The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1908-09-11
TORSO Of ACTRESS
SLAIN BY HUSBAND, is FOUND IN
A TRUNK.
HACKMAN EXPOSES BRUTAL CRIME
Boston Actor FeIIed Faithless Wife
With Fist, Then Hacked Body
10 Pieces.

Boston, 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 il in its details. was
disclosed by the discovery of the torso
OF Mrs. Honorah Jordan, OF Somerville,
an actress, aged % years, In a trunk
In boarding house at Beacon Hill,
this city.
Chester Jordan, Of Somerville, an
actor, aged 20 years. is being held by
the police. charged with the murder.
He has made complete confession OF
the crime.
According to Jordan's confession. he
accidentally killed his wife Tuesday
night in quarrel at their home. Be
coming desperate over what he had
done he bought a butcher knife and
hacksaw, cut the body up 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 discovery OF the crime was due
to the suspicious Of the hackman.
James Collins, who had in mind the
numerous robberies which have taken
place about Boston recently
Sergeant Michael Crowley was de-
tailed TO go TO the house and investi-
gate. Jordan was not in. but the OF
ficer was shown the back room on the
second floor which Jordan had en-
gagged and found the trunk At this
time the trunk was not opened At
1920 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 IL was not until after con
siderable argument that he produced
the key 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.
A woman's torso filed the greater
part of the trunk. while pieces O.
flesh from other parts of the body
were stuffed into the corners. The en-
tire interior of the trunk was bespat-
tered with blood. There was no Gov
ering of any sort over the remains.
Jordan submitted to arrest without
protest and was locked up. Giving his
name and address, he declared the
body in the trunk was that of his wife,
and said he was perfectly willing TO
tell everything concerning the case.
Jordans story of the murder was
substantially as follows:
He said that In September. 1904 he
married 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 cou-
pie went OH the vaudeville stage. Jor-
dan taking the part of tramp and his
wife that of a nurse. in a sketch.
About three years ago they returned
TO Somerville and took fat in the
house at 509A Medford street Mrs.
Jordan. according to her husband, had
taken to drinking of late He claims
she was associating with other men
and he became Jealous. 1t was in
jealous quarrel that the trouble start
ed which ended in the death of his
wife.
Jordan declares that his wife struck
him first that he then knocked his
wife down, and was Mortified to find
that he had killed her. This was at
Z 80 O'Clock Tuesday night.
Fearing discovery. he conceived the
idea of cutting up the body. taking il
away on one of the steamers and
throwing the parts overheard and
hen reporting TO the police the fact |
hat his wife had left him.