The New York herald., 1878-10-12
ON HER KNEES.
Mrs. Alexander ImpOring Bassett to
Declare Her Innocent.
TRAGIC INTERVIEW IN THE JAIL.
How a Washerwoman Escaped
Becoming a Subject"

prisoned, was the scene this morning OF most tragic
incident, which II represented the stage would
be called unreal And yet 1t took place, with all It's
dramatic Details in the presence OF the States Attor-
ney, James H. OImstead. and assistants under whose
cautious labors this case Is being made ready for
trial. rho two prisoners, who had not con-
versed together since Frank 4. Bassett was frst
brought back as a pocketDook thief from Nor
wi0n, were placed lace to face and had an in
terv,ew in the presence OF Mr.. Olmstead, Chief
Marsh, Officer Arnold and Jailer Wells 1t came
about IN this way Mrs. Alexander, II appears, wrote
letters the States Attorney. imploring him
to permit her to have interview with Bassett. She
assured him that II once she could face him he would
not to declare that she innocent OF the
crime charged against her All she wanted was to
him and talk TO him tho presence Of any one the
States Attorney might select. She reminded Mr..
Olmstead that before placing her trial tor her lie
he At all believed G,d or In the Bible he could
not refuse this boon to innocent woman. The
States Attorney kept her request under advsement
for some little time, and finally made up his mind
that OF justice would be dctsated by
csding TO her prayer.
PACE FACE.
Accompanied by the officials above mentioned, .
visit made TO the jail the keeper ordered
to bring the two criminals 10 his ofice tho first
aooE Mrs Alexander, looking eonsiderably y older
since her Incarceration. was hrst brought from
female tier and meekly occupied the chair assigned
her. On recognizing The officials she haa seen before
she soon assumed her old defiant attitude. biushng
slightly, when Immediately alter Frank e. Bassett
was led into the oface by Of his keepers Frank
looked exceedingly pale and trembled nc
seat IN tho circle which formed by this time He
tried svads tho glance OF tho woman, but before
he could his head toward North avenue
she her lee. rising TO her full and thsn
her full height saying
.Frang. don't you tear man fear God only. Tell
the truth and confess what you have done"
al have nothing 10 con fess," Frank replied.
Aston,shsd at his caimness, she glanced at the
officers all seated in u circle, being only per-
sou standing ana advancing toward the place where
Basse.t was seated, looking HIM straight In the
eyes, said
Don't you remember that you put hun the barrel
ana that fell alongside OF the barrel overcome by
fright ana fear ?"
B.sselt remained uneoncernsd, immovable only
showing sght nervousness ut the weman's increased
passionate tone Of voice. Not word escaped has
laps however.
on HER KNEES BEvoRE BAssErT.
s'You said you once loved me-" And saying this she
| threw herself headl0ng on the floor ana finally
assumed u kneeliug position. While thus ner
knoss nauds f0ded and arms outstrssohed, she
exclaimed IN tones loud enough 70 be heard all over
..By ali the attachment you had for me- BY all
the love you % ever pore ms ssy now say rsn' ners
| chance, say II now."
Bsssstt aid not even rise from mis- char, and turning
hts head partly ASIDE said IN quiet tons:-"I nave
notnlng TO say now. shall tell all when tne proper
time comes.h Tne woman cried and soboed pnsousiy
Ii Il acting she ought 70 have mad
| iul in tnat line, which her record says
\ WAS limitsd 70 Houston street dance house. Hers
were, however. not the only tears snsd during that
| remarkable interview. There werS others present
| also visauly affected, Tor The scene Was such
| as the versest jaiikosper does not
| 10 witness outside Of theatre. The States
| Attorney now convinced that the continuation
Sasss.. S Was immovssos. ana =. a gwen signal tns
| Interview terminate The two criminals were
led back TO their respective cells sne eassing slight
glance ~ Frank MS she turned 70 her quarters mur.
muring some inaudlbe remarks. which were not
heard by her suen companion in crime.
