest, was
found to-day in Mile Peepo, bright Italian
schoolgirl. The girls story 80 strongly
duplicates the suspected man that Coroner
Wiesendanger. at a secret inquest tonight,
held him for the Weetchester Grand Jury
on the charge OF murder
John Peepo, the girls father, who keeps
the boarding house at n Oak street, where
Poffo's intended wife, Bernardina Serrafo.
lives. also broke down tonight and made
full statement which corroborates his
daughters story and duplicates the sls-
pected man.
The Peepo girl told the Coroner night
that on last Saturday, the morning after
the murder in Rochelle Park she came
downstairs and found the Serraffo woman.
who was soon to be married to Poffo wash
ing bloody coat. The woman hung it
on the fence to dry The girl also saw
four bloody handkerchiefs and revolver.
The handkerchiefs were in sink in the
woman's q apartments. Peepo also saw the
coat and handkerchiefs.
Detective Sergeant Petrosino. the Italian
sleuth OF New York, was sent for by the
the Serraffo girl, Poffo's intended bride,
with the Peepo girls story. She broke down
and made full confession which corrob-
crates the statement made by the Peepos.
when l washed the coat and hat. she
said, Il saw the blood and | thought this
l<,o I
bered our coming marriage and | said
wouldn't marry murderer
PofYo's brother came from Brooklyn
on Sunday, she said. and took away the
hat and coat and Poffo's revolver. The
Brooklyn police have been asked to find
the brother.
The witnesses fatty contradict Poro's
story that he did not come to New Rochelle
to zee the Serraffo woman on Friday night
They swore that he was there on the night
Of the murder and that the next morni ing
a coat and hat be elonging TO one Of the other
boarders were missing On Saturday night
they say. Poffo called at the house and ex-
changed the missing coat and hat for his
own. The next day his brother, who lives
in Brooklyn. called and took the revolver
away.
The witnesses did not recollect seeing the
bag which figures In the case, and which
the murderer was carrying on his shoulder
but the police to-day found in the Serraffo
woman's room that bag had been burned.
The Italian since his arrest has told con-
fiicting stories regarding his injuries and
his movements. He said at first that he
had not been in New Rochelle since June ~,
but was tonight forced to admit that he
visited the Oak street house several times
since He denied that he was here on last
Friday night, when the murder occurred
but Chief Timmons said to-day that he has
Ave witnesses who will swear that he was
there
The police are also convinced that the
explanation given by Poffo regarding the
bruises on his head is false. Poffo said that
he was hurt py falling over a wire fence.
The police have looked for the fence in the
locality he mant ioned, and It does not exist.
He also denied that he ever owned re-
volver, but afterward admitted that he had
one but gave il away
He could not remember the name OF
the man to whom he gave IT,. His intended
bride and his brother Raphael who are
ing stories. Coroner Wissendanger said to
night that he thought that the develop
ments Of to-day were sufficient to justify
him in holding them both as accomplices.
The bloodhound with which the Knights
Of Columbus searched the park and after
ward confronted the prisoner in his cell
was returned this evening to its owner.
DR.. c. A. Longest Of Franklin, Mass. The
animal covered In all about twenty miles.
but followed the footsteps of the police
man on the night he was murdered instead
of those OF his slayer. This the police
say was because the men started him of
with the scent from the clothing worn
by Ahearn