Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-09-04

Boston, Sept. 3.-The most horrible
and brutal crime committed in Greater
Boston since the Susan Geary murder
of four years ago, and much reScm-
bling it in its details, was disclosed to-
night by the discovery of the dismen-
bered body and mutilated pieces OF
flesh Of Mrs. HOnOrah Jordan, an ac-
tress, aged % years, of Somerville If
trunk in j boarding house at ! Han
cock street on Beacon hill. Later the
head and bones of the limbs Were
found in the furnace of the home 81
the woman in Scmerville while the
scalp and hair and other parts Of tho
body was found in the kitchen range
of the same home.
Chester Jordan, an actor. aged %, o.
500 A. Medford street, Somerville, is
held by the police, charged with tho
murder, and made full and complete
confession Of the crime, according tC
the police.
Chester r. Jordan is a brother If Mrs
Jesse L. Livermore. wife of thu we'll
known stock and cotton spccuiator
His parents. Mr.. and Mrs. PhincAs
Jordan. and sister. Mrs. Kendall
prominent in Somerville society, lives
in that city.
Jordan is large man. being feet
9 inches tall, Weighing 2pS pounds.
According to Joroan's confession he
accidentally killed his wife Tuesday
night in a quarrel at their home. and
becoming frightened at the conse-
qucnccs. with butchers knife
razor and shears cut up the
body and placed it in a trunk. He then
planned to take the steamer Harvard
which would have left. according tC
schedule. Wednesday night for New
York and throw the parts of the body
overheard The fact that the Harvard
was laid off, owing to an accident. up
set his plans and he was obliged to hire
a hacknan to take the trunk to q
boarding house to await a more favor
able opportunity.
The discovery of the crime was due
to the suspicious Of the hackman
Geo. w Collins, who had in mind the
numerous robberies which have taken
place in and about Boston recently
and, believing the trunk he was cart
ing about, from it's weight, contained
silverware, notified the police early
this afternoon.
Collins reported that he had first
taken the trunk from the North sta
ton early in the day, and having come
in from Somerville on local tram
1t was first taken to the South station
where he left it. Later he was caileo
upon by Jordan to carry the sam.
trunk to Hancock street Jordan tried
TO secure q room at No. 5 on the street
hut was unable to find the landlord. he
next tried No. and secured a room
from Mrs. Haley The hackman stated
he left Jordan and the trunk ABOUT
o'clock at No. Z. He then notified the
police of Station 8, which is on Joy
street, one street away.
Sergeant Crowley was detailed TO sc
to the Hancock street house and lnres'
tigate. When he reached the mouse
Jordan was not around. He was shown
the hack room on the second floor
which Jordan had engaged, and found
the trunk.
About o'clock Jordan returned and. on
being accCsted by the officer, at nrst de-
MED he was Jordan. Later he admllteo
his identity Asked about his trunk ne
professed not to know anything about IT,
He was ordered to his room by the OIL
GERS however, and commanded to open
the trunk.
Jordan did not appear nervous OF
alarmed. hut showed some delay in open
ing the trunk and it was not until after
argument on the part of the
officers 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 MS
hands ard sobbing.
Sergeant Crowley staggered back aghast
at the disclosure. for the open trunk as
closed a horrible mass of hacked flesh, d
wnmans torso filling the greater part Of
the trunk. while chopped up pieces OF
flesh from other parts of the body were
stuffed into the corners, the entire int
rior of the trunk being spattered with
blood. There was no clothing of any sort
over the body.
Turning to Jordan, who was on the
floor, his face ashen white and every
muscle in his body quivering, Officer
Crowley said:
"Tou are under arrest"
Jordan submitted without protest to the
handouts and was led to Station 3 and
locked up. Giving his name and address
he declared the body in the trunk was
that CT his wife and appeared perfectly
willing to tell the officials everything con-
corning the case that they desired.
For more than four hours tonight Jor-
dan was closeted with the police officials
of Boston and Somerville. and time after
time it is said, went over the horrible
details.
While protesting that he was in dazed
condition when the crime was cn1nmitfe ed