The New York herald., 1879-02-27
THE WEINBECK MURDER.
THE DEFENCE CoMMENCED-Is BAssETT's
MIND UNsoUND?

FURTHER EVIDENCE FOR THE PROSECUTION
THE DEFENCE CoMMENCED-Is BAssETTs
MIND UNsoUND?
.BRIDGEPoRT, Conn.,, Feb &C. 1879.
The trial of Frank L. Bassett. the weinbeck mur-
derer, was resumed this morning promptly at nine
O'Clock. The attendance throughout the day was
much larger than on the previous days.
Mrs. Alexander was present again to-
day, and matter of course attracted
her share OF the attention. Bsssett, as he sat by
his counsel paid the strictest attention to the ex-
animation of each witness. and. usual. prompted
his counsel in the questioning Of several
OF them. Isaac Bedient was the nrst witness
called, who testhed:-He had o slight ac-
quaintance with Bassett; witness followed
the water during the summer. and knew
Jack Rufus he went on trip TO Norwich, Conn.
with him on the schooner Mary f. Bayles; they ar
rived back to bridgeport one evening in July; the
next morning nufus put the captain ashore in boat;
nfterward the witness him talking with Bassett
in saloon on Water street; witness asked Rufus IL
he was going aboard; he replied. Yes, pretty soon;"
the witness then left them, aud when he was
going aboard the boat saw Rufus trying to
get aboard; he Qsufus) was partially intoxicated;
Rufus asked witness about the Junk; the witness
told him where IL was; Bassett with him ut the
time; Rufus got the junk and went OF and sold It;
they then went to a saloon and had drink together;
the witness then left them; he thought II In the
afternoon; witness had not seen Jack Rufus since,
he had known Jack Rutus us ''Stuttcring Jack"
about three months. On the cross-examination he
could not tell what time IL whom Rufus put the
captain ashore witness went aboard the boat first;
he occupied the position of cook on the vessel.
George r. Humiston testified --He knew 'Stutter-
ing jack" his real name was Frank wcinbccker;
witness had employed him three years. he last
him some time ia July; he was talking with him
them. The witness was then shown brass ring,
and identified IL a. being like the one that Rufus
wore; also the shoes. witness sad closely resembled
those worn by Rufus witness said hufus followed
the water great portion of the time.
John wyhcoop testified that he won't on the trip
20 Norwich with Jack Rufus; they returned to
Bridgeport on the night of July IL; he aud Rufus
came ashore that night; he lett Rufus about
eleven o'clock; did hot Bassett that night
he irst met Mrs. Alexander In the sloop whippoor
will he next her In September; she told witness
that IL she did not get any recOmpcnse for the things
which Bassett sold she would get satisfaction or have
revenge ON him, witness asked her why she lived
with him, when she not married 10 him; she
replied that he was q good man 10 have around the
house. as he could take care Of the baby and wash
W. We Wells testified that he had been jailcr for
sixteen years; Bassett had been in his charge; he
had made no threat or used any influence whatever
on Bassett; his counsel came TO see him; witness
took him to Bassetts cell; witness said to Bassett,
How Is thisf You have been charged with ffiurder;
his counsel said to him. Say nothing about this
Bassett made confession to him after his counsel
had gone; witness had written y down as Bassett
related It, Witness then recited the confession from
his notes, which he had taken ut that time
RAssETT's CONFESSION.
Robert Hubbard, IA. d.. testified that he made
pos-mortcm examination Of the body'said 90 be that
of Frank weinbccker; tho body was badly dccom-
posed; witness said he was familiar with chloroforin
and Its uses and he thought that the sponge. which