The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-10-02
THE CHASTITY TRAFFIC.
Horrible ReVela tiCn8 at th6
Bridgeport Inquest.
MRS. ALEXANDER'S BOLD DECLARATION.
Willing to Pay a Bill with Her
Own Body.


Alexander and Frank e. Basset have been to-day the
principal topic OF conversation only in this city
but also among the passengers on the numerous New
Haven Before the hour fixed Tor the Coroners
inquest this morning met George Bassett father 81
the alleged murderer. He Is deeply distressed ut tho
critical position in which hts only son Is placed, and
whose dcpraved doings have brought suoh disgrace
upon his family. asked him IN regard to tns
letter which Mrs. Alexander had written some
time ago, whom he said, "Yes, she wross
mo a letter proposing TO go in the body
snatchng business, and said she knew man In NOW
York in the habit OF picking up bodies and
selling them TO medical schools and colleges She
added this did nothing else and made good
living by It, OF course" continued Mr. Bassett, ~
reply to the womans proposition, and only
regretted that my son had anything to do with her.
Frank cannot read write well. used 70 send him
school, but no would learn; SO whom he waa
about eighteen years old he went to sea, ana sinca
then no has beon trading along tho coast"
THE coRoNER's INQUEST.
At ten O'Clock the office OF Judge Goddard at the cor.
OF all and Main streets, was crowded with large
number people anxious to listen TO the testimony OF
numerous witnesses. who had been subpGnaed Tor
this morning Captain James Mason, OF the schooner
Mary E. Baylies, showed memorandum proving
that RUFUS was board tho night OF July IL that
on the 18th he had paid him his wages; he had not
seen him since that date. DR.. Robert Hubbard gave
q OF the body US found; lower Jaw was
missing the hair aud scalp gone.
Dr. L. J. Sanford, OF New Haven, 10 whom tho body
OF RUFUS was offered, was called ana sworn, but the
city attorney dismissed HIM tor the day without ask
ing him any questions. George \. Cook swore that
tho morning OF July Is Bassett was at hrs stable az
early I'VE O'Clock secure the wagon he needed
Tor u trip to New Haven, saying that MS wiio was
sick there and no was anxious 70 bring her homo.
woMAN's ACCOUNT OF THE MURDER
rho Jalior here appeared with LORNA Z.
Alexander and she was ~ once placed upon the stand
In calm deliberate manner sue testified that she
knew Rufus, the murdered man, but had seen
him the carriage shop, where Bassett had brought
him; Basselt VINO boaroed with her. invited Rufus to
SUPPER alter supper latter Lard the sofa and
went TO sleep sac continued. saw saw Basso.s
sSa saw him gasp two three times,
and then he died; Bassett then wont out
:come nere, damn you = said, .Dou'.-yoa have
done enougn;'' he said ~ you don't help me vii!
pus s Oo know what them
in rope and tied tue legs up 10 tue chm and tied
the arms behind; whed ne 90. him 10 the
shoes Of the murdered were hero shown
to the witness, who al once identified them as those
took her aud cut the coal OF the body; he
then headed the barrel up and kept II over n,shs;
barrel IN II and went 10 New Haven 20 soil II; whom
he that he could not sell the body he drovd
ting out 10 nnd good place where TO hide
IT. ne then took witness kniie and scratched the word
"Bridgeporr from the barrel; as ne came up sho
hts footsteps 70 hide hts track.
Tho witness then related how she accompanied De-
yesterdays HERALD. In reply 70 question who
scratched The label from the cnIoroform bottle shs
said she DID not know, bat thought Bassoit dtd H.
ALL ABOUT Tng SIZZLING OF BooIxa
Alter recess AZ Two O'CLOCK Mrs Alexander was
again placed the stand.
Il. n. Hoyt (ioroman Of tho juryl-What oonversa.
