The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-09-11
NEEDLESS BODY
PACKED IN TRUNK
Actress Limbs and Skull Found in
kitchen Range.
BUTCHER KNIFE WAS THE WEAPON.

Chester Jordan, an Actor, Forced by
the Police to Open Trunk They Sup
posed Contained Stolen Silver -Ia
Overcome and Confesses- Declares
He Killed Wife Accidently.
Boston, Mass. (Special) - The
most brutal crime committed in
Greater Boston since the death Of
Susan Geary, a chorus girl, four
years ago, and one much resembling
1t in its details, was disclosed by
the discovery of torso of Mrs. Hos
norah Jordan, an actress, aged 20
years, of Somerville, in a trunk in
clearinghouse at Hancock Street,
on Beacon Hill, this CITY, Later the
head and bones of the limbs were
found in the furnace of the Jordan
home, at Somerville, and the scalp
hair and other gruesome remains
we're taken from the kitchen range
Of the house.
Chester Jordan, aged 30 years, an
actor, of Someryille, is held by the
police, charged with the murder, and
according to the officers, he made 9
complete confession of the crime.
According to Jordan's confession,
he accidentally killed his wife in
quarrel at their home, and, becom-
Ing desperate over what he had done,
he went out and bought butchers
knife and hacksaw, cut up the body
and placed the torso in trunk. He
then planned to take the steamer
Harvard for New York and throw the
parts of the body overheard. The
fact that the Harvard was laid of
owing to an accident disarranged his
plans, and he was obliged to hire
hackman to take the trunk to Bos-
ton clearinghouse to await a more
favorable opportunity.
The discovery of the crime was
due to the suspicion of the hackman,
James Collins, who had in mind the
numerous robberies which have tax.
en- place about Boston recently, and.
surmising from its weight that the
trunk contained silverware, notified
the police.
Collins reported that he had taken
the trunk from the North Station, it
having come in from Somerville on
a local train. The hackman stated
he left Jordan and the trunk at Z
Hancock Street.
Sergt. Michael Crowley was detail
ed to go to the house and investi-
gate. 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 $40 o'clock Jordan returned
and was commanded to open the
trunk
Jordan did not appear nervous or
alarmed, but hesitated to open the
trunk, and it was not until after con-
siderable argument that he produced
the key to the trunk and inserted it
In the lock. Turning his head, Jor-
dan threw up the cover of the trunk
and then sank back on his knees,
burying his face in his hands and
sobbing.
aghast at the disclosure, for in the
open trunk before him lay sicken-
Ing mass of hacked flesh, a woman's
torso filling the great part of the
trunk, while pieces of flesh from
other parts of the body were stuffed
into the corners.
The entire interior of the trunk
was despatched with blood. There
was no covering of any sort over the
remains. Jordan submitted to arrest
without protest and was led to sta
ton and locked up. Giving his
game and address, he declared the
body in the trunk was that of his
wife, and said he was perfectly will
ing to tell everything concerning the
Ease.
For more than four hours Jordan
was cloSeted with the police officials
and time after time went over the
horrible details. While protesting
that he was dazed when the crime
was committed, yet, by the clearness
and consiseness of his tale, it seem
ed that whatever preceded the actual
Killing. the most careful plans were
laid for the disposal of the body and
the covering up of the crime.
Jordanss story of the murder was
as follows:
He stated that he was married in
September. 1904, to Mrs Honorah
Eddy, whose maiden name was
O'Reilly and whose home was in
Somerville. He did not know who
his wife's first husband was or what
had become of him. The couple
went on the vaudeville stage. Mr..
Jordan taking the part of a tramp
and his wife that OF a nurse, in q
sketch. They went first to Butte,
Mont, four years ago. but only re-
NAMED three or four weeks. Later
they went to Chicago and appeared
IN some of the smalled theaters there.
three months. About
.hree years ago they returned to
Somerville and took a fiat in the
house at 509A Medford Street.
Mrs. Jordan, according to her
husband. had taken to drinking of
ate, and he claims. was associating
With other men, and be became jeal-
,us. 1t was in jealous quarrel that
he trouble started which ended In
he death of his wife,
Japanese Exhibition Postponed.
Toxic (By Cable) The postpone
nent until 1917 of the Japanese In