The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-26
CONFESSES AHEARN'S MURDER
RAFFO SAYS mr. THOUGHT PO-
LlCENAN WAS 4 LOAFER.

Fired. He Says. In self.Defrnce After
Ahearn Had Hit Him with Club and
Had Drawn Ids Revolver and Fired
threatened sweetheart's Brother.
New RocHELLE, N. Y, June 2s.-Late
tonight Francesca RATIO, who was sus-
pected Of having killed Policeman Maurice
Ahearn In Rochelle Park on Saturday
night last, admitted that he had shot q
man on that night and in that place, but
says he did not know the man was police
man. He was brought before Coroner
Weisendanger. told Of his rights and sworn.
Then he said:
Il came to New Rochelle last Friday
night and went to 90 Oak street to visit
my intended wife. I left about 1880.
After leaving the house started for Tuck
ahoe, taking route across the New Haven
railroad tracks and through the park /
staggered, becaus l had been drinking
very much. l saw man coming out from
behind the bushes In the park, and he had
a pistol in his hand. When he came out
he said to me-:
Where are you going?' said I was
going to Tuckahoe. He said. This road
i
by this road many tines He said should
turn back. When l WAS turning back he
struck me with club. Then he got hold
Of me- I said, Why have you struck
me3' Then he threw me down and we
rolled on the ground, and l put my leg
over his leg and wanted to turn him
over.
.Then he got up and pulled out his pistol
and said: I will shoot you Then
pulled my pistol and said: II you are
going to shoot me will shoot you. Then
fired five shots. While fired those five
shots he was walking. When l fred the
shots the stranger was five feet away. He
did not fall down. We were clone to a
lamppost and a tree. thought that he
had some other loafers behind him. was
carrying bundle containing my clothes.
After the shooting picked II up and took
it back to the house in Oak street.
Il was all full Of blood. 1t was the blood
that rushed out from my head where the
man hit me. didn't know he WAS police
man. He came out to me like a loafe r
All he said was, Don't 60 on this road
He felt OF the bundle and asked me what
was in II.
Il took the coat to Frank Corroch. who
boards at 90 Oak street. At the house
in Oak street there was a window sash
broken and / got through the hole. The
coat and hat wore when did the shooting
I left In the house and didn't see them any
more but the people in the house said that
they had sent them to my brother. / have
not seen the coat nor my brother nor
nobo dy else eince.
IL left the Oak street house that night,
and didn't come back until Saturday.
next came to New Rochelle on Sunday night
and attended dance with my girl. That
about the coat They said to mo How Is
It about the blood on the coat and hat1'
with them l didn't say anything, but
with Fedalo serafIo I said: When I went
away last night met one who wanted to
don't know whether he is hurt or not
no uniform and that he did not display
his badge. The Italians statement re-
garding the badge is borne out by other
officers Of the New Rochelle force. They
wore his badge on his coat.
| Chief Timmons said tonight that DR..
W. F. johnson, the young dentist who
witnessed the encounter from the window
| of the house in the park where he was
what's in that bundle IN take you to the
station house.
Ratio testified that Ahearn shot at him
! once, but the chief says that the re-
yolver found in the pocket osds Of the
murderer will be photographed Tomorrow
and then taken to the White Plains Jail
! for safe keeping.
The credit for his capture is said to
belong largely to sergt. Frank Cody Of
Ill H.
| friend who had heard about the bloody
coat, and made an Investigation which led
| to the arrest Of Ratio.
In the examination to-day Bernadno
Seraffo. Ratios afflanced wife, told again
q washing the bloody cat coz ;,, Her. Ter! brother,
! shot a man on Saturday night. Fedalo
/ told RATIO that ne would not allow him to
! marry Bernndino, and he says Ratio an
swered'
II will marry her. Remember, have
| killed one man.
Patrick Ahearn, the brother OF the muir
! dered policeman, to-cAy asked permission
| to see the Italian. Coroner Weisendanger,
| fearing that Ahearn meant to do violence
to the prisoner, hesitated at firN to grant the
request. Ahearn assured him that he had
The Coroner took him to the cell where
the prisoner is confined, and Ahearn sazed
through the bars Of the cell, He raid
to RAffo: You look like murderer.
Then, unable to control his feelings any
longer, he walked away.
Joseph RATIO, 80 years old, Of SOS Union
street Brooklyn. was arrested by Detective
Sergea nts vachris and Farrell yestertlay on
a warrant issued by Coroner Weisendanger
being an accessory to the murder OF Police
man AheArn. RATIO is a brother of the
Itelian now under arrest for the murder
Me- gist rate Dooley in the Adams street
t,olIce court turned Ratio over to Sergts
Cody and McSweeney. who had come from
Westchester with the proper documents