Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-12-09
BASSETT RIDES
Taken to Station in Hack Cool
 and Smoking The Murder
 Case Now Rests.

l No one not knowing that the big
 white granite building on Leavenworth
 street is the county court house, and
 that trial for murder of an old man | of over 70 years of age was going on
 there, would suspect that a smiling
 young fellow with flushed cheeks ana
 good cigar" in his mouth coming
 down the steps yesterday afternonn
 about 4:30 o'clock was accused of one
 of the most cold blooded murders that | has ever taken place within the bor- I ders of this alleged land of steady habits. Connecticut. Smiling and ! serene. with no evident appearance | that he was in the hands of the law charged with the most awful thing in the long list of crimes that humanity IS capable of, with his hands within
 the sleeves of his Overcoat so that no one could see the steel clasps of the Jaw burdening his wrists. Charles Bas-
 sett walked down the steps of the
 court house at 4:30 o'clock as though
 he was one of the happiest men on
 earth. His usually palid cheeks were flushed. his usual limp caused by an
 operation necessary to remove the re- suits of the evils of the life he had led. was scarcely noticeable He was
 smoking a nice cigar, and as though
 he had hired the hack in waiting he
 walked into it and in moment he
 was dashing toward the depot yen route to the county jail.
 The sidewalks were crowded. From every office window on Leavenworth street people looked at the dispatch of the alleged murderers of old man Lockwood. and unknown to them they had passed their view on account of the vigilance of Sheriff Durham and his deputies.
 Leonard and Cenesky, bound to- gether by handcuffs. were bundled into a wagon and hustled off, with Sheriff Gillette at the reins and a big pistol in his pocket, for the law is taking no chances with these men. And again, unknown to the crowd, though he passed them. Preston, ac- companied by his mother. who looked young enough to be his sister. went down Leayenworth street with a sher- if in his rear. His hands were also bound by the steel bracelets provided by law, but in such a manner that only searching view could see the bond. \
 And then when the crowd thought the whole bunch" had gone away from the court house, out stepped a trio that seemed the most pleasant of All within the scope of the eye. Sher- if Walsh and Sheriff Durham were on each side of Bassett, but no one not knowing the officers would for mo ment suspect that the middle man was on trial for his life and their prisoner. The cold. immoyable disposi- tion that hangs around Bassett in court had given way ito a lively and laughable humor. A minute before he came to the public view Sheriff Dun ham had stuck cigar between his teeth, and pufing gaily on it Bassett made his appearance before the crowd. But few knew that he was the man with the murder of old man Lockwood. They did not know him i from any of the other prisoners. and | the fact that he was the last one of the accused they would have a glimpse at for some days was the cause of their crowding around the entrance to the court house. In fact, Bassett ap- peared an entirely different man from the immoyeable figure he presents in the court house.
 Still the effects of the operation he in the state prison at Au- burn, N. Y.. have not entirely left him 1 and he still walks with hesitating 1 step. It is the belief of the jail off 1 cials that he must have led an awful i life.
 To prevent any possibility of a breakdown in the trial on account of l health, he is given the best of aften- l ton fin the jail. He is not confined in | a cell, but is considered an inmate of !, the hospital, and is given everything, | absolutely everything, that he wishes | for. His breakfast usually consists of l toast, eggs in any form he may wish, | coffee, tea or milk, whichever he may | incline to, meat of any kind he may ! ask for. In fact there is nothing left I undone for him that Sheriff Dunham | or the jail doctor can suggest for the | benefit of his health. In a word. it | might be said that Bassett is living | as he never lived before, and the ef-
 
 what pale countenance.
 The jail authorities were afraid for I some time that Bassett's health would i hold up his trial and thereby cause a great deal of bother and confusion to the authorities, for it is the stable basis of all criminal affairs to give the a speedy trial, but yet not to with his rights by any means. And it was for that reason Bassett was considered a hospital subject in the Il Iail when he might easily be confined m a cell. lI
 What story he will tell on the wit ness stand has given space for the widest speculation among those who nave attended the trial Attorney Rus 'ell will undoubtedly put him on the Itand and the declarations he will make are expected to make the big rest sensation ever heard in the local ,Ourts. So far. according to the evil lence, if was he who actually dealt he murderous blows on Lockwood. It s between him and Leonard then on hat score. for according to the testi- nony SO far given none but they and he Almighty were in the house when he murderous blows were dealt.
 After press hour yesterday Sheriff iillette testified to serving a subpoena n Mrs Agatha Lusas and taking Cen sky's father with him to Identify the roman.