New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-06-25
HELD FOR GRAND JURY.
PoFo, Says Coroner, Seems TO Be
4hedrn's Murderer.
SWEETHEART INcRIMINATEs HIM

An important witness in the case Of the muir
der of Policeman Maurice Ahearn was founo
Yesterday in Mile Peepo, an italian Schoolgirl
Her story so strongly duplicates Frank Foho'
the suspected Italian, that Coroner Weisenoah-
cor at a secret Inquest held last night, held
him for the westchester grand jury, on 'he
charge of murder. John Peepo, the girls father'
who keeps the boarding house at No. +" oah-
St where Poffo's intended wife, Bernardina + ar
ssso also broke down tonight ana corfoDo' a'eu
HIS daughters story.
The Peeoo girl told the coroner last night
that on last Saturday the morning after the
murder In Rochelle Park. she saw the farasSo
woman washing a bloody coat AND also Sd"
four bloody handkerchiefs and revolver
Both the girl and her father positively ldenu-
fed them tonight belonging 10 the pflsohei-
The witnesses fatty contradicted Ponos storS
!, that he did not come to New-Rocheile lo sec
the Serraffo woman Friday night lheS
s,yora that he was there on the night of the
murder and that the next morning coat anu
hat belonging to one Of the other boarders were
missing and that on Saturday night Porto called
at the house and exchanged the missing coat
and hat for his own The next day his brother
who lives in Brooklyn, called. they said. and
took the revolver away.
Bernardino Farasso, the intended BRIDE OF
Frank Pono was examined yesterday py De
tecffve Tetrifinio, and he said a1ter"dro 1hd1
her testimony left little doubt in his NINA Oh
the guilt OF Poffo. The girl said that she hao
washed A bloody coat for her future husband
on the morning after the murder, and thai he
had appeared on Saturday evening closely rnuf-
fed She said that they had planned to go to
the priest Saturday night to be married. but
that he had put it off because his brother had
not come over from Brooklyn. and that on Sun
dav night she thought Poffo began TO suspect
that she had told some policeman Of the bloody
coat and had told her that if ~he did not marry
him there would be trouble.
The police yesterday. in examining the Ser
ratio womans ROOM found where bag, such
az Ahearns murderer is said to have had, had
evidently been burned. The police say that
Ahearn spoke of quarrel with italian few
weeks ago.
At the .nauest it was learned that the con-
servatories of Henry Siebrecht, the florist. had
been robbed on the night of the murder, ana
that thu thief carried away about two hundred
carnations in bag. He also stole some flowers
from barrel. packed in raff1a, the same ma
terial which was found near the spot where the
policeman shot.
Poffo formerly worked for Mr. Sebrecht at his
Rose Hill Nurseries. The police theory is that
ne stole the bag and flowers, and was carrying
them over 10 his intended bride to take to New
York and sell, when he encountered the ponce
man and killed him to avoid arrest On the
prisoners head are bruises which doctors say
y ere made with club The Italian has toto
conflicting stories OF his injuries and his move
ments. " -.
Coroner Weisendanger said last night that he
thought the developments of to-day were OF
sufficient Importance 10 Justify him in hoiQlhs
both Poffo's intended bride and his brother
Raphael. as accomplices -
The bloodhound which the knights Of Colum-
bus used in the search returned last even
ing to his owner, DR.. c. A Longest, OF FRANK
lin. Mass. The New Rochelle Police Board ana