New Britain herald., 1929-02-04
OLDEST "LIFER"
 IS NOW NEARLY 75
Bassett Has Spsnt M Yalls h
 WeheSGdd Prison
BY CEDRIC W. FOSTER United Press Coefespoudent


 Wethersfield. Conn.,. Feb. { (UP) Fifty years ago the 2sth of next month. Frank Bassett of Bridgeport, then a youth of :4. walked through the iron doors of Connecticutl state prison, sentenced to life on . charge of second degree murder.
 Today. after a half-century of in, generation, he wanders harmlessly through the corridors of his ''home'' as he calls it-an old and broken man, whose 74 years weigh heavily on his shoulders
 He is Connecticut's oldest ''lifer.' both in actual years and length oi term served.
 Authorities, have turned down Bassett's request for pardon 2d times. Of recent years they have been actuated by desire to aid the prisoner rather than prolong his penalty. As far as is known. Basset, has but one living relative. a sister who gave her address as Chicago She has never communicated with him. In the mouldy files of the prison is her request of many years ago that w. L. Ward of Seymour, Conn.,, care for the remains of her brother when he dies.
 Tried to Sell BOdy
 An attempt to sell the body of his victim to Yale Medical school for $50 proved Bassett's undoing. Al re- suit, Bassett and MrA Lorena E. AL exander were tried and convicted in February, 1879. for the staying of John Weinbecker. who appears from old county files to have been an odd character. known to hundreds of Bridgeport residents as ''Stutterins Ja"k." r..
 The files reveal that "stutterins Jack" was chloroformed to death by Bassett and Mrs Alexander. His body was stuffed into a barrel near the woman's home and later re- moved to New Haven. The attempt to sell the remains aroused the sus- picion of medical sthool attaches and police were callei.
 Mrs. Alexander was tried first and sentenced to life Imprisonment She turned state's evidence and was chief evidence against her compan- ion-in-crime. who received . similar sentence. Mrs. Alexander was after wards removed to the state insane asylum at Middletown. where she died.
 Twice Bassett was sent to Middle town as insane. only to be returned after a few months observation as normal. He was given routine prison work.
 Sits in Chair All Day
 Last March. after a conference with the prison doctor. Warden H. K. W. Scott transferred the aged and rather helpless man to the prisor- insane ward. Here he is today, re- lieved of all work. He rises in the morning and takes a chair. He does nothing to occupy his time-just sits. This Is all he expects to do un- til he dies.
 F.. years the only pleasure the grey haired prisoner obtained was ii delusion of travelling. Shuffling tip and down the corridors of the prison. he would refuse to answer questions. His highly imaginative mind was obsessed with the belief he was in Siberia, the Orient or Eu- rope.
 Though there is none who does not believe that Bassett has expiated his crime. the prisoners odd mental condition and his want of home out side the priscn will keep him here until he shuff1es down the corridor on. trip from which he will never return.
 He is content, in his insensitive way, and knows no other life. To set him free would impose a greater hardship than to hold him here, prison officials believe.