The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-10-02
BRlDGEP0RT'S AST0NISIIER.
ADDITIONAL FACTS IN THE MURDER
or room SUFFERING JACK


The COroncr's search for facts regarding
the murder OF Suffering Jack was continued in
bridgeport Yesterday at the Office OF Justice
Goddard The chief features Of the inquiry
were the appearance OF both prisoners before
tho Jury. the womans detailed story OF the
murdcrous deed. and a somewhat remarkable
court scene. in which the Justice. several law
ycrs. the Iailcr. and his male prisoner figured.
There were thirty or forty spectators back OF
the railing In Justice Goddards office when tho
inquest was resumed yesterday forenoon. Mrs.
Alexander, the accused woman. sat Mt the left
OF the Justice. She wore dark dress. hat
with orange trimming and a proiusion Of
varlcgatcd artificial flowers. black veil
around the hat. and black lace a her throat.
The wan faced little girl was not with her.
Capt James Wasson Of the schooner Mary l..
Bayliss told the jury that he employed Stutter-
ing Jack for trip to Norwich aud return. His
schooner reached Bridgeport on the return
trip on the evening Of the ilth Of July last. and
on the following morning he paid Jack
Rufus about IS for his services. Jack went
ashore and bought some clothing. Later in the
day no went back to the schooner and got some
Junk. which he sold for 7j cents. Capt Wasson
recognized as Jacks II pair Of shoes which were
produced, also "a comb that was found in one OF
the pockets
DR.. Robert Hubbard Of bridgeport had seen n
body supposed 10 be that of Frank Weinbecker.
alas Jack Rufus but the body was SO de-
caycd that the cause Of the death could not bc
determined. The left hand and foot were de-
tachcd from the body. He knew of no way OF
! Judging whether the man died of chloroform.
The effect OF that drug would be paralysis OF the
| heart.
George F. Cook Of East bridgeport testified
! tliM early on the morning OF July -, 1873.
! Frank Basseu hired close wagon with which
10 bring his sick VII, from New Haven. Bas
a fR ftu I'M hp p..fll 81
! in the evening Bassett returned with tn" horse
| and wagon. looking nervous. which he cx-
| planned 10y snying that his journey was made
| longer on account OF the sickness OF his wife
| who had been taken with cramps. He paid s2
toward what ho was 10 bay for the team. saying
that his wifc's sickness had cost him So much
mat h9 couldn't pay the rest The horse ap-
| pcarcd tired the next DAY.
An East bridgeport baker. George Phillips.
| testified that about thre" months ago-hc could
not FIX tho cNact dRte-Basscu came TO his place
| slring that the barrel should have strong heads.
Ihe witness thought the head taken from the
same kind Of head that was in the barrel Bas-
scit took away.
Mf. Lorena Elizabeth Alexander was sworn.
| She gave her testimony in a clear Noicr rapidly
ana with apnarcnt irankncss. The City Attor-
~ teir ts,oSr ~ 1Yr Eon s re 10
corded. II was mott cable that he allowed Mrs.
AEN,ander 70 crowd much 81 eer story inio
acquaintance with Suffering Jack. and had
seen him only oncc-when Bassgtt brought him
was boarding. He ate supper with them. and
alter supper he and Bassett went out IN the
| yard and smoked. After they went in Jack lay
down on the lounge and soon fell asleep. Bus-
! sett moisi"ned sponge with chloruturm and
,,,. , ~ w. ~, W iiS INN M l"s' lir'i"rhl!l
| Luitn. more chlorOiorm On u" sponge from
| the bottle. Jnct inhaled the chioroform.
| gasped several times ana then died. Bassett
| got the barrel and begnn trying TO put the body
mt INTO y, ne ca.lrd her t2 help pun; ana when
d@n You and heir nm m1ei" She begged Of him, hin,
not To- compel her 10 touch the body. AMI told
him that he had done enough already. There
dition u she didu'i hrlp him. With her scissors
b" cGi ih' dead mans coat down the back then
h" pulled on ~" shocs Gnd tied the l"ss To-
gcther. Bnssoii then put the body The barrel.
