Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-10-09
CONNECTICUT'S CRIME.
Murdered for the Yale Dlssectlng
ROOm-Unprecedented De.
prATity. .s.

laid Lorena Alexander. She had
ust returned from New London,
where she had gone several days
previously with Frank Bassett
captain Of the sloop Franklin. Bas-
sett had been arrested in New Lon
don by Bridgeport police officer
as soon as the yasscl arrived there,
on a charge Of theft, and brought
to Bridgeport. Itwas something
of the grayest Importance that
Lorena knew. She had been, she
said, witness to the murder by
Bassett Of Frank Weinbecker. The
reason she told of it was that Bas-
sett, on his return from New Lon
don, found that it would 90 hard
with him unless he could prove
that on September goth he did not
steal the pocket-book which P. Nc
Kay, of Vandalia, ILL.,, had laid
down on a fence in front of Bas-
setts house, IN East bridgeport.
Mckay had taken out the book,
which contained $6S, WITH a postal.
card, and after writing on the card
forgot to place the book in his
pocket. Two girls saw this and
saw Rassett pick it up. They in
formed the police, and this caused
the arrest in New London. Lo-
rena Alexander was Bassett's mis-
tress. They lived in room fitted
up in an old carriage factory, and
| the furniture Lorena claimed as
hers, but Bassett, when arraigned
here for theft, having only $40 left
of McKay's money, sold the furni-
ture in order to employ counsel.
He, however, was convicted of
theft and locked up, and when Lo-
rena found their home bereft Of all
r its scanty furniture she said, 81
know something that will put him
: where he ought to be-"
: City Attorney Holt and Chief o
e Police Marsh closely pressed Lo
, rena, and she finally told, Will
many tears, the whole story Of tn,
murder. She said that Vein becker
who was otherwise known a
"Stuttering Jack" and "Jack Ru
i fus,p an inolfensive fellow, who's
) only vice was drunkenness, on thu
i night of the 10th Of last May cam
home with Bassett, at the latter
:. invitation, TO supper. Bassett ha
u resolved to kill Weinbeeker solel
Al for the paltry sum of money be wa
lie supposed to have about him as pa
2. for ones months service as q deck
~ hand on a coasting vessel, amount
: ing to less than IS, and for tn
le amount his body would bring whe
i'd sold to the faculty of the va
r medical schoolin New Haven. III
ia The total sum to be realized woul
,. not aggregate $50. Weinbeeki
after supper was persuaded to Ii
Vi down on a sofa. He had bee
drinking during the day, and
there was any eagerness in Ba
III sett's manner which might ha'
VI awakened alarm he was not in Il
at proper condition to observe it. i
10 soon fell asleep. Bassett had pr
- viously provided himselfo with
~ twO.ounce bottle of ehloroforI
Il! Wetting a sponge with the liqui
ial he placed it against Weinbeekel
to nostrils, where he heldit. Lore
I'm said that she asked Bassett wh
III he was about, 0SShut up, or ] "
' serve you in the same way;5 "
rd, the response. She was frighten
tly and gave mo alarm, though {
ed started once or twice to do
lh but was deferred when Bass
- swore at her savagely. She cC
nV' tented herself with remonstrati
as the gasps Of the doomed m
grew fainter and fainter. Wh
ops there was no sign of life Bass
md looked in Weinbecker's pockt
vill but found only 75 cents. lie Il
and prepared to make some dispositi
,oil Of the body,
~ Lorena Alexander has one chi
''n' and in order to provide for its
on nessities she went TO New Ha'
mt some time ago and proposed to
oru Sanford, of the medical facu
an that he should advance her SC
-" ~, money and have in return her b
WIN for dissection when she died.
ter Sanford would not make any
his gain with her, but according to
,ubt story, offered to purchase the bs,
ron, of any of her friends. When
came home she told Bassstt of
ne visit, and he said they might
~ Is hold OF q body and make . stal
will There was an empty flour ba
,ltv. in a corner of the scantily fmrnii
~ room. Bassett now drew this
' and tried to force into it the |
lSs'a Of his victim. But it would no
IS OF in with all the clothing on,
more Bassett with a pair Of scissors
the coat in two pieces and pv
the garment away, and then
lass, off the shoes. Then the head
the pressed againstlho knees, and
'utb. body squeezed into the barrel,
sent head Of which was nailedin sec
wen, ly. The barrel was then rolled
ship corner of the room. During
i. / ~. e