Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-09-10
Head and Bones of Actress Dis
covered in the Fur.
mace.
her HUSBAND CONPESSES
Claims Tie Accidentally Killed M,
wife In Qunrrcl-CW In the
Pody with butcher Knife md
!lacksaw-Plauncd to Throw
Trunk into the Sea.

Boston, Sept. s.-Thc most horrible
md brutal crime committed in Greater
Boston since the death of Susan Geary,
chorus girl. four years ago. and one
much resembling It, was disclosed to-
night by the discovery Of the torso of
Mrs. Honorah Jordan, an actress. aged
23 years. of Somervillc, in "A trunk in
boarding house at Hancock street
on Beason hin. this city. Later the
head and bones OF tho limbs were
found in tho furnace of the Jordan
home at Somcrvillc and tho scalp. hair
and other grewsomc remains were TAX
on from the kitchen range of tho
house.
Chester Jordan. aged % years, an
actor, of 500 Mcdford street, Somer-
willie, IS held by the police charged with
the murder and Tonight according to
the officers he made a full and COM
plete confession of the crime.
HUsBAND'S CONFESSION.
According to Jordan's alleged confess
sion he accidentally killed his wife Tues
day night in quarrel at their home and,
becoming desperate over what he had
done, went out and bought "A butcher
knife and hacksaw cut up the body and
placed the torso in trunk He then
planned to take the steamer Harvard,
which was schcd ,cd TO le; We last night
for New York and throw the parts of
the body overheard. The fact that the
Harvard was laid off owing to an ac-
cident dsarranged his plans and he was
obliged to hire a hackman to take the
trunk to a Boston boarding house TO
avail. more favorable opportunity.
HICKMAN WAS SUSPICIOUS.
The discovery Of the crime was due
IN the suspicious of the haCkman
George w. Collins. who had in mind the
numerous robberies which have taken
place In and about Boston recently and
surmising from It's weight that the
trunk he was cartlng about contained
silverware notified the police.
Collins reported that he had first taken
the trunk from the north station this
morning. 1t having come In from Somer-
willie on local train. It was first taken
20 the South Station, where he left IT,.
Later he was called upon by Jordan to
carry the same trunk to number Han
rock street. a lodging house kept by
Mrs. John Haley. The hackman then
reported his suspicious to the police.
Sergeant Michael Crowley was detailed
To go to the Hancock street house and In
vestigate. When he reached the House
Jordan was not In but the officer was
shown the back room on the second floor
which Jordan had engaged and found
the trunk At this time the trunk was
not opened. About 800 Jordan returned
and on being accosted IN the hallway
by the officer Mt first denied his identity.
Later he admitted who he was. Asked
about his trunk he denied that he had
one. He was ordered 10 his room by
the officer. however and commanded to
open the trunk.
DID NOT WANT TO OPEN TRUNK.
Jordan did not appear nervous or
alarmed but hositatcd to open the
trunk, and It was not until after con-
siderable argument on the part Of the
officer that he produced the key to
the trunk and inserted It In the lock-
Turning his head, Jordan threw up
the cover Of the trunk and then sank
back on his knees burying his face
In his hands and sobbing.
Sergeant Crowley staggered back
aghast at the disclosure, for in the
open trunk before him lay sicken-
Ing mass of hacked flesh. n woman s
torso filling the greater part Of the
trunk, while pieces OF flesh from other
parts of the body were stuffed into
the corners. The entire interior of
me ,runk being bespattcred with blood.
Thoro was no covering of any sort
over the remains.
HUSBAND CONFESSES ALL
Jordan submitted without protest to
tho handcuffs and was led to station
three and locked up. Giving his name
and address he declared the body in
the trunk was that of his wife, Mrs.
Jordan, and appeared perfectly willing
to tcll the officers everything concern
ing ne case.
For more than four hours tonight
Jordan was closetod with the police
officials of Boston and Somervillc and
time after time went over the horrible
details While processing that he was
dazed when the crime was committed
yet by the ciearness and conciseness
Of his tale 1t seemed apparent that
whatever preceded the actual killing,
the most careful plans were laid for
the disposal of tho body and the cover
Ing mp of the crime.
Jordan's story of the murder which
was given the officers, was substan-
TALLY as follows
WAS JEALOUS OF HIS WIFE.
He stated that he was married III
September, 1904, to Mrs. Honorah Eddy
whose maiden name was O'Reilly and
whose home was In Somerville. He did
not know who his Wifes first husband
was or what had become OF him. The
couple went on the vaudeville stage
Mr.. Jordan taking the part of tramp
and his wife That OF nurse, In a
sketch They won't West. About three
years ago they returned TO Somerville