The New York herald., 1878-11-01
THE BRIDGEPORT HORROR.
Progress of the Trial of
Mrs. Alexander.
TESTIMONY OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE.
A Complete Statement Of the Case by
the Accused Woman.

ing few minutes after nine O'Clock with fair At
tendance, osiy limited number being admitted.
The gallery had been reserved for ladies' and
large number took advantage OF this.
kra Alexander and Basssss we're brought In
iew minutes before the court opened Bassett taking
. seat IN the prisoners docket and Mrs. Alexander
siiting With her counsel Al soon a. she came
into the room she asked II her mother
was there. and whom told that she was
not seemed quite dsappointsd. After convers-
Ing with her counsel short time she given
pom and ink and = seat at the table, she COM
meuced writing some additions to her statement.
Bassetts sister In and converssd with him
frequently,
TESTIMONY or cHIRY xARsH
Chief OF Police W. 4. Marsh was tho first witness
called. He testified regarding the statement OF Mr..
Holt TO him, confirming that gentlsman's testimony
yesterday; he then repeated . conversation which ne
and Mrs. Alexander mad wnsn alone; ne asked her
how long she had known "Stuttsring jack" she said
she did not know him ut all, but Bassett
called him by that name; he asked her II
she could nnd the place whore the body was cit she
he. 10 company with Officer Arnold and Mrs. Alex
andcr, TOOK team and drove " New Haven 10 the
sndsr a. the woman that tried 10 sell ser
BODY 70 him They then drove 10 Derby and
nn ,,h an O.1ss which sos
road which Bassstt took after crossing tue bridge;
when they reached sand Oauk said, .'rhis ine
place" Oihcsr Arnold then got out aud went down
the bank and found the barrel with human
hsxd and hand protruding; he then directed OMesr
&c. some help; Arnoio brought oacK lhreo men. and
they tnen brought The barrol up TO the road; Mrs
Alexander, seeing the body IN the Darrel
'Oh. that him; !" iney then fastened barrel -
the wagon and drove TO this city ana placed MRS.
rnE INTERVIEW BETWEEN THE pRIsoxERs
Chief Marsh tneu related the interview between
Ar,. Alexander ara Ba.se.s g me jail. sh. s.id:-
Al YAu sftA lava
me tell shs sruth ana say that you committed sho
crims."
HIS answer was:-s.I Will have nothiss 10 say. at
tho proper time | will tell the truth"
she ssid, .'Trank. DO acknowledge tnat your own
hands committed THIS deed."
He agxiu made her the same answer, and abe con-
sinusd. "Frank, IL you hsve no regard tor NO. taiuk
same reply, no would have nothing 10 say; sne
said, Remember Frank, there - GEO 10 Juogs, not
she then iel down on her knees before him and
plendsd with him; she aitsrward and said
non thanked .Ss ssf for % srsnie
this interview and then withdrew; the w.t.
ness heard Mira Alexander say ina. Tho coat
and shoes tak0n from "Stuttering jack" were
In hts cross-sxamioasion tho wisnoss said Bassett
during the interview hung his hsad ana did look
mp as hsr. Mrs. Alexander used expression .sLet
that love plead for me-"
oygicxR ARSoLD's TESTIMONY
that he vas Chist Marsh 10 work up she
He then related IL. circums:ansss Of The trip 70 New
Haven. and corrobsratsd the testimony OF Chiel
Ms5sA and aa,nS Guy A"oao:y a,o., Holt he test:
yard and identified them whom shown to him.
he also ,denunsd tue piece OF barrel head which was
skown him. exhibiting the scratches which were
siai@.e Bssss,, s,d He stated sna. ,-nsi the mex.
day be went with Mrs.. Alexander to the build.
