The evening world., 1890-02-27
FACED HIS DYING VICTIM.
Tessie Covert Identifies John M.
Bassett as Her Betrayer.
Jamaica's Pretty Romance That
Ended in Tragedy.
ItrrclAL TO THE EynslNa worm. !

this morning was all about the scandalous
misfortune so suddenly brought upon the
name Of Village Trustee Jerome G.
Covert by his pretty and way
ward young daughter Tessie. She
lies ut the point OF death in her
pretty home at 80 Douglass avenue,
| in one Of the most exclusive portions OF
] the village, the victim of a criminal
operation, alleged to have been performed
by John Melville Bassett, broker OF Ill
Broadway. New York. He is locked up
in the town hall and will be accused OF
murder in the event of the girls death.
DIR. p. NJ. Wood. her attending physi-
clan. said this morning that he did not
think she would live until nightfall an
opinion shared by Coroner Everett, her
family and friends.
Tessie met Bassett at the house OF
mutual acquaintance In East New York
| last Nav. At first she did not bring him
TO her home in Jamaica, but last Fall ne
| began TO visit there O great deal, anu
attracted the attention Of the villagers by
his handsome appearance and dashinR
turnouts.
dents of Jamaica and recognized society
leaders. Through them Bassett became
ACQUAINTED with the best OF society mere,
and II was generally understood that he
was engaged to be married to pretty Miss
Tessie. ,,
There was mystery about him, though.
which the people whom he came in CON
tact with did not like. He was too reti-
cent about himself to suit them. some
thing of this was hinted to Mr.. Covert,
but lie did not interfere with the friend
shin of Bassett and his daughter. To-day
he wishes that he had.
During the holidays Bassett dia o hos 20
to Jamaica as often as usual, ana DeIore
New Years his visits ceased entirely,
Then 1t was limited that he had Tilted
Tessie Covert.
did not visit any of her young society
friends. She also resigned her Posi5ion
as teacher in the Methodist Sunday
Seye:al of her more intimate, friends
called at her house to see her, but she
was generally lying on lounge IN tne
reception parlor covered with oedciotn'
ing. 1t was given out that she was sur
Bassett suddenly reappeared in the vii
, lage about the 20th of January, ana re;
meined guest at the Covert house unti
the 26th. Then he went away as sud
denly as he came, and was seen there NJ
/ more until he was brought back. hand
cuffed prisoner. 6y DetecuVe eefsean'
S After his last visit Miss Covert grew
worse until Friday night last. when Dr
+, Wood summoned Coroner Everett TO taxi
her ante -mortem statement. rs ne saia s,l'
WAS diving from malpractice. When TIT
Coroner questioned her she al hfst re
4 fused 10 answer his questions.
~ !" He never loved me or he could no
leaye me this way" she moaned piteously
It hut still will not betray him.
Rev. Mr.. Hobbs, of the Presbyteriai
:. Church, gave her religious instruction
u and she was finally made to see that y wa
her duty to make .Sa known S%swsrsd Tns dae " "
"Well, his name is John Melvill
Passett, as / hope to see m
1t Maker and then while she went as
d her heart would burst, she went Q,
TO tell that after she found hersel
likely to become mother, she Sent 10 10
Rassett, the author Of her misery: an
10 hepGed him to marry her. He refused
bnt Insisted that no could save her witt
ont her friends or relatives ever KNOWN
ANYTHING about 1t; zen
She listened TO him, wept and fell. an
her life bids fair to pay the forfeit;
p After hearing her story Coroner Evere
E' SAINT Detective Ashmeai to New York
n. Miss Covert said he represented to h'
>. that he was broker, and carried cards {
y the American Pulyerlzer Company AZ u
" broadway. Mr.. Ashmead went ther
and found that Bassett et., Only mao rsie, Ss,
ht shady and hard to get at.
However, the detective found that ia
Us sett sometimes sold cargo OF ccai
re parties in Engishtown. n. j., 30 he oil
nd 9uised himself as q Jersey farmer Al
an went to Mr.. Bassetts des k-ro0m. -
1. N,,lH hat HaSS9tt
as ont of town, but he waited awhile and ID
The detective Ghrewdly led Bassett
Acknowledge his identity, whereupc
Ashmead snapped the handouts on
wrists and brought him to Jamaica.
There, in presence of the coroner II
I'D his ury. he was confronted with his VI
tim last night, and most dramatic sceI
in Is this the man who betrayed al
ge ruined you 2" asked the Coroner
Is. Slowly the dying girl raised herself
nd bed until she near y sat upright Win o.
Stretching the other hand and al
'y- straight out, she pointed one finger at {
~, Ss covering man at the foot OF the be
at, any Yves, yes. John Melville Bassett'
nd what you've done! .-
returned to the jail. followed by an
llsHH cited crowd of citizens.
leu Neither Mr.. Covert nor Mrs Coy,
would talk about the case this InorniI
They are utterly prostIated. and feell
in the town against bassett runs We
high. A. ;
and win not see any one, lie y sun
and detected and positively declines
re- receive newspaper men.
~ MI Jerome Covert is a member OF I
the bonded warehouse frm Of AekeT a Z
. I. at rs South street, When an EvEsii
rs WoRID reporter called there this morni
mi mi his partners said he had not come over
st business to-day.
tn Fou PIav suspected.