New-York tribune., 1908-04-14
FIND WOMAN CHOKED
NAN SL1SHED TO DEATH.
Third Victim of TenderIoin Tragedy
Badly Hurt.

triple tragedy occurred at No. l35 West 2Sth
street. in the of the Tenderlon district yes
terday afternoon. which for time baf7ed the
police.
a whom the detectives recognized as
Kate Pelter character we'll known in the neigh
borhood found stranged in the bedroom of her
apartments. and in the kitchen Italian ident-
fed later Vital Debela Badia found with
his threat and a large bread knife living by his
side. The third person connected with the tragedy
is Charles Berger, who is known to have lived
with the dead woman for several months. He is
in the New York Hospital. suffering from stab
wounds.
After several conflicting stories told TO the police
they inclined to accept Bergers version Of the
tragedy. and that is that when he entered his
apartments yesterday afternoon he found the Peter
lying across the bed and saw Badia trying
to open a desk with pair of shears. He says he
grappled with Badia and received three wounds in
the chest
The police now believe that an attempt was
made by Bada to rob the of her jewelry,
and that when Berger escaped. after a struggle
with him. the former went ito the kitchen and cut
his throat This belief strengthened when an
examination Of Badia's clothes made and two
earrings which Berger identified as belonging to
the woman were found his person.
shortly after o'clock yesterday Berger was seen
IA run excitedly out of the West 2Sth street house
and rushing UP to Patroman Houston. of the West
30th street station. it is said, exclaimed that a
woman had been murdered and a man had commit
ted suicide that address
Houston went back with the man and found the
woman living across the bed in her apartments, with
a Turkish towel tied tightly around her throat and
Badia lying on the kitchen floor unconscious.
Houston summoned ambulance from the New
York Hospital and Bada rushed off in the
hope that he might regain his senses sufficiently to
make statement He died, however, without re-
gaining consciousness.
The police had some difficulty Identifying the
dead man 1t was not until they found Lena Arfco,
IUI1o said Sbe
be learned about him. The niece informed the
police her uncles name was Badia, that he was a
clothes presser. born III Italy, and was forty-slN
years old She said that he had lived with another
woman in the West 2Sth street mouse "IleIe the
crime was committed.
Assistant District Attorney Simonds, Captain
Farrell of the West 30th street police station, and
Coroner Dooey went TO the hospital last night TO
examine Berger, and when they were through they
intimated that they inclined TO accept his
story that he found Badia in his apartments and
that the latter evidently there TO commit rob
berry.
Although Berger Was arrested on the charge or
homicide and was detained prisoner in the hos
pftal pending his recovery from his wounds, il is
believed that there is no case against him and that
N all probability he viii DC discharged when az
ragned before magistrate.
According to the police, the dead woman three
years ago married a man named Peter who owned
a restaurant. He died suddenly, and the story
went around that he stranged or poisoned
Mrs. Peter arrested at the time as sus-
picous person, but the corOner's jury could not
find case against her and she was discharged
Since then she lived for some time with Badla,
and while his money lasted they were often seen
together. 1t was reported that she then left him.
and recently went to live with Berger.
Early this morning Detectives Sullivan and
schueing of the Central Office, arrested William
Waissman a printer at his home No. 3l9 East
eth street as a material witness He is said 20
be q brother OF the murdered woman