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- Springfield Republican, Thursday, December 21, 1905
Bassett Guilty of Murder
Caused the Death of an Aged Waterbury Recluse Whom He Robbed
Charles Edward Bassett at Waterbury, Ct., last night was convicted of murdering Thomas Lockwood, the aged Waterbury recluse, as the result of an assault committed February 22 last. A stay of sentence was granted until Friday morning. Bassett is one of three me charged with the crime, the others being Edward Leonard and Joseph Cenesky, whose evidence for the state went far toward convicting Bassett. The jury in the case was out five hours and 20 minutes. Bassett, who is but 19 years old, with Leonard and Cenesky, first plotted to rob Lockwood in a dive in Brooklyn, N.Y., the scheme being hatched over a year ago. The three men went to Lockwood, who was supposed to have had a large sum of money in a trunk in his house in the outskirts of the city, and engaged his attention in exploiting a trolly road, claiming that they were securing signatures for a petition for the line. Lockwood became enthusiastic over the plans of the supposed trolly representatives, and as he was signing the petition Bassett knocked him nearly unconscious with a blow on the head with his revolver. Lockwood fought, but was soon overpowered and left unconscious on the floor of his kitchen. The men then robbed the house, but found nothing but a cheap watch.
Lockwood died April 11, and the three men were arrested at different times some months later. Bassett was serving a term in the Auburn (N.Y.) prison for robbery, when he was charged with being one of the murderers of Lockwood, and was extradited to face the charge of murder in the first degree in Connecticut. What disposition will be made in the cases of Leonard and Cenesky is not known. Bassett said after the verdict was announced that he ?Would rather be hung than get a life sentence.? which is the penalty for murder in the second degree in Connecticut. Bassett was born in Bedford, Dan., in 1886, and his father, mother and sisters, live at 698 Sackett street, Brooklyn, N.Y.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1886 - 