New-York tribune., 1908-09-04
BRUTAL TRUNK MURDER
CONFESSION, SAY POLICE.
Prisoner, Tictim' s Husband. Is Jesse
L. Lirerm0re's BrOther-in-Lasc.
TBy Telegraph to The Tribune. ]

IBA Telegraph TO The Tribune.
Boston. Sept. 3.-Through the detective in
stincts Of a cab driver. who informed the police
of his suspicious Chester Jordan brother-ir-
law OF Jesse Livermore the stock and cotton
market plunger, was arrested tonight in a West
End lodging house. where he had gone this af-
ternoon with a trunk containing the larger por-
tion of the dismembered body of his wife.
Hcnorah Jordan. The police say he confessed
committing the crime
The cab driver, who had been hired at the
Metropolitan Line pier was impressed by tie
fact that Jordan very insistent that the
trunk should not be tipped UP end turned
so that the cover was downward. and he also
noted that as the cab left the pier Jordan pulled
down the shades on both windows After driving
Jordan TO his destination the idea that the trunk
had been stolen impressed the cabman that
he went to Police Headquarters and told his
suspicious
The murder the most horrible and bru
tai committed in greater Boston since the death
OF Susan Geary, a chorus girl, four years ago,
and one much resembling it in its details. The
trunk was found and Jordan was arrested in
e. boarding house at No Z Hancock street, on
Reacon Hill Later the head and the bones
Of the limbs were found in the furnace Of
the Jordan home. at No 500 Medford street.
SomerriIle and other parts were taken from
the kltCGen range Ol the iloOSS-
Jordan is twenty-nine years old. His wife
wss twenty-three They were vaudeville
actors.
After the hackman had told the police of his
suspicious Sergeant Michael Crowley was de-
tailed to go to the Hancock street house and
investigate. He waited until Jordan. who was
out returned. Asked about his trunk. he de-
MED that he had one. He ordered TO his
room by the sergeant. however, and COM
manded TO open the trunk.
FORCED TO OPEN TRUNK.
Jordan did not appear nervous or alarmed,
but it was not until after considerable argu-
ment that he put the key TO the trunk in the
lock Turning his head. Jordan threw UP the
cover and then sank back on his knees. burying
his face in his hands and sobbing-
Sergeant Crowley staggered back aghast, for
in the open trunk before him the dsnem-
bered body OF a woman Jordan submitted 70
handouts without protest. and was taken to
Station s. He said the body was that of his
wife and appeared willing TO tell the officers
everything concerning the case
For more than four hours tonight he was
closeted with the police of Boston and Somer-
VILE and time after time the police assert went
over the horrible details. While saying that
he was dazed when the crime was committed
according TO the police statement the clearness
and conciseness of his tale showed that what
ever preceded the actual killing. the most careful
plans were laid for the disposal of the body and
the covering up of the crime
Jorden's story of the murder. the police de-
clare vas substantially follows:
He married in September. 1904. 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 Jordan taking the part OF a
tramp and his wife that OF a nurse. in sketch
They went 20 Butte. Mont. four years ago, but
remained there only three or four weeks as the
climate did not agree with them. Later. they
went TO Chicago and appeared in some OF the
smaller theatres there, remaining three months
About three years ago they returned TO Somer-
VILE and rented a fiat in the Medford street
house
POLICE VERSION OF CONFESSION
Mrs Jordan had taken 10 drinking. and was
associating with other men, and Jordan became
Jealous II was in a jealous quarrel last Tues
day night that the trouble started which ended
in the death OF the wife
His wife struck him first He knocked her
down and was terrified to find that he had
killed her. This happened at 7:30 o'clock
He decided to disnember the body. take IL
away on a steamer throw ii overheard and re
port 10 the police that his wife had left him
He put the torso in the trunk and, leaving the
head and bones OF the limbs in the furnace,
shipped the trunk TO Boston. Following it TO the
city he had il transferred 10 the pier Of the
Metropolitan Line intending to sail for New
York with it Finding that he could not have
the trunk in his stateroom. and there being no
opportunity TO dispose Of its contents If il was
kept on the lower deck, he decided TO take IT To
the lodging house
When he was arrested ne had just returned
from purchasing paper. twine and lead sinkers,
intending to throw the parts Of the body into
the Charles River after dark.
Mrs. Livermore. the wife of the cotton broker,
is Jordans sister. The relations between the
Jordans and Mr. Livermore have not been
friendly. and the Jordans were blamed by
LverrnOre for much OF the publicity which at
tended his early prominence as a factor in the
stock market. Mr.. and Mrs. Jordan have trav-
eled about the country good deal in the
cheaper vaudeville houses, appearing sometimes
together THE Jordans,' and sometimes sep
arately with other partners Jordan, after
the initial shock of discovery, regained his COM
posure, and through the examination seemed
thoroughly self possessed.