Ing In search Of tho bottle which contained
shs chioroiorm and found It under tho floor; Mrs.
tdentAsd; the bottle was portion Of laoel with
the letters &C. H" and portion OF tho drugsist's
name. Tbs witncss said that at the interview be-
tween Mrs. Alexander Bassots jail sno said
TO Bassett III you will tell the truth have nothing
10 fcaro
On his ss-sxaminaton By Mr.. Thompson he
could not ax the date precisely, and when he was
osns Sc Va. y ana - M ZOO.
capacity with papers, and examined several slips
paper 70 refresh her memory, aud then whispered
counsel. During Tue tnaSton OF this
witness Mrs. Alexander kept her eyes somo mem.
oranda wnioh her counsel held IN his hand aud from
which he was putting his Questions witness said TO
the prisoner, whom asked ny her u no would stand
between her and ell harm. that he had nothing 10
Attorney had made nsr any he would probably s,ics
20 tnom. Al this point diagram OF the rooms IL tho
shown nd sa,d Dy she witness 10 DO correct Hs had
found svsrything a. Mrs Alexander had told him.
A. ,h's point the Cous. IT., TOOK reeoss until swo
she spectators present were ladies'. hrs Alexander
occupied most Of the time previous 70 the opening by
reading q copy OF the HEKALD.
BAssHTr's STATEMENT.
John Wells was called and asked II Bassett had
Alexander In tho commission Of this crimc He an.
swersd shs has" Mrs. Aioxandsrs counsel moro
Oiinstead wilndrsw ths question for the present
Tho statement OF Mr. Wells will be very I'm mporIanL
o. IL u expected 20 throw light on the crime.
MURDERED
George :. Humisson Was next called He testified
that he knew "stutssring Jack, as no was called,
his true name being Frsuk Wsinbeeksr. He used
worK for witness, and got the names Of .Stuttsr-
lug JaeK" ana ..Jack RUFUS" vhile In his employ.
He lust sac him about the 10Th Or 10Th Of July.
Wilnam Hayes WINS called. aud said shat was cap
tain OF gboAt; he knew the deceased JaeK Ru-
fus used to stay board OF his boat through
winter; he nad seen him since the 9Th OF JuIy
be Bassett aud Jack kutus together the dock
aoout the Al or 6th Of Juy It might have bcsn be-
George y. Cook was next called and testified that
10 had known Frank Basset ave or SIX years; he lot
n team to Bassctt on July 13; Bassett camo 20 him
and wanted . close Top wagon 10 70 TO New Haven
Frank B. Taylor iaentined the ring which was taken
with Oncsr Arsoln and AIRS. Alexander TO
search The building wnere sac and Bassets
where Mrs. Alexander had told inom 70 look for t
sho said that was the one which had the ehioroorm
A. fifteen minutes past iour the Court adjourned until
FRIDAY morning
Prsr 10 the com OF the trial Mrs. Aisx-
auder prepared Tor the use OF hcr counseia long state
mont of The case. The following Is . summary Of It's
contents ana gives sho principal features Of the
In the arst part she refers TO the taxing Of the
money by Frank Bassett, William strcs last July,
which was lost by gentleman from vandai,a, Ill
TINS finally led her to place sbe guit OF the Wsin-
becker murder upon Frank Bassett account OF she
spirit oil vengeance aroused within her when she saw
her homo stripped Of everything abe could call her
own whom she returned from N Norwich, whittier they
had gone tue sioep TO escape the vigilance OF The
police. She accuses Bassett oi taxing her household
sness ana disposing VI them subsequently, 10 thts
journey. While there, seeing he detected In the
robbery OF tns money sher giving her SO Of the
amount asd spending the rest ne made up lhs
sdding a porlion Of the money Obtained from
the sale Of ser snscta She tnsn goes on to say she
vent day to the drug store 10 procure arsenic
preparation which she had read about paper.
where stated u would bsautiiy the compile xion.
The druggist d,d not have this article but gave her
something bottle which Was labelled and charged
her ten cents Bassstt stated 10 her that he pur-
chased the chloroiorm for himself AZ he had the
toothache. When they left this CITY for Norwich she
took along with her the bottle which contained the
preparation for the complexion. While upon the
boat said that she wanted 10 20 home, a. she
felt as though something vas going 70 happen
to them. He told hsr that sue was super
stitious and that there was no cause Tor tear.