The Washington times., 1905-12-16
ARREST MADE IN
NAF TAI MYSTERY
Frank PerdOni Arrested by
Asbury Park Police.
ROPE GUIDES DETECTIVES
Fruit and Woman Engross Attention
OF Police IN New Jersey
Murder Case.

ASBURY PARK. Dec. 1e.-Fruit and
a woman today engrossed the atten-
tion Of the police in connection with the
murder of Mrs Morris Natal, as a
sequel to an arrest they made yester-
day They took into custody Frank
Seemingly the inuary narrowed to a
Perdoni. fruiterer. who until recently
had shop in ia Main street. directly
opposite the Natal house. Police Chief
Smith got warrant for arrest OF the
usn from Magistrate Borden Samuel
Fiorio, To whom Perdoni sold his shop.
was taken To the police station on a
John Doe" warrant and held until
he convinced the chief he would appear
when wanted. Then the detectives bent
their energies on verificatiou of circum-
stantial evidence they had gathered, the
task taking them to the fruit shop.
When they had satisfied themselves
that the rope with which the rich old
woman's hands and feet were bound was
similar to tnat dangling from the fruit
erer's awning they turned their atten-
ton TO Long Branch. where dwelt they
said. a woman whose eXtTavagant de-
mands drove PerdOni to gambling, IN
which attempt TO get more money for
her TO spend he lost 40 much ne mort
gagged his business almost 10 the limit.
and had To sell IL to save even a small
sum from tnc wreck OF DlS hLlie ioIluie-
Abandon First Theory.
Apparently. the police late this after
noon abandoned abruptly their thory of
yesterday that the murder of Mrs. Naf-
tai for her diamonds was committed by
negroes. They seemed to take little ac-
count of the facts that William Mat
ihews the negro youth who aired his
views so freely yesterday, shortly after
his examination by Chief Smith. was
sen TO give away a couple of shoe irons.
and that Natal until lately was in the
shoe business Instead, they concen-
trated their activities on tracing Per-
doni's recent movements.
The story gained currency in the
course of the evening that n man
whom Perdoni approached with veiled
proposal to 'get fine diamonds easily
went to the chief with that tale. and 1t
was on his cue that Smith sought the
warrant. II was said this evening the
police found scratches on Perdoni-
Seemingly the inquiry narrowed TO q
search for the Long Branch woman. a
German maid once in Mrs. Naftars en-
ploy. and n man associated closely with
Perdoni. who went TO Newark early
on Wednesday morning.
Fruit. which. ii is understood. Mrs.
Natal did not buy was found in her
apartment after the murder. The police
said tonight the woman from Long
Branch was in the fruiterer's shop on
Tuesday evening AT late nour. II also
was asserted by them that their atten-
tion had been drawn to Perdoni before
this crime was committed.
Made Raid on Place
The Italion. they said. was convicted
OF selling liquor. and they once made
n raid on his shop on suspicion that
Il was n gambling room in disguise.
but found no evidence. Perdoni is thirty
fve years old Piorio is twenty-five.
IT did not appear the police had
reason TO look for information from
Piorio other than the details Of his pur-
chase. The police would not divulge
what they expected to learn from the
German girl Detective Rue who arrest
ed Perdoni and took Piorio TO the police
station. was heard 10 say tonight, Got
him with the goods on him." but that
remark was made to "A friend. and the
sleuth would not explain whether II had
anything 10 do with the Natal case.
The body Of Mrs Natal was taken
TO New York this morning for burial
In Washington Cemetery Services were
held at o'clock in the Natal home.
Rabbi Morris. of New York. officiating.
The body was taken 10 the Pennsy.-
vania station. a stop Of about five min
utes was made at the synagogue IN
West Goodman avenue but the body
was not taken from the hearse.
The chisel found I'm the rear of the
Natal home after the murder was dis
covered has given no clue to the muir
dcrers. II resembles a chisel that was
sold a few days ago TO three men by
Joseph Coyte. who has "A hardware shop
in Goodman avenue. but when II wa .
shown 10 Coyte today he said it was
not the same.