The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-10-17
SUFFERING JACKS MURDER
1HE MfN UHO VAS KTLLED FOR THE
PURPOSE or SELLING ms BODY

1HE MfN UHO VAS KTLLED FOR THE
PURPOSE or SELLING ms BODY
separate indictments Against Mrs. Alexander
and Frank Hassett-Ihc woman'- Appeal.
ing Letter to - Former Fricnd-Ncw Facts.
BRipGEpoRr. Oct 1G Separate indict-
mcnts wore presented to Grand Jury against
Mrs. Jorena Elizabeth Alexander and Frank
Bassctt. charging them with having murdered
by tho administration of chloroform. ON tho
night Of the 18th Of July. Frank Wanbccker
who s better known hereabouts IA Suffering
Jack and jack Rufus, and who. IL IL claimed
was killed Ivy the two for the purpose Of selling
isbody 10 the Yale Medical School. On Sept 81
Mrs. Alexander was terribly vexcd because
Frank Bassctt. who lived with hor had during
her absence from home. stolen quantity Of her
furniture, sold II. and appropriated tho money
thus obtained to his own use. and she went to
City Attorney Holt and asked him to assist her
in recovering her property. In an unguardcd
moment sho said that she knew OF enough TO
mako him swing. Gradually Mr.. Holt drew
from hor the story that on the 10th Of May Bas-
scu had onticcd one jack Rufus into the rooms
mutually occupied by them in an old carriage
shop in East Bridgeport administered chloro-
form TO him while he was asleep causing his
death then barrellcd M the BODY. put it into
wagon and compelled her to 10 with him to
New Haven and try to sell II to Dr. L. j.
Sanford for use in the medical college. DIR.
Sanford refused to buy the body and they took
II to n lonely spot in Birmingham and dumped
1t into "A rayinc. There II remained until Sun
day. Sept. % when Chicf of Police Marsh and
Officer Arnold went to the spot M directed nv
Mrs. Alexander. found a." body badly drcom-
posed, aud brought II to this ety. liassrtt WIS
10 Itil awaiting trial for minor offence and
Mrs. Alexander was arrested as an accomplirc.
ana hcld 20 await results, Tho testimony that
| cam" to the knowlrdsr Of states Attorney Ohm
strd WAS sufficient Nv warrant him To sworn out
bcucA Warrant. which hc did. and both Bassrtt
and Nrs. Alexander were held without tail to
await tie action ui the Grand jury. Tho mass
| ~ evidence addurc,i M tho hearing before the
/ Cnrou"r'- jury showed that both were cogni2unt
of, II not mpli 'atcd in. the killing and that the
| woman sc"mnd 81 b" the moving spirit in the
| murder. with Basscu as weak minded ac-
To-day both were brought before the Grand
| Jury. on separate indictments. and the STATE
! Attorney intends. uusstble. to have both
| brought To trial without being obliged TO ask
either one 10 testify against the other. thinking
! ne may be- all" Ia convict them before Jury on
| the testimony Of other Witnesses and proofs ~
! their knowledge " and implication IN the crime
| that he has in his pos~, s-on. lie brings no
! charges against the woman. excepting fur this
| ono crime. n "A conviction on this charge VIII
! either hang her or send her t. State prison flr
! life. Other charges can be brought against her
so i u alleged. and apparently upon the best u
The Grand Jury who are considering this
| case IL made up IL good. solid men. aud they
NJ" at work thoroughly examining the VII
nc-~rs who ARE summoned twiprr them. To-
| day they heard City Attorney Hnlts staten, at /;
| also that OF pr. Sanford of New Haven. o. whom
! Mrs. Alexander tried TO sell tho body. and who
! very strangely neglected t. inform the police of
| this proceeding. hut instead had rorrr-p pond
enc" with her ~ relation 10 the sale 90 rcsur-
! r'c'ed bodies. DIR. louugs. 20 whom the woman
| had offered 10 sell her body. as she had To Or.
| Sanford. WAS Also heard, rs were the prrs rs
| who sold Buss,tt the barrel In which the body
~ e. & ftH
| team Ia 40 10 New Haven. and others who id"n-
| titled The cl1thing and other effects found On
| Jack Euiuss body. also DR.. X bert Hubbard.
| who made the post bortom examination. They
were IN session only four hours to-day. and
! will not arrive at - conclusion until tomorrow.
Mrs. AleNandcr has mania for ieier writ
ing. and since she has been In jail mas written
| Chici-oi Police Marsh another 70 her mother,
| Sarah Ann Haincs. at Eust Haddam. and tho
| last to Henry Sturgcss II this city. These have
all been returned their contents being such a.
II make the States Attorney think il better 10
| have them In his possession than floating about
the country. The contents he will not diVulgc.
| dcncc nj the trial which Is 10 begin a
week from next Tuesday, in case truo bin IS
| Sturgess. The Sun representative learned that
1t was. iervent appeal to one who had for
| and reproaches him for not having visited
her at the lall or sent Per any deiic'e.rs.
committing the. crimes that he seemed
! ~ thirst after; that she had urayed with and
for him until the tears ran down his and her
checks In showers. but that oil efforts 10 reform
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