The New York herald., 1879-02-26
FRANK BASSETT'S TRIAL.

FRANK BASSETT'S TRIAL.
MRS. ALEXANDER ON THE WITNESS STAND
SHE swEARs POSITIVELY THAT wEINDEcEER
WAS DRUGGED TO DEATH BY BAssETT, WHO
TRIED TO SELL THE BODY AT NEW HAVEN.
BnIDGEroRT Conn.,, Feb. 25. 1879.
The trial Of Frank E. Bassett, the alleged accom-
plce of Lorena Z. Alexander in the murder of Frank
Weinbecker. was resumed this morning. The attend
ance throughout the day was very large. the
gallery being entirely occupied by ladies,
large number Of whom also within the
railing below, many Of them representing the prom
inent families of the place. Considerable stir
visible among the gentler the three prisoners
Bassett. Buchholtz and John McAulif. were brought
into the court ROOM The latter two awaiting the
action of the Grand Jury Bassetts mother and sis
ter present during the day, seated near him,
and frequently whispered to him and to his counsel.
Bassett also occasionally gave his counsel questions
to be asked each witness.
Mrs. Alexander was the first witness called She
testified that she had known Bassett over seven
years; she was acquainted with him about year
and then broke up housekeeping and moved to New
York; she did not see him again for four years. she
returned to this city, went to live in the old Bar
mum factory in April May. 1877; she and Bas-
Sctt lveu together aDOut TWO years; tney lived as
man and wife; she went to DIR. Youngs to ask him
il he would tell her of medical institute where she
could sell her body; he told her New Haven the
nearest place and gave her the address slip Of
paper; she said that Bassett knew Of this visit;
the witness returned and told Lizzie Cavanaugh
who was visiting them. and in the presence
of Bassett said she would go; Bassett asked
her what she would get for a., bodies. and
s,J r nnt 10 New Havsn ibe NEXT morminc "nd sc
Dr. Sanford and when she returned she told Bassett
all the conversation she had with him; she told
Dv 1,t.x.1
but would not pay tor it until she died. and then lie
would pay her children or friends; he also said IL
any her friends died he would buy their
bodies IL she would send them to him; Bassett then
said that he guessed he would try and sell her; Dr.
Sanford told her if she had any bodies to send him to
put them in box or barrel and put her initials on
the same. 40 that he would know who they came
from, and he would send her a post Office money
der, but had rather she would come and ge, it her.
self; all of this conversation she related to Basset ON
her return from New Haven
BODIES SALE.
Here q letter written by Mrs. Alexander to DIR. San
ford introduced. which witness said written
by her, but dictated by Bassett, asking where
resurrectionist could be found and stating also that
they had two bodies now which could be
furnished; she asked Bassett whom he meant by
her business: he afterward told her that he had in
view her son-in-law, Thomas Baker and her former
husband, William Clague Bassett, witness said. die
tated all the letters she wrote to Dr. Sanford saying
that he did not want his name mixed up with the
matter, but wanted witness TO shoulder the whole
responsibility herself; Bassett made her read the
letters to him after they written, and said
they were all right and would do.
"sTUrTERING JACKS MURDER.
She never knew man by the of Weinbecker,
"Stutterng jack or Jack Rufus previous to the
day of the murder; the Wednesday before the mur-
der was committed Bassctt went out and bought a
barrel; she then recitcd the circumstances OF Bas-
setts bringing Jack Rufus home with him the
afternoon OF the murder, saying that Bassett and
at work clearing away the supper table; Rufus
seemed to be in liquor she smeled something peculiar
and opened the door and asked Bassett what it
that smelled he said IL was OF her business
she Rufus lying on the lounge and BGssett stood
at the head with sponge on the face; he called
60 me and asked me to hand him that bottle of
chloroform; Bassett took the bottle saturated the
sponge and placed 1t the mans face and reached
mp and took cloth off the line and put IL the
mans face; she saw the man gasp few times; Bas-
sett then took the mans shoes and coat of and then
asked her where the barrel was; she told him
to 20 and get it himself, which he did, lie then
tried to put the body into the barrel; she held the
barrel through fear; Bassett buried the clothes
which he took from the body in the yard. under the
chicken coop; the cap he put in his pocket aud went
out: she asked him where he gong he said IL
was mono of her business; at the time of the mur-
der the windows all tastenei the door was
locked and Bassctt had the key ia his pocket.
No SALE CORPSE.
witness then related the circumstance of the trip
to New Haven with the body. Bassett told her the
night before that he had team engaged to take thc
her go with him and do the business.
as she had been there before and hc did
not wish to be known in the matter: ho told her
what to say TO Dr. sanford when they got there:
witness tried TO get out Of the wagon after they had
started, but he (Iassettl would not let her. after
visiting DIR. Sanfords at New Haven witness came out
andto Bassett that he would not buy the body un-
loss she could furnish certificate of the manner
I'm which the person came to his death; Dassctt
told her that she had made o bunder, and had not
told Dr. Sanford what he had told her to; Bassett
then sad that he must get rid of it In some way and
started OF toward the country after driving great
many miles he came to lonely back road; nc
rolled the barrel down the hill into the bush: he
then took the witness knife and scratched of
the word "Brdgeport' which was ON the head OF
the barrel they then started toward home; she said
Bassctt took scvcntyhyc cents from the clothes OF
Suffering Jack remarking to witness, IL didn't get
much for that job. did IL" after they arrived
home from New Haven he took the team
home; they then lived together until he went away
la boat; she went with him on the trip; when she
returned she found her house had been robbed by
him and his friends; she then went to tho Chief OF
Police and City Attorney Hall and told them of tho
murder; she also told one Wyncoop that she knew
enough 10 hang Bassett.
MIS- ALEXANDER ON HER MErTLE.
On her cross-examnation by Mr.. Wilbur Mrs.
Alexander manifested considerable spirit, and gave
her answers In shrcwd and calculating manner.
when asked how old she when she married her
first husband she refused to answer; also re-
fused to give the namo of the gentleman
Houston street New York. and several questions of
like she stated that she forty years
of age; she married in 1855 and again in 1884, she
could not tell whether she divorced or not;
stage; witness said Bassett's proposition to sell
her was made the day after she came from
New Havcn Bassett said that he supposed the bodies
found in New York sold for dissection, and that
he believed the body he found in the water he
would box IL up and try TO sell IL. Witness said
she never gave Weinbeckcr any whiskey with lau
danum in IL, because she never had any In the
house; she never had any poison In the
Fowier's solution; II had been recommended TO her
as bcautihcr of tho complexion; but before she