wAsHERwoxAN's LUCKY ESCAPE.
| Aow really innocent Mrs Alexander II Of any
| criminal intent. she pretended ut the interview
was illustrated this afternoon, when State Attorney
Olms,ssd related tho result oi Investigations had
instituted in another direction. Accompanied by
Onicer Arnold ne visited = washerwoman named
| sarah McMsnn, residIug on the hith floor OF
| q tenement Ia Fairfield avenue. THIS woman,
it appears, had boen engaged TO DO some washing Tor
first engaged because she could not lind the carriage
factory. Tho next day Bassett came for her and
brought her along. When sne was at work In tho
forenoon she found re- Alexander exceedingly kind,
more Ihas she had ever experienced at Tho hands
last plenty OF Tea. and again alter breakfast.
Mrs Alexander urged her to stay over night;
sDod' nn r'u as % sns bad" nsa o,n.r matters .o look
alter. Then she must come back in the
stay that night She left however, at one o'clock,
being inclined to keep on drinking the tea which
had been furnished her abous nooatmc In fact, she
put cup without drin king Il, there being
pcculiar Dit,er taste about H. Tnon Incidentally she
overheard tho words. "Pat nor 70 sleep" spoken In
another room, aud so she went home at one
O'Clock, without being ANXIOUS to return the
next morning. This is the story substantially as
gwen by Sarah the officers OF the Law, and
upon comparing dates it appears 70 have been just
two days before John kuius' body prepared for
the uss Of the Yale medical school Il will be shown
m n IA ri I'D 10
nsh subjects wherever she co0ld hnd them and that
her criminal intent, though not always successful
will be uly illustrated by cases OF whom sarah Mo-
Mann Is not the only living witness.
PuRcHAsEs OF PolsoSs.
The wide publication gwen 70 this case, the trial Of
which Will begin IN two weeks from next Monday,
has aided materially the officers oi the Law. we'll
known druggist has volunteered the Information TO
the prosecution that only four weeks ago Mrs
Alexander made particular inquiry TO the effect Of
arsenic the DAY alter gentleman well known In
Brassport said this afternoon. s'When thus 10
iairly trial matters will be brought 10 light
that will astoaish the people of Con necticuI"
MYSTERIOUS RKrfcEScK
endeavered 70 obtain iartncr information in 70
Chsi Marsh said, ~ always believed IN tne mur
der theory ana have never Abandoned H. cam how
ever. toll you nothing further about It." fns publ
the HERALD this morning that suspi in
connection with tnis rested upon the Alexander
household has sst many people a thinking here. 1t
must be forgotten inat strong reasons said
To exist ~ the time why The sudden taking OF Of the
the Captain should be called . suicide, and there
are people nov in gy xious that
tue very circumstances OF the poor Captains death
should alluded to. Hence tho eagerness OF
many TO oali tho Colv voeorcsses link sabsurd" and
"rIdiculous aud the very officials who only ycster-
day clearly remembered tnat tho Alexander oiks
were living wthu pistei shot OF the where the
Captain met MS untimoly end, aud said that certain
things mad been found the Alexander effects just
tying the suspicion, have suddenly become exccca-
insiy reuccnt Tue trial, however, may incdoa tally
upset all calculations 10 keep matters hidden shat
ought 70 nave bcen revealed four years ago.
NO MORE EVIDENCES wASrgD.
Further digging In shs factory has been suspended
and no more work will DO ed here until The GU
Gre building has been leveled. Contractor Wash
burn and gang OF men nre tearing down the build
Ing, that has become eyssors 10 East Bridgeport,
aud when all tho timuor 10 removed the grouoa wnl
bc entirely overturned 10 ~ any resurrec-
tiun evidence lies bur1cd below the surface. 1t is
the general opinion here, however that By that time
the trial Will DO ~ END, and both Frank Bassstt
and Mrt. Alexander win have been condemned.
A BRAVE BOY