The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-01
ISLAND COMBED FOR
MISSING CHAUFFEUR
Police Drag Inlet, but Fail to
Find Body Of Young
Coppola.
PRATT'S ALIBI ATTACKED
Love Affair Enters Mystery,
but Clue So Far Fails
Of Results.
PRATT's AL1BI ATTACKED

For several hours yesterday afternoon
tho police combed the bed OF little in
let that slabs the craggy arm OF Darien
Conn. known AZ Pratt's Island, in the
hope Of recovering the body OF Charles
copolla, the young italian taxicab driver
of South Norwalk whose mysterious dis.
appearance since February IA has baf-
New York. The officials of both States
oooperated yesterday. and with Crap
plins irons detectives dragged the cove
but with no success.
The furrowed sand Of the shore down
from the cottage OF Arthur William
Pratt, the finding of blood stained skift
at the waters edge, combined with the
fact that young Pratt was arrested in
New York on the afternoon OF Coppola s
disappearance trying to dispose OF Cop
poia's automobile. prompted the police to
drag the cove on the theory that Cop
pola was murdered on the island and his
body thrown into the water.
search Entire Island.
Upon request Of District Attorney
Swami the State Attorney OF Fairfield
county. Homer &, Cummings. yesterday
detailed state Policeman Frank Varelli
TO start an investigation into Coppola's
disappearanoe. Accompanied by four
teen friends and relatives of the youns
chauffeur varelli carefully searched the
entire island, including the houses OF
Pratt and his aunt. Mrs. Josephine
Campbell both cottages perched at the
Furthermore tip Of the island They
| found nothing.
Detective Sergeant Thomas Hunt OF
South Norwalk, who has been investigat-
ing the case since February II, alsc
went out to the island with Capt. Rich
ard Hendricks. They spread graphing
irons and dragged around the island, bu-
with no result The water for fifty fee
away from the shore is shallow and bot
tom can easily be seen. The detectives
vent out in small boats and rowed
| around the shallow waters. but found re
trace of the body.
The search will be continued to -day
The police feel confident that Coppola'
d DISAPPEARANCE was due to something thai
happened on the island. They believe tbs
several stories that have been told b,
cottagers who saw an automobile witf
three men drive out from Darien to tbs
island, and hold this theory as more
likely than that Coppola was beaten q
death at some lonely spot along the B"s
ton Post road on the way TO New York.
Investigate Pratt's Abb.
The alibi given by Pratt and MS
brother. which tends to prove his pres
ence in New York at the time Coppols
disappeared. is now the object OF ATTACK
from the investigators. Witnesses ars
now secured. the police say. who ar.
willing to swear they saw Pratt board
n trolley car al Darien at the time HI
! was supposed TO be eating lunch in Man
, haitian.
The only other feature Of the days
Investigation was the injection of q
love affair into the story of Coppola'
life. The police have questioned several
girls IN connection with the case. and
one has heen found who Is a mutua
I friend of Coppola and Pratt. but she
told the detectives last night that her
acquaintance with Pratt was not enough
to arouse Jealousy
Nothing was discovered yesterda,
| which in any way duplicates youns
Pratt with the strange disappearance OF
| the young italian.