Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1908-12-04
ACTOR ON TRIAL.
For Murder Of His Young Wife--Mil-
lion for Defense.


Boston. Mass, Dec. 3.-What prou
ises to be one OF the greatest leg,
battles in the criminal annals OF Mas
achusetts will begin within the ne,
week or two. when Chester S. Jorda
OF Somerville is placed on trial fc
the murder OF his wife. The KILN
OF Mrs. Jordan and the cutting up {
her body by the self-confessed mu
derer occurred in the early part G
last September and was one OF tn
most gruesome cases with which IN
Boston police ever had to deal. Tn
confession of the young husband ha
left him but one ground for defense
insanity. Eminent counsel of New
York and Boston have been engage,
to conduct the defense and Il is un
derstood that the millions of Jess,
X. Lyermore, the so-called cotton
king of New York. who is a brother
in.law of Jordan, will be used freely
to save the young man from the cleo.
trio chair.
Since his arrest a day or two after
the murder of his wife Jordan has
been confined in the East Cambridge
jail, where he has been visited almost
daily by his wealthy sisters. Though
the close confinement has told some.
what on his health. Jordan has con.
tinued to maintain the same compare
tive calm that he displayed at the time
of his arrest. when he contentcdly
pulled a cigarette while seated on
trunk containing his wife's dsmem,
bereG body.
Wife Was an Actress.
Jordan is about thirty years old. of
splendid physique and handsome ap.
pearance. His wife, who fell a victim |
70 his rage, was an actress. aged TWEEN.
.y-three years. Jordan was born and
'aised in Indianapolis and came to
with his parents about ten
'r twelve years ago The couple were
married in 1904. Mrs. Jordan had
leen previously married and had lived
With her first husband in Canada. Mr.
md Mrs. Jordan went on the vaude
lille stage, Jordan taking the part
If a tramp and his wife that of a
lurse, In a sketch. They went first
o Butte, Mont. after their marriage, |
mt remained there only short time,
S the climate did not agree with
hem. Later they went to Chicago and
ppeared in some of the smaller thea
ers there, remaining three months
bout three years ago they returned
} Somerville and went to live in the | ,
tile house where the tragedy of last .
eptember occurred.
Jordan Was Jealous.
Through the generosity of Jordan's
ealthy relatives the couple were al
avs well supplied with money But
Irs. Jordan, according to the hus.
and, had taken to drinking, and, he
lys, was associating with other men
nd he became jealous. And It was in
jealous quarrel that the trouble
arted which ended in the death of
q woman.
Jordan declares his wife struck him \
'st that he knocked her down and n
as terrified to find that he had killed
n He left the body undisturbed all
sht, while he slept in an adjoining n
ON The following morning he con.
lived the idea Of cutting the bodyI
Y taking it away on one of the n
'amers and throwing the parts over
ard and then reporting to the police n
It his wife had left him. III
A Chance Discovery. ~
With the trunk and its CHASTITY con. n
It's Jordan came into Boston, stop e
g at boarding house preliminary n
taking steamer for New York. | n
e discovery of the crime was by
re chance. The cabman who drove \
dan to the boarding house became a
picious about the contents of the \
nix while carrying it into the house. 4
weight made him think It contained
len silverware, and the nervous
nner of Jordan satisfied him that
man was a burglar. IA
he cab driver believing he was on
trail of a thief, went to the police 4
told them of the mysterious
lk. Officers were detailed to &c y
he boarding house and Investigate. 4
on Jordan was ordered to open the n
TX he did not appear in the least n
be nervous or alarmed but hest "A
d to comply with, the officers re- Il
st. His calm and natural manner
his statements that he was a tray
" ca lpcmau onI thaf thaffrunk con- |