Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-04-24
F|inches at the Evidence Of Officers and Almost
CoNapSeS at One Of Exhibits, -Hains Trial May
See Captain on Stand as an Exhibit.
THE JORDAN TRIAL.

Cambridge, Mass, April 23-The
strain of his trial for the murder of his
wife, apparently began to tell upon
Chester S. Jordan in the superior court
today, as the government kept on plac-
ing grewsome exhibits before the jury
and added more evidence to support
the charge and alleged confession If
the killing of the woman and the dis
memberment of her body.
At the opening of the trial Tuesday,
Jordan wore nonchalant air and APP
parenty paid little attention to the
claims made by the prosecution But
today as officer after officer testified
regarding his actions on the day of his
arrest, the finding of portions of his
wife's body in the furnace at their
home in Somerville, and as the, gov
eminent attorneys backed up this evil
dence by exhibiting small shreds IF
hair, the demeanor of the young man
changed. He became nervous, twisted
about in his seat covered his face with
his hands and cast furtive glances at
the half dozen alenists seated a few
feet away, who were watching his
every movement and expression.
And when, near the close Of the days
proceedings the top of a skull was pro-
duced, and one Of the medical eXamin-
ers pointed out certain indentations,
triangular in form, which the govern
ment claimed were made with fiat
iron, he nearly collapsed. Re-assurinS
words from his counsel helped him to
regain his composure and in the last
minutes of the session, he seemed to
gaze upon the exhibits with more in
terest and to follow more carefully
the words of the medical examiner.
The government announced at the
conclusion of today's session that it
would probably complete its evidence
tomorrow.
Cambridge, Mass, April 23.-There
was less jaunty composure about Ches-
ter S. Jordan as he settled himself in
the cage in the superior court today
ard prepared to listen ITO additional
evidence with which the government
hopes to convict him of the murder of
his wife. Honora in Somerville on Sept.
l last.
Two DAYS of testimony, much of it of
a gruesome and revolving nature. ap-
narently had it's effect upon the young
man, for today he sat limp and de-
jected, while witness followed witness
as the government attorneys sought
to trave Jordan's steps at the time or
the murder and his efforts to dispose
of the trunk in which the dismembered
body of his wife was found in his room
in the lodging house on Beacon HILL
The trunk was followed from the
home of the Jordans in Somervllle,
where it is claimed the murder was
committed. to the South Station. but
before tracing it further, District At
torncv Higgins called the landlady of
the lodging house, Mrs. Risa j. Haley,
to the stand
she said that Jordan rented the room
one afternoon and asked that much of
the furniture be removed. Mrs. Haley,
under cross-examination by Mr.. Pratt
fo,. Mr.. Jordan admitted that the ac-
cused man had a frightened nervous
look about him, and seemed to be
afraid of something Mr.. Pratt did not
pursue this line of testimony regard
ing Jordan's mental condition very far,
but it was sufficient to indicate the
line of the defence.
George r. Rollins, the cab driver,
whose suspicious resulted in Jordans
4 ND~-
fed that on the afternoon of Sept. 3
he was engaged by Jordan to take a
trunk from the South Terminal station
to the Metropolitan wharf. Arriving at
the wharf, Jordan did not leave the
cab. as he learned that there would
he no steamer for New York that
night. He refused to have the trunk
left at the pier and directed the driv-
" tysr,I tn
lodging house at Z Hancock street Col
Inns and Jordan together carried the
trun. 10 stairs at the Hancock street
house to the room that Jordan had
hired.
Collins according to his own testi-
mony, then went to the Joy street po-
lice station, where he told Captain
Peabody of the trunk that he had Just
carried 70 the Hancock street house,
expressing the belief that it had been
stolen.
Under cross-examination Collins said
that there We're no porters in the bag
gage room at the South Station when |
Jordan removed the trunk. This made
the witness think that something might
be wrong and his suspicious were con-
firmed when Jordan refused to leave
the trunk at the steamboat pier. He
said that he did not want to be I'M
nlicated in any way in the theft of a
trunk and for that reason told the po-
lice of his suspicious.
Police Sergeant T. J. Mulligan Of the
JOY street station, testified regarding
the appearance of Jordan's room at the
Hancock street house after his arrest.
He also described the contents of the
trunk.
Thomas H. Kingston, superintendent
CONTINUED On Page Five.)