The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-10-12
SUFFERING JACKS MuRDERERs.
Mrs.. Alexnnder's PIteous Appeal to Bassett
TO Declare Her Innocent.

BRIDGEPoRT Oct. II. - The indictments
against Mrs. Alexander and Frank Basseti for
tho murder OF Suffering Jack will be presented
to the Grand Jury ON Wednesday next 1t has
been expected all along that the accused persons
would at the same time be called upon to an
swer T. other crimes equally heinous. but the
missing persons who were regarded as possible
victims have oil turned up. with the exception
Of Dick Coves a member of Howa's Band. who
disappeared about the time Of the Welnbecker
murder. without any apparent reason. and has
never been heard from. A few days before his
disappearance he told an acquaintance that he
WAS going TO the old carriage factory which was
but n few doors from his boarding house. 10 see
woman. Whether he carried out that inten-
ton. and what came OF the visit. are questions
that perhaps Mrs. Alexander can answer. The
police have ransackei the old factory thor
oughly. and dug up the ground beneath the
floor without finding much more than a mass OF
Ms. AleNander's extraordinarily 1000
letters in all. Such OF the letters as have been
examined show that Mrs Alexander made at
least one attemu; at blackmai that she tried TO
palm of Lizzie Cayenaugh's child on her fugi-
tive husband us his and hers. and that she ha-
titualy made use OF vile language. The finding
% Two old coffin plates among her trumpery
startled the on at hrst a. they thought they
Indicated the resurrection business. but the
plates prove y have been taken from the collins
o. some OF Mrs Alexauders relatives many
years ago, according 10 an economical custom
some time practced In those days, ana to have
come into her possession in perfectly legit-
4 few days ago Mrs. Alexander wrote to State
Attorney Olmstead long letter. begging hin
T. allow her 10 see Bassett. rs she knew lie
/ could not look her IN the face and say that she
! had any share IN Weinbeckers murder. Mr..
Olmstead decided 70 grant the interview.
spd IL tex p,a,9 Yesterday at me jaii; Mrs
| L. the one occupied ~ Bassett. Tho meeting is
! described as having been highly dramatic. The
/ woman went down on her knees and plteousiy
! implored her partner IN crime = declare her
| have persuaded him into doing as she wished
! she appears TO have had him completely under
| her influence while they were living together
! but Basseti only replied that he should say
| nothing nj all until be was brought into court
! Apparently much dlsheartened. and highly en-
ragged as well. Mrs. Alexander went back 10 her
Although Basset will not talk to his accom-
! pi!ce. he is wllliu., 10 improve every opportu-
/ nlty 70 talk with every one else. He told the
] States Attorney re emily OF an attempt made 10y
| Mrs. Alexander last July 10 poison Rosa No Ma
! hon, an aged woman WHO came TO the house 10
wash. Mr.. Omstead saw the woman yesterday,
| and her statement as far as il went verified
| Bgssett's. 4 few days after the Fourth OF July.
! which would make IL just previous 70 the date
I sent tor Rosa - come and wash tor her. Rosa
did not 20. because SHE did not know the way,
but the next day Bassett went for her again and
accompanied her TO the house. Mrs. Alexander
WAS very attentive 10 her. giving her tea, and
IT x lt VIII = .tNl kAlINfes. plf 81 inc
cups OF tea WAS 50 bitter that Rosa drank only Il
| swallow Basseu said Mrs. Alexander dosed
/ this cup with luudHnum. and when he asked
Ter what she was doing ted him she wanted 10
1 Tut the woman to sleep. When Rosa WAS about
starting for home. Mrs. Alexander pressed her
To- stay all night and. failing o. persuade her,
| engaged her To come the next day ana do more
washing. Being ll. Rosa did not 20 and
thereby probably saved her lie, Like Stutter-
iug jack. the Old woman had no relatives or
| friends, and II she had disappeared would
| hardly have been missed.
About TWO weeks before the Wcinbecker MUIR
der came out. Mrs. Alexander made minute
Inquiries a. one of the drug stores here about
different PREPARATIONS OF arsenic. anu the next
day bought quantity OF the poison. What she
did with Il or wanted it for has not been dis
closed. The police learn from her mother, who
Is a respectable widow living in East Haddum.
that Mrs. Alexander is 40 years old. and was
rrst married. at p 10 George. Phelps. in East
HNldam They went 10 New York and lived az
669 Water street. whore two daughters were
born 20 them. Phelps died. and his widow mar
RED an LnglisAn.an named William Cague
who went 10 the war ana never came lack,
Then she married William II. Alexander. who
deserted her 10 run away with nnother woman
three years ago, and is now in Chicago.