The New York herald., 1878-10-31
.THH BRIDGEPORT TRAGEDY.
Opening of the Trial of
Mrs. Alexander.
CONFESSION OF THE ACCUSED.
Interview Between the Prisoner
asr and Her Mother.

Tho trial OF MIRA Lorsna h. Alexander was CON-
menced this morning in the Superior Court room,
before Judges Martin and Boardslcy, at nine
o,soek. In spite of the rain, which commenced
failing early In the morning. large and ANXIOUS
crowd had gathered at tho Court House, and soon
ths doors unlocked made rush for seats and
the gallery and room below were soon filled, large
number being unable to gain admittanco
APPEARANCE PRISONER.
Mrs Alexander was brought into court by Deputy
Sheriff Bartram at ten minutes 70 nine O'Clock and
couductcd to seat in front OF his desk. she ap-
pcared worry indifferent as 10 what was going on
around her. and after gazing about the room few
moments took up q newspaper and seemed deeply IN
terestsd In what she reading Whom her coun-
sci, Mr.. Thompson, came In she took seat by him.
Alta few minutes past ninc O'Clock the task OF Sc
iecttng Jury commenced, which being accomplished
tho oath administered the clerK read the indict
ment During tho reading Mrs. Alexander sat with
her eyes the noor and notauntil the clerk had hn
ished did she raise them.
EVIDENCE THE CITY ATTORNEY
The nrss witness called was Assistant CITY Attorney
Holt 10 whom Mrs. Alexander first exposed this
crime. After telling the story Of the woman's visit
his ONCE, with Wow 10 the recovery OF the fur
pfture which Barrett had sold, ana Of the
hints or dark crime committed, which she IN her
rage toward Barrctt dropped, tho witness proceeded
10 repeat tho statement She was finally induced
IOuOWS:-Su0
Frank Bassctt same home with 'Stuttsring Jack"
who was In an Intoxicated condition; Frank asked
Jack 70 stay supper, which he did that soon
after supper Jack Lard down tho lounge
and vent TO sleep; Basse,t then made her
get him . bottle Of chioroorm and sponge
ana sno handed them to him; she said
that Bassett had previously purchased the choioro
what are you going 10 dda Bassett told her to shut
up, or he would Kill her; she became frightened ana
and she aid so; she saw Basse.t holding sponge
Jacks nose as be lay on the lounge; JACK gave
sfs' Sal 'na Srnes
said, .sOh, what havc you oopef he told her TO
sSsa on hsr ST.
body: Bassett obtained barrel that BY, and
the body into II; she said that she held on 10 The
barrel while Bassett attempted 10 put the body In
tnat she was SO frightened that sue fell down
In the barrel account Of the
shears, which she cot the coat of the body he
took rope and bent the body up 80 that the Knees
were under the chin, aud tied the limbs with tue
rope; the BODY was put in tho barrel which was
beaded up, and stood IN the house all night; she al
.srwsra remonsra.sa WIN B.sss nno @ n old her
y'am DISPOSITION BODY i
Bessstt stsrward nIred team ana placed tho bar
rel In the wagon, aud they drove 10 New Haven to
Dr. sanfords house on The way over basset told her
what OF story sne must tell Sanford, and when
they got 10 the house he told her 70 get |
out. say ng "D.%n you you have been her.
house. and the Doctor there; she saia 70
MIN that she had body TO sell; he asked her II she
had any paper IRON tho suthori,iss she said no. and
iold arm the story Bessc.s had tola her 20 tell
tina. the night previous number ol men came BY
vas vas Enocxed down and was thrown over
the isnce. and sh. had put the body mo
told her lha, Le could lake body
brought in that way and that she had better take u
back where got II; she asked the Doctor what she
should DO IL: old her to take II back, and on
the might occur 20 her whatto do with u; sue
said tha. back to Bnsset. anu they started
iowara Bstdgsport; tthet they drove 10 Derby and
took lonely road, and when they came TO quiet
out pu,. took tho barrel ana rolled Il down; Bss-
seti borrowed kne Of her 70 scratch
covered up his tracks aud drove on as she said 10
him, "Frank, you ought TO report" She asked him
II ne mad becn IN any transaction like that before
Bassett sa,d that IL ne had would fool t.l
her. She triod TO get Bassct TO confess. when he
again threatened her and told her TO smut up She
told Basse,t that sne knew oil DR.. she had
been to him once wnen she was 10 Strengthened cir
That Bassctt won't thcrc.
AFTER THE RECEss.
Al This point five oil six the Court took
recess un,l Two o,clock p 81 al wn,cn time Mo- Holt
again the staUd aud contnuod:-She sat In the
wagon crying, wnie Bassett took the barrel ous and
rolled II dow ravinc
rho witness said after she had made this
20 .ooS ne. v sne p00s "s sop
Lynch IN the room at the time; she then made
the same s,a.emont 20 them nat sne nad 20 wi.noss
tnis matter; she said she was aud Il ne would look
ne would nna oos .nss s,. she WAS. was; she then
asked her from what-bodiy harm; she
she said. Eyes, from Basseu ana his iamlly" he said
yes he supposed she entitled 10 that tho Chicf
then said, sTns Is queer story, and u true 10 one
OF the most horrible things tnat ever happened In
shis city; ~ witness sad he believed her story
snd she SAID We would nnd It true; witness thcn
SAID he wanted TINS matter invcssisated; enc
previous day ana the chief then gave bor twenty-five
ccn,s ana told her 20 go and and &c. some dinner tie
poilce station with a bundle and he followed and
Arnold opened the bundle which contained coat and
shoes. Mrs. Alexander SAID these were the ones
taken from Suffering jack on the night OF The mur
der. .EssI -l-. Il =,
w,tncss stated the prisoner was arrested Mon
day afIcrDooh on o bench warrant
TESTIMONY OF LIZZIE cAvAsAuaH
Lizzie Caranaugh next tesuhcd-Shc knew tho
prisoner visited her ior about TWO weeks last
Haven she wanted to 20 with her 10 Dr. saniord's
TO sell her body; abe said that sno mad tins idea
me 70 10 snc asked me II did not want 20 sell my
bod; The witness said that sho dare not d. such
when yor are dead you would not know anything
about t" " the prisoner expected 10 get considerabis
sss ,od oi n SANFORD that We ii, wished 10 sen
bodies; prisoner told her that Dr. SANFORD would give
her $50 Tor all The bodies that she would send him
thss Ia the latter part oI March.
On the cross-examinat,on she said that she came |
dewa from hesiasn 20 sso nes paoy, ~n,cr snoa Mrs. m
Neriden, but she lived IN New Haven
tDR. sANrORD's TESTIMONY
Dr Il. J. SANFORD was the noxl witness called, and
tssttnad almost word Tor word did at the Cor
oners inquest, which testimony was published 10 the
HunALD the time. During bis testimony Mrs. Alex.
andsr iaciug h,m, aud nervvusly kept biting her
rlove aud times whispered 10 her counsel to
have some particular question asked.
Al ten minutes past Tour tho court adjourned until
nine O'CLOCK this morning 4
AFFECTING +
A soon the sheriff had adjourned tho court no |
csme over 70 whore Mrs Alexander was sitting aud |
told her that ber mother ana sister we're In the ad-
fp,o,nr room. Mrs. Alexander then exclaimed - /
s.What my mother hcrcf Can | SEQ herr" aad |
whon told tbnt shc could sne seemed |
vpry much pleased. she was taken into The |
room where sbey were tho old lady crying and
Mrx Alexander rushed into her mothers arms, ex-
caiming:-- -
on my side, and II the Lord Is on my side cannot
in.n .,