New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-26
NEW STAFFELDT CLEW.
Detectives arrest Man an MasDeth
and GiUe Him Third Degree.

Detectives McGratton and Everett arrested
man in Maspeth last night who is supposed to
know something about the Stafeldt murder. The
officers took their prisoner to the nth Precinct
station house in Elmhurst, where he was put
under the third degree by Captain Kelly and
the detectives.
Bloody thumb marks on the haft of the knife
which killed little Amelia Staffeldt may lead TO
the conviction of her assailant. Captain McCaf-
ferty, of the detective bureau, has had the
bloody thumb and finger prints on the knife
photographed, and a comparison will be made
OF these and marks made by Henry Becker. who
is now under arrest and those of the man ar
rested last night
The little girls funeral was held yesterday. 1t
attracted greater crowds than had ever before
gathered in quiet Elmhurst. Ten little girls, in
their white confirmation dresses, and eight boys
in black the bearers. AS the coffin was borne
from the house. two of the dead girls sisters
tainted. The Rev. Frederick Tilly pastor of the
Lutheran Church. conducted the services, speak
ing first in German and then in English. He
confirmed her last Palm Sunday.
The pastor said he hoped if the murderer was
caught that swift justice would be melted out to
him. He said no law ever was made could
be made which would provide punishment severe
enough for a fend who could commit such 4
crime on an innocent child and then murder her.
He called all present 10 help down the
murderer.
During the service the porch of the Staffeldt
home collapsed About fifty persons were
crowded together when the timbers slipped
dropping the floor Of the porch to the ground.
Several of the mourners were slightly bruised
but none required medical assistance The ser
vices were not interrupted
Becker changed his story to the police again
yesterday. The day before confronted by the
body Of the child he broke down and said he
had seen her assaulted. The most essential de-
tails of that story, however he denied yester-
day. His latest story is that while in Manhat-
tan on the day OF the murder he met
known Slav and rode in trolley to ElmhurSt
with him. There, he says, the Slav told him
he was looking for work. Becker said he told
the Slav he could find plenty at Corona They
then separated. Becker walking about the coun-
try until he tired. He finally lay down
under tree to sleep. When he awoke he start
ed off again, finally finding some work at the
home OF DR.. L. S. Wilson, in Elmhurst.
He says now that he did not see the Slav
attack the girl in fact did not see him after
they first parted company.
Since his confinement Becker has been
watched closely. and the police believe him to
be feeble minded.
damaging piece OF evidence found late
yesterday afternoon when Lieutenant Graham
took Beckers shoes 10 the cabbage patch
through which the murderer Near the barn
there Is short stretch OF soft earth in which
the imprints OF the fleeing mans shoes were
shoes fitted the footprints exactly. He made
many measurements, and finally took away with
him a portion of the soil containing imprint
of each shoe.