The New York herald., 1878-11-09
WEINBECKER AVENGED.
The Vile ResuTectionist Sentenced
to State Prison for Life.
BASSETT'S TURN NOW.
His Trial Set Down for Wednes-
day Next.

attendance through the day unusually large,
every available seat being filed. During the argu-
mcnt of her counsel Mrs. Alexander at times seemed
very much affected. especially when he read TO
the jury the letter which she wrote to her mother
Mr.. Thompson her counsel, commenced his closing
argument at ten minutes after nine.
ADDRESS PRISONERS COUNSEL.
He said the prisoner had been since her arrest sur
rounded by enemies rather than friends and. there
fore he had been placed under great disadvantage
She stood charged with msrder in the first degree
person cannot be convicted of murder without the
testimony full witnesses equivalent Take
out the prisoners own statement and you cannot find
that Weinbecker to his death by criminal agency
In her statement she admits that weinbecker dead
aud that he to his death by criminal agency.
The State has told You that the body found was the
body oeinbf Wecker, outside of her own testimony.
! say that from the evidence in this
you caImot find that Wenbecker came to his
death by criminal agency outside of Mrs. Alex
anders statement. You here heard the testimony
DR.. Hubbard who testified that the body which he
examined was SO decomposed he found nothing to
prove that he his death by criminal agency
There nothing in the fact itself to show whether
he to his death by drowning, natural death or
other causes, that say, you cannot find that he
to his death by criminal agency unless take
the testimony of the prisoner at the bar The main
Important question whether the prisoner at the bar
committed the crime. The State does not claim that
She administered the choroform. but il is claimed that
she assisted and abetted Now. what is the evidence
In this case? We not guess presume, but to
at with the evidence in the The only evidence
which the State claims conviction is the state
ment of MRS. Alexander. The only evidence is
that while Frank Bassett was committing the
crime she handed him the bottle. which stood
some distance from where Weinbecker lay. say the
claim is what that assistance If she did render
that assistance did she do under coercion and fear
of her life? say she did it under fear claim from
the facts that all she did do and should be excused
for what she did do and should be found not guilty.
Now. gentlemen, take for . moment the position
under which Mrs. Alexander made this statement.
On the 2sth of September she went with Bassett to
New London in schooner. Bassett arrested.
She left ON board. When she returns TO Bridge
port she her house and finds that she has been
stripped Of every thing II then wonder that she
indignant ut the fact. The law respects human
feelings.
she goes to Tor aass an sno In IN % hsr M
that he (Bassel had done enough to be hung Do you
believe her? She goes TO Chief Marsh and asks what
be done. He can do nothing. She then goes to
Mr.. Holt and makes her statement After passing
over the principal portion Of the statement she
her sta.ement, she said she did not give
the details of the crime she was in fear OF her life
from hands ed Bassett and his friends. Was there
. motive in this? You have got to takethat state
1nent you must reject IL. No other reason or ex
asked by Mr.. HON If she had anything do with
the crime she said no" except what she did
Through fear. The State says you believe any OF
her statement you must believe the whole Of it. She
had been promised protection II she would give the
details You hesTd her make this statement You
here have heard her that she sighted and
could not but short distance; she was com
lnanded by Bassett hand him the bottle, and she
was compelled to do this through fear. / say.
gentlemen il her statement be true she
e. guiltless OF thn crime with which
she s charged The handing OF the bottle OF chloro-
forr At night an
fore she Is excused from TINS act Mr.. Thompson then
Reviewed the inteTview 1T the jSa between Mrs Alex
1fr. Holt and Mr.. Arnold and Mr. Marsh;
take these statements and you will see that
through fear Of her Life Take her statement and that
which has been said about her through the papers
eth adheres TO statement and. il that be So and
there be no other evidence 1t Is your duty TO
that fact in her favor can you say under
that she Is guilty? She is either guilty or not
Arnold and you not say that she is not guilty.
know that there suspicious in this case but you
cannot hang on merc suspicion; II there l. doubt
she certainly is entitled 10 the benefit of it.
DRAWING A FAscrFuL PICTURE.
say. gentlemen. look At the position Of this
woman locked IL she was, in that room with those
two men. Do you wonder that she frantic
crazy, and did not know whaf to dor The frank and
candid statement Of that vindicates her. She
does TO hide herself She is frank. and this
should appeal 70 you in her favor There is
or assisted in this crime. Now. then did she aid or
sbet, say not CMr. Thompson then read the law
this point. This aiding and sbettng is not vol,
nntary act You have yet 10 ind that she planned
this crime and that she willingly aided and abetted.
There evidence that she did this. say that she
neither aided abetted- She went into that room
aud smelt that odcr and Frank and asked what
he was doing; he commanded her to hand him that
bottle: she found Bassett with his hands over the
Iuan : face and pressing them there Now how could
she be aiding in thisS IL is not within your or my
Iuinistered to wenbecker before she into that
room. DR.. Hubbard has said that chloroforIn may
death in an instant and 1t may not cause death
10 an hour. 1 say that do not know what had
been done before she went into that room, but we do
know. and she tells you in her statement that some
thina had been done. Have we any evidence that
weinbecker moved made any signs Of life after
that went into the roomY You are TO be salts
Ned that that man To his death by the assist
snce Of her hands. | say that she was ignorant Of
the crime until II had progressed 10 some extent
She found Bas.ett there using the chlorofor
aud does in her statement say that there any
tpssmodic breathing The question was asked a. to
what position she found him in when she went into
tie room The State has not proved that the chloro
form bottle which handed 10 Bassett assisted in
that mans death. and say. gentlemen. upon this
point you must be In doubt aud the prisoner Is en-
AN AocoapLIcE ONLY THROUGH THREATS
Now, ~ 20 the question Of concealment Whatever
she did after the case nothing do with the
sistng abetting Whatever assistance she rendered
Baaeett after the mans death done through fear
or Bassett. the same fear that existed in her mind
when she made her statements ~ Mr. Holt aud Chief
Marsh. She tells you that she shuddered % see him
touch the body, and you will remember tbot she said
she buddered from the beginning. which shows II
from fear OF this man Bassett. When wnbecker
was brought to her house the day Of fhe murder
she said 10 Bassett what did you bring that dirty
fellow here for - Does this look consistent that she
had hand in planning this murder Bassett
bought both the barrel and choroform--the
rhoroform 10 cure the toothache and the
barrel % send goods to her mother. II
there anything unreasonable in this. u il perfectly
natural and truthful statement. She said that Bss
sett put his hands in the dead mans pocket and
ssid, .Wen, have not got much out Of that job.
May IL not be that the stupied for plnnder
We have heard Of such circumstances aver that when
you say that Baesett bought the barrel aud chloro-
lorm for that purpose the state pervert the evidence
fn regard to the interview at the jail you may search
The annals Of crime in this century the world over
and YOU will find no record Of assistant and par
hcipant in crime asking for such an interview tMr
Thompson here read the letter from Mrs. Alexander
asking for this interview say that the last thing q
guilty person would do would - ~ a~k
lor interview under such CIRCUMSTANCE.