Scnoolf
Witness-l told h,m exactly VIVA. Bassstt told me
Mr.. Hoyt-Did you ever have any previous CONVEX
soon with the Doctor Ia regard ~ tho sale OF bodesf
Witnoss (caimyeOnly whom wont thoro 70 sell
myself; ne asked Then II was crazy; told him
not, but was In dlstresa
Mr.. hoyt-What did DR.. SANFORD tell your
Wnnoss-He told me that he could not buy meg
insisted upon selling myself he 10 bring
other bodies; replied that could not be SO hard
hearted.
Mr.. Boyt-How did you know that DR.. SANFORD WAC
In the habit Of buying bodiess
wmucss-Dr Young sent mo TO him 70 sell myself
DR.. Yoang lives about u block from me.
bod,cs2
owed DR.. Young q bill and told nim II he would only
tell me whore could sell my body would pay him
no then gave me Dr. Sanfords address on q slip VI
paper Witness tnen stated that had told Bassctt
the offer made her by DR.. Sanford 70 bring bodies
to hin, when he said that to would like the oppor.
tunity himself to sell some, aud she warned hlm
that II better 10 leave that business alone After
she had described The clothes OF the murdered man
she was dismissed from the stand and taken back
tho Jail, followed by a large crowd.
onans az ,no eSIoro,orm no,ia pa, s.,a ,ssx nnS
been unable 70 hnd the sponge
Clarence >. Goouell, drug CLERK, testified that
few weeks after he was employed At Mr.. Stevens
no sold Two ounces OF ch loroiorm 20 a woman
who came with an empty whiskey bottle. dc had
not sold choroiorm Ia such peculiar bottle 70 any
other person.
THE MURpERxR IN COURT.
Tho Jaiior appeared IN court having In Gus.
tody FRANK X. Bassstt. the alleged murderer. Mr..
Ho,, asked him II he desired make any statements,
when no SAID. "No, SIR"
City Attorney holt asked Mr.. wsls the jailsr,
II he had any eonvsrsation with Bassett
knew nothing aSou. The IN urdor and would NOS d.
vuge thing inc prisoner had said 20 him II was
not lair 10 asS him such ques,,ona ao asked the
pso.ecton Of tho Cour, not 20 compel him 70 answer
at least until he mad the ADVICE OF counsel
know Se sa. an so as 10
the prisoner bad mado any statement IL should be
Mr Wells stated no had not boon subp@naed, and
after low further remarks he len the court room
Judge GODDARD Immediately made GU. . subpoaa
and handed II to an officer. who returned IN = rev
minutes, saying, Il have served tho ssop0na Iegaiys
4 CHASE AyrxR Tx 1AiLKR
The City Attorney nov moved Tor q capias and tuo
officers detaLod 10 bring tho Jaiisr into court
4 no entire room cleared Of spec,s-
tors exciied groups stood In Main street wxtcn-
Ina The olcers who alter having pressed light wagon
into the service drove At iuil speed slter the
Wiling witness. Mr. Wells Just then coming
down the street in buggy and the officers after
him a. a 2 40 rate aud soon ovsrbaued him. TINS
novel scene only added to the excitement which had
already been at fever heat during tho entire day.
once made for tho court room, but 10
almost impossible 70 eItor great tho
crowd, people from all parts OF tho city Hooking 10
Judge Godard's court TO The byplay the great
murder Gaze Al last Mr.. Wells, The jailer, appeared
Win his COUNSEL Messrs. Lockwood anu Wibour.
Tue latter apologized to the Court Tor nny ,sy
ton on part OF Mr.. Wells, but a pubiic officer
charged wan Tho care Of hts prisoner clear
10 him whether this Court had the authority Issue
IA capias. MI Lockwood added that there con.
siderable misapprehcnsion IN regard TO tho powers u
this Court and hoped tho Court would grant Mr..
Wells an opportunity 70 consult counsel
Judge Goldari mere stated that no cours did mol
int nd to be assisted In It's duties by coun cL Mr.
Wells conduct had been such that hu could baPdiy
nd proper language Tor y. and the Court would know
how to naintsi dignity. La 30 tar however, as
tho Jury soumod disposed 10 grant Mr. Wells request
the case wou,d stand adjourned I'll Tomorrow luorns
log, when Mr. Wells would BIO ordered 10 take ihs
stand.