| pulled the rope on the legs. and crowded down
tD force 1t into place He then turioi tle coat
md shoes under the hen. coop IN the yard
the witness testified that she was so fright
"ued that she hardly knew what WIS TAX
| ing plarr The body in the barrel was placed
| in corner ~ the room and lett there
Tor the night, Early the next morning tho
barrel was loaded into the wagon and She and
| to Dr. Sanford's. whore she offered TO sell the
body 10 him. but he declined 10 buy II; Then
| out ot the city looking for plac" to hlde the
| body. Bassett frequently stopped the horse
ana Se o9sei r around 9F gSod b@,e AT gnsta
body WAS reached and Bass.u rolled the bar
rel DOWN into the ravne. He thcn destroyed
ness testified that in this scene by the ravine
she was crving, and Bassett. compelled her Ia
u She didn't keep quiet Tho word
scPaic6sa IN SH Sy Basssst Who S"fIS hs WAS WAS
getting roady TO roll II down the side of the -
vine he using p"nkniie WI Which ,ia ne borrowed
! plying chloroiorm TO Jacks nostrils. The smell
| q II made her SICK IL took aoouI an hour for
| Sanford 10 dispose ot the body She told tho
Doctor JUS, whn, Basseit had instructed her TO
| tell him-that the body was left in her yard un-
| der the window. and she had put II in n barrel
and brought IL to him; She had not conversed
bodies except when she went to sell her
own body To him. He then asked whether she
was crazy and she replied that she was not;
| She, simply wanted 10 g9i some money 70 spend
| for her baby; she would do almost anything for
the little girl. The Doctor snid he would buy
told her Il any Of her people were 10 die. and II
she would bring the body to him. and II thcro
was nothing irregular IN the death. he would
give her s25 FOR the bodies. She had never sold
| any bodies To DR.. Sanford, nor tried 70 sell any.
She Was directed 10 Dr SANFORD by Dr. Young
| Of East Bridgeport She told Dr.; Young sho
wanted 20 srll hrr body but he replied that she
| wouldn't do IT, She first went 10 DR.. Young to
| s,ll herself to him. She owed him bill He
said she might go to Or. sanford but he did
Druggist +. 5. stevens and one Of his clerks
Clarence 5. Goodrll, Identified the chloroform
| hottie as from StrVrns's drug store. Goodrll
| testified that he sold chlOrOiorm in such "A bot
tie TO woman some time ago. but could not
! give the date.
while Goodell WAS testifying Jailer Wells
brought in the other prisoner-Frank Bassctt.
This was his first appearance at ne eihqurst
The city Attorney turned to him and said,
| Blssett. do you wish to make any statement -
and the prisoner replied, mo. sir"
| W. W. Wells. the Jailer. WAS then sworn and
rather startled everybody 10y saving in response
to an inquiry as 10 what conversation he had
had with Bassett " shall refuse to say any
thing about it," He would rather sever hs
right arm ihan tell anything that would need
| lessly inlura his prisoner.
The City Attorney made the point that the
witness was compelled TO testify. and the Court
held that II the Jury des ired 10 henpthe witnesses
answer TO the question he would DO compelled
| 10 answer.
Wells naked Are you through with the
| prisoner"
The Court replied, " Not yet Mr.. Wells"
| Attorney NJ. b. Wilbur asked tho Court what
| further necessity there WAS for OBTAINING the
| prisoner. and the Court answered: The Court
| will determine that in n moment"
At this point. to the surprise OF Justice Jury.
| and nearly every one In the room. Jaller Wells
| beckoned Frank Bassett to follow him. and the
iarr rushed through the crowd closely i9l-
| lowed 10y tho man In irons. TO say that the
honorable Court was stupened is to put it
| mildly.
Armed with subpoena oficer Taylor ran out