New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-02-09
VICTIM IS KNOWN
CLEWS TO MURDER.
Death of Janitor's Wife Likely
To Be Cleared Up.

While the police were outwardly baffed
by the murder Of Sofia Peterson, the wife
of the former janitor in the apartment
house at No. 179 West 94th street. a re-
porter unravelled yesterday many OF the
mysterious circumstances which led up to
the crime. The victims husband left the
fiat which he and Enilya Sarapuu had
furnished in the tenement house at No.
267 West 146th street less than three hours
before the detectives reached there on
Monday, when the murder was revealed
Miss Sarapuu is held in the House of
Detention as a material witness She was
put through the most rigid form Of po-
lice inquisition yesterday, even TO the eX-
tent of being made to identify the mu-
tilated body of the murdered woman. but
even these efforts failed to give the police
any clews.
The tragedy was made clear through
number of papers which were regarded as
worthless trash" by the detectives who
searched the apartment where the janitor
lived until Monday Among this trash
was letter postmarked from a seacoast
town in Russia. This letter was addressed
to Miss Sarapuu. at No. 30 West 92d
street There was also Il letter addressed
to Alexander Thompson and forwarded to
the marine barracks in the Brooklyn navy
yard.
Another envelope addressed TO Miss Sara
pun at No. 228 West 10TH street and post
marked at the Brooklyn navy yard seemed
to be a promising clew. The envelope ad-
dressed TO the marine resulted in hndins
that he was brother Of the girl detained
as witness He was sent TO Nicaragua on
the United States ship Buffalo and LETT
the navy yard on December l. thompson
assumed his name when he came 10 thls
country. The name Tampson was used by
the janitor when he rented the apdl lilieii'
in West 146th street.
At the East 9Th street house lives a Mrs
Iamberg. who said she was well acquaint-
cd with Miss Sarapuu, who received mail
ar her house Mrs. Lamberg showed
postcard which Thompson had sent to her
husband. II was received here on Monday
and showed that he was stationed at Co
rinto The woman was also able to give
an address at No. % West 122d street
where, as it appeared. Miss sarapuu had
been employed by a Mrs. Alexander UP 10
the day following the murder.
Mrs. Alexander was positive in her state
ment that Peterson, who had often called
at the house, escorted Miss Sarapuu from
the place last Thursday. The janitor re-
turned TO the place on Sunday and said
the girl would take up her work again IN
week On Monday the police found the
BODY of the janitor's former wife, and yes
terday afternoon Mrs. Alexander was
called to the door by a foreigner. who said
he was the uncle of the dead woman The
man left the place shortly before a re-
porter arrived
According TO Mrs Alexander. Peterson
who was known to her as ''Janson, tbs
name of his wife's first husband, was fire.
ouent visitor at the place. Another man
who was regarded a favorite with tht
girl. who was employed by Mrs Alexander
"a servant, was John Hollcksaere,
photographer who lives at No. 301 Eas
Gath street.
The last visit of Peterson to Mrs Alex
ander's fat was followed by a call from
the photographer. who was told that Mis-:
Sarapuu had left the place. and tina
Peterson had arranged for her to join he
| brother. who. according 10 the story TOLD
by the janitor, was sick in Southern mill
tary hospital The photographer was no
aware of the woman's arrest until las
night.
The last link of the chain that estab-
Iished the identity Of the dead woman. fur
! nished a motive for the murder, and &C
| counted for the disappearance or Mis-;
Sarapuu was obtained at the home o.
7 Kaflyuu, who is the janitor of the apart
| n,ant bouse at No 143 West 135th street.
| kailyuu said that Peterson met Mis-:
| Sarapuu while ne was jsnitor of the apart