Mozelle Riley
Age 2011 Jul 1960
Bridgeport, Connecticut (USA)
Stabbed
TDoR list ref: tgeu/27 Drouve Street
Mozelle was killed in a fight outside of a restaurant. Police said she tried to defend herself with a shoe when she was attacked and stabbed repeatedly by James Bennett.
The attack occured early on the morning of 11 July, 1960, when Mozelle and three companions were walking along Drouve street in Bridgeport, Connecticut after having had a meal at Hall's restaurant. On the street outside the restaurant they were attacked by James Bennett, 22, and Clarence Love, 24, Mozelle was stabbed multiple times with an 8-inch screwdriver by Bennet, the fatal wound being a stab directly to the heart.
Note that some sources list Mozelle as 19 and others say 20.
A 20-year-old convicted female impersonator was stabbed to death with a screw driver and a companion was injured during a street fight with two men at 3:57 o'clock this morning.
CORONER BLAMES FATALITY SUSPECT
Coroner Isadore L. Hotler held a 22-year-old Bridgeport man criminally responsible today for the fatal early morning stabbing of a female impersonator outside Hall's restaurant, 27 Drouve street, on July 11.
The victim, [deadname] Riley, 19, also known as Mozelle Riley, 477 State street, died on arrival at St. Vincent's hospital of stab wounds, one of which pierced the left ventricle of the heart, the finding indicated.
Held criminally liable was James Mitchel Bennett, 22, of 202 Hough avenue, whom the coroner identified as the assailant. The cause of the episode which took place at 3:30 a.m. was not disclosed in the finding. Bennett is being held in the County jail in lieu of $50,000 bond pending action by the State's attorney.
Also being held as an accomplice is Clarence B. Love, 24, of 115 Goodwin street. Police said he was with Riley and Bennett when the stabbing occurred.
Described as a transvestite by Coroner Kotler, Riley had served time in the County Jail for breach of the peace, lewdness, disorderly conduct and impersonating a female. Bennett has a conviction on an assault charge and has served time, according to police records, while Love has a substantial record on various charges
Companion Hurt Seriously in Stabbing' on Drouve Street
A 20-year-old convicted female impersonator was stabbed to death with a screw driver and a companion was injured during a street fight with two men at 3:57 o'clock this morning.outside Hall's restaurant at 27 Drouve street, police reported.
Police identified the victim as [deadname] Riley, also known as Mozelle Riley, of 477 State street.
About 20 minutes after the slaying, police captured Iwo suspects at gun point in an East Side rooming house and held them in lieu of $50,000 bond each on breach of the peace charges pending further investigation. The suspects are James Bennett, 22, of 202 Hough avenue, and Clarence B. Love, 24, of 115 Goodwin street.
An unidentified companion of Riley's, reportedly wounded seriously in the fight, was rushed by friends to Port Chester, N.Y., witnesses told police. Two policemen are now in the New York community searching for the injured companion, described by police as a male Negro.
Capt. Joseph A. Walsh, Detective division commander, said Bennett and Love admit being at the scene of the crime but deny taking part in the attack. Six witnesses, however, have identified the pair as the assailants, Capt. Walsh reported.
Riley was taken in the City ambulance to St. Vincent's hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival by staff doctors.
Dr. George J. Molnar, medical examiner, said Riley died of a stab would of the heart. He also received other stab wounds of the neck and arm.
Capt. Walsh said preliminary investigation disclosed Bennett wielded the death weapon—an eight-inch metal screw driver with yellow plastic handle. The weapon was found in Bennett's possession, the captain said.
The clothing of Bennet and Love was covered with blood when they were picked up in Love's apartment at 115 Goodwin street, Capt. Walsh said.
Captain's Report
According to Capt. Walsh, Riley and three male compainions had been drinking in Hall's resaurant, as were Bennet and Love. The six left the establishment and were walking on Drouve street, between Main and Water streets under the Connecticut turnpike, Capt. Walsh reported.
Witnesses said Bennett and Love attacked the four men and in the brawl, Riley and the other man were stabbed and kicked, Capt Walsh said. Love also received a slight stab wound of the left shoulder.
Bennett and Love left the scene in a '51 model auto driven by Larson Burke, of 64 Gilmore street, with an unidentified woman companion as a passenger, Capt. Walsh said. Witnesses' noted the registration number of the car and phoned police.
An alarm was broadcast over the police radio and at 4:05 a.m. the wanted vehicle was spotted being driven along Hough avenue by a police radio car. Patrolment Robert J. Hreschak and Eugene P O'Neill, of the Second preceinct, stopped it and questioned Burke and the woman.
Burke told the policemen he had dropped Love and Bennet at the Goodwitn street address. Burke was not detained but will be questioned by detectives again.
Suspects Captured
Patrolment O'Neil and Herschak with Leonard F. Loch and Joseph V. Krysiak enered the Goodwin street rooming house where they captured the suspects as they were cleaning blood stains from their clothing. Bennett had the screwdriver in his possession, Patrolman O'Neill said.
The suspects are being questions by Capt. Walsh, Sgt. Edward P. Casey, Detectives Anthony P. Fabrizi, Charles E. Kinsman, Richard J. Kennedy and John J. OLeary.
Capt. Walsh said Detective Andrew J. Leahy and Patrolman Herman E. Bailer are in Port Chester searching for the second victim.
Police records show Riley served time in the County Jail here after convictions on charges of breach of the peace, lewdness, disorderly conduct and impersonating a female.
Bennett has been convicted on an assault charge but two similar charges were nolled against him in City court in 1959. He served six days in jail last year.
Police and FBI records show Love was arraigned in City court in 1959 on five charges. Charges of theft from person, breaking and entering, breach of the peace and obtaining money under false pretences were nolled. He received a six-month suspended jail term after conviction on a lascivious carriage charge.
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bridgeport-post-murder-of-transgende/75598207/
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bridgeport-telegram-murder-of-transg/74006100/
https://www.newspapers.com/article/hartford-courant-murder-of-transgender-w/75622236/
