The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-10-01
Murdered for the Yale Dis
secting Room.
UNPRECEDENTED DEPRAVITY
Revolving Negotiations for the Sale Of
Bodies, Dead or Alive.
CHLOROFORMED AND BARRELLED.

BRIDGEPORT. Sept. 80. 1873
This well known Connecticut city Is o state OF
traordlnary excitement owing to the revelations just
brought TO light in regard 10 tho cold bloodcd and
motiveless murder committed the 18th OF July last
In unoccupiod building belonging to tho equally
we'll known p. T. Barnum. For patry SIS.
which the Yale Medical School at New Haven
10 in tho habit OF paying Tor human bodies
for the purpose Of dissection, human lite has been
wantony sacrificed. tho Victim being an inofTcnsivc
sailor. a comrade OF the murderer engaged in this
diabolical outrage. TO tho disgrace OF humanityit
must be added that or the actors IN Jhis unprcce
dentcd CRIME Is woman named Laurine Alexander,
= native Of New York city, who has received q CON-
mon school education In your great metropolis, and
who. IN company with young fellow named Frank
Basset, at least twenty years her junior IL now
Fairfield County Jail to await the action OF tho
Grand Jury for this fearful crime
HOW THE MURDER WAS cokxrrrED.
1t was evening OF the aforesaid 18th Of July
Bassett and Mrs. Alexander jointly occupied that
part or Brswstor's unoccuped carriage factory
which used TO be an Office the time that the firm
had Its employed there. Tno factory, forming
part OF Mr. Barnum's estate, is located East WASH
ington and William street, and adjoining
the factory Is shed where various tools
and empty boxes used TO be kept In this
shed Frank Winebecker strollsd about seven
Tor liquor, ny Frank Bassett who had been employed
with him several coasters running along the New
England shore. Bsssstt asked Winebscksr to como
inside and take some supper, and he advised him to
lay down couch, as to sleep OF the liquor The
visitor gladly accepted the invitation to take nap
ana soon stretched himself comfortably the
couch. So tar all the stories bearing tho pro
mn OF the agree, bus to the subsequent
stages they vary. the essential facts but only
the person who actually did this innocent visitor
to death. Chloroiorm was administered HIM; first
slightly, then In larger doses. The woman claims
that sne nterfcred and endeavored to stop Bassstt
killing his visitor by sxcaiming, "Frank. what
you doing ?" but that no replied '.li you do not
shut up iii Tx you In the same wayn II Will be seen
further on shat this part Of her story - denied by
Bassett
BARRELLIxG THE REMAINS.
However, when they satisfied that their wis.,
tor, Winebeeker, was quite dead, they both hauled
forth BARREL In which thoy sndeavored TO put tho
corpse, but the barrel too small or rather the
body was TOO large, aud they cut on part OF his
clothing ana took of his shoes. which they at once
buried adjoining hsncoop The barrel was
carefully fastened again and left standing over
nigus Ia part OF tho unoccupisd build
ing while the twain retired 10 their
bed without being at all disturbed In their
siumbsrs by the CHASTITY dee4 OF tho early evening.
Bright and early MIRA Alexander and Bassstt awoke
the next morning and hired wagon from George y.
Cook bridgeport, Tor 81 paying, however, only 81
on account appears by me follow ing copy OF .
csipt now In The hanas OF the District Attorney
To George F. Cook, Dr.
July 13-Tsam TO New Haven. ....................$4
Cr.-by cash.. ...........e...........