The New York herald., 1879-02-28
Bassett Tells the Story of
the Crime.
MRS. ALExANDER'S CONTRADICTION.
81 Wish You Would Not Shake
Your Head So"
BR1parpoRr, Conn. Feb. q. 1879.

tendance. Some of them brought their knitting and
sewing. and busily engaged at their work when
there nothing else to divert their attention. Mrs
Alexander broke down during Bassett's testimony.
and sobbed bitterly did asoBassets eldest sister.
who near the witness stand during the afternoon.
George Bassett, father of the accused was recalled
by the defence and testified that he Mrs. Alexan-
der have pistol one fast day; she fired it at
mark; the witness went to the old Stanley house,
where Mrs. Alexander lived. after Frank to get him
away, but could not find him.
On his cross-examnation he said that Frank
loaded the pistol Frank had been firing short time
before and Mrs. Alexander thought she could shoot
better than he did. which led her to try it.
Hermie Bassett. the prisoners youngest sister.
titled that she had heard Lizzie Cavanaugh tell her
mother that when they returned from New Haven
Mrs. Alexander did not tell Frank that they had
found way to make money. he was such bab
that he would go tell of it, her sister present
at the time.
On her cross.examinaton she said she had told this
to both her mother and father.
George Bassett recalled by the State. testified that
he did not go Mrs. Alexanders for the purpose Of
procuring board for his youngest daughter for the
purpose of getting her away from the influence of
his oldest daugher. On his cross-exsmination he
said he went there with officer after Frank.
Captain Charles Ball testified that he knew Bassett;
he hired him the 18th of July, and he (Bassett
sailed with him the 10th; he was gone about four
days On his cross-examination he said Bassett had
told him that he his vessel on the
18th of July; the witness said that he
thought he must be mistaken; Bassett said
to witness at the trial of Mrs. Alexander that he as
sett) in a bad fix Bassett had sent for him and
wanted bim to look his books and see if he
not board of his vessel the 18th of July last;
Bassett spoke to him though it would clear him if
he could make it appear that he was on the vesssl at
that time.
BAssErr ON THE STAND.
Frank E. Bassett then took the stand. He testified
that he could not tell his age; he had known Mrs.
Alexander six or seven years; he frst became ac-
quainted with her at the Winter Garden, place
where they kept waiter girls and sold beer she was
then living at the old Stanley House; he used to
go there occasionally; she afterward went
to New York and the witness went boating;
he did not her in four years. he met her again
four years ago. and lived with her at Bulls Head and
in one Beers place; they went to the old carriage
the time; he had boat in April last The witness then
related the circumstances of Lizzie Cavanaugh and
Mrs. Aexanders trip to New Haven to sell their bodies
He asked them about it when they returned, and
they would not tell him. he did not dictate the let
ter written to Dr. sanford; Mrs. alexander asked
water he said he had, and related instance of the
finding of a body in New York Harbor; he told
had no right to touch them. only to
tow them ashore; the witness knew "Stuttering
jack" he met MIN on Water street on the 12th Of
july The witness then related the fact of their get
ting the junk and selling it, They then went and got
some beer; they afterward went to the house; Jack
told Mrs. Alexander to get some supper Tor them;
she seemed to know him; she said there no meat
in the house: witness then went out and got
some. and when he returned Jack had been
washing himself; Mrs. Alexander stood by with
glass, and asked Jack If he would not have some
thing; she poured out glass half full and gave it to
and she replied that he had enough; Jack went and
sat down on the lounge with the baby; Bassett went
paper. she soon came in with the baby and said
Jack was asleep; she then went out again and soon
came in and said she had chloroformed him. she
had "ixed" him; witness said that hearing this
he dumbfounded and did not know what to do;
out of tine way he would be in bad fix as she
if found OUT he then went to work to barrel the
body up; he had procured the barrel sew.
sending some things away for Mrs. Alex
ander. Witness then related the circumstances
of going to Mr. Stevens drug store after the chloro
form. alcohol and wntergreen which Mrs Alexander
had sent for. The witness said that he went after
ander. He then related the particulars of their trip
to New Haven He said she came out of the Office
OF Dr. Sanford crying, and saying she had been
had been law passed, and he afraid to take
the body. as they were watched. He then related
the trip through the country to where the body
found, Mrs. Alexander directing him; she helped
him to take the barrel out of the wagon; she took
out her knife and scratched Of some marks the
Darrell she put the child in the bottom OF the wagon
she asked Dr. Sanford for S5 she had hired team
and men to come with it; he did not tell
her to say this; he took the team home and
Mr.. Cook 81, and for not paying for
the whole he told him he had left his wife there sick
the next day he went with Captain Ball on trip;
he then went other trip and gone about
two weeks; he had the tootlache he. never
used choroforni, and did not know the smell of it,
he did not fasten the dopr the day Rufus was
there when he went into the room the man
was dead; he lay with a cloth ON his face:
there was also n sponge like the one shown i'll tho
BASIN she cut the coat with pair of scissors; sho
told the witness that she could get $2J for the body
in New Haven; he had been arrested once before:
she had him arrested for assaults he threatened
Mrs. Alexander thath would kill her il she told OF it,
BAssErT's CROSS ExAMfSATIoN.
On the crossexamination he said he and Mrs.
Alexander lived AK man aud wife; Nh. Wells read
the confession TO him after he had written 1t; the
witness had said that IL was corrcct Mrs. Alexander
had told him about her visit to DR.: Young; he told
her that it foolishne She said she had heard
that the doctors did buy bodies, and she going
to see for herself; he heard Mrs. Alexander and
LIZZIE Cavanaugh say that they were gong to New
Haven to sell their bodies and demonstrated with
her about going; when they returned she said to
witness that she had found out how to make money
now. but would not tell him anything further; he
could not say whether 1t after or before the
der; she dd not say anything apou, tnis the night
they came from New Haven't she had proposed To
him once or twice before to procure bodies, but he
could not tell the time; the witness said 1t was
'Stuttering Jacks" body that in the barrel he
did not know how he died. whether natural death
or not Mrs. Alexander told him that sho had
written to Charles hartman about procuring bodies
ana he thought II was aftcr the murder OF
Weinbccker; Le did not know whether the answer
received was favorable not; she spoke about get
ting the body of her former husband aud her sonin
law: this was before the murder about u month, bo
thought; she had dispute with Thomas Baker and
wanted the witness to 80 to New York and get him
part drunk and help To get him ont of the way.
sESsATIoS IN COUNT.
At this point witness sal to Mrs. Alexander. 81
wish you would not shake your head 80" Mrs.
Alexander then began sobbing violently. saying she
did not mean nything when she shook her head at
the witness. Bassett replied: :--Nes you did; you
did not want me to testify about this" This caused
great sensation in court. Mrs. Acxanlcr's sobs
could be heard all over the rooin Mrs. Alexander
then changed n position, and thus avoided facing
Bassett He then said 81 am not afraid to look her
straigh in the eyes" Order having been restored.
the witness resumed his testimony Mrs. Alexander
wanted him to help her to get her son-ii-aw into
room IN New York; shc would have some chloroform
and fix hm she had prepared send the body TO
Dr. sanford; she had also proposed to push him oil
ferryboat and again to throw Cayenne pop
per in his eyes she wanted to get him
that this man Clague was q poor, drunken loafer,
and she wanted 90 got him out of the way; she said
that she could show him place in New YORK where
they could put them out OF the way she then pro-