Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-04-23
The Cause Of Chester
Jordan's Killing Wife.
This Motive Will Be Met by a
Plea Of Insanity.
Jordan's Confession to Police and
cruesome Exhibits in Court.

Cambridge, Mass, April 22.-That Il
desire for another woman was the mo-
tive and that the defence will be that
of insanity. was brought out in the tri-
al today OF Chester S. Jordan for the
murder of his wife Honora
One OF the policemen, to whom Jor-
dan is said to have confessed, stated
that Jordan said that he wanted to get
away in order to meet woman. A lit
the later one of the attorneys for the
accused man asked the officer if Jor-
dan appeared normal while making the
alleged statements regarding the death
of his wife and the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of
hel body.
Exhibits. mostly clothing. cut and
slashed, and said to nave been worn
py the murdered woman. were held up
before the Jury, yet Jordan seemed
either so little affected by the display
or Mortified over the spectacle that he
closed his eyes, and at one time appar-
emily went to sleep.
The government followed the testi-
mony of the police officers and that of
Til" police stenographer, who took
down the alleged confession. with a
number of witnesses, who placed Jor-
dan at his home on the night the muir
uer is said to have taken place. and
who said that previous to- his disap'
pearance Mrs. Jordan had declared her
intention of going to Europe.
After placing before the jury the con-
fession, the government showed dis
position to rush matters and short
trial is anticipated.
Cambridge, Mass, April 22.-That his
infatuation for Il woman whose identity
has not yet been discovered may have
furnished a motive fO- the murder OF
his wife. was limited at today when the
trial of Chester S. Jordan for the muir
der of his wife. Honora Jordan, was
resumed in the MiddleseX county supe-
rior criminal court at East Cambridge
On redirect examination, Sergeant
Michael j. Crowley Of the Boston po-
lice, in telling of a conversation with
Jordan on the night of the latter's ar
rest, said that Jordan told him that
he was going away to meet woman
When Crowley asked Jordan the name
of the woman, the defendant said:
Have I got to tell that" Crowley
testified that he told Jordan that he
was not compelled to tell anything.
General Charles w. Bartlett. of coun-
sci for the defence. then asked the court
to have the reference to the I'M
known woman stricken out, but Assist
ant District Attorney Wier objected tC
such a course. stating that the prose-
cution intended to establish a motive
for the murder through the introduc-
ton of the testimony. The court over
ruled General Bartlett's contention and
the latter took his second exception
during the trial.
Sergeant Crowley was not crOSSeX-
amined further by General Bartlett
today.
Captain Joseph DGgan, of the bureau
Of criminal investigation of the Bos-
ton police department, was the next
witness He testified regarding Jor-
dams statements regarding the murder
The witness said that Jordan was in
formed that he was not compelled t.
make any statement; that what lie sale
could 10 used as evidence against him
and that his statements would be taken
down by the police department ste
nographcr. Jordan, however, talked
willingly according to the witness, and
at the conclusion of his examination
at the nolice station he asked to have
the sterogranher' record read over to
him. After hearing it read. Jordan.
according TO the witness. made one OI
two uninlportant corrections Jordan
was very prompt i'm his replies and
appeared exceedingly cool in his de-
mcanOr.
Jordan at that time stated. testified
Captain Dugan, that the trouble be
q quarrel caused by jealousy on the
woman's part. Jordan said that Mrs
Jordan had used violent and vulgar
language towards him. and that he had
replied in Il similar vein. Finally she
rushed at him with Il knife in her hand
and knocked h"r downstairs. He then
went downstairs to see what he had
done. After this. he said, mis- mind was
Il blank lrtil the next mornin" When
he found himself in bed. Later he dis
covered his wifc's body on the floor.
searching cross examination by At
tcrncy Harvey H. Pratt of Jordans
counsel.
\ short recess was taken after Cap
tain Dugan had been excused
When the session was resumed Ell
partment stenographer, was called to