Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-07-11
THE WOMAN POTSONER.

THE WOMAN POISONER.
The case of Mrs Lydia Sherman, who has
recently been undergoing examination for the
poisoning of her husband in May last, and
who is suspected of having poisoned three
most atrocious on record. The examination
took place at Birmingham, Conn, commencing
on the 9th. A report of the first days pro-
ceedings contained the following facts.
The prisoner is only held now for the muir
der of Horatio Sherman, but by permission
of the Presiding Justice, testimony was also
introduced concerning the death of two chill
dred, Ada and Frank Sherman, and preyi-
Gus husband Dennis Hurlburt. The prison
er is a woman Al years old. Her appearance
through the day has been that of apparent in
difference concerning the result of the trial,
but the close attention she paid to every
question and answer evinced keen interest
| in the progress of affairs. The State was rep
resented by Messrs. w. b. Wooster of Derby
and 4. X. Foster, jr., of New-Haven. The
prisoners counsel are Messrs. Sam NJ Gar.
diner of Ausonia and George II. Watson of
| NewHaven. The examination has been con-
Quoted before Seabury S. Plat, Justice of
the peace. Col. Wooster arraigned the won
an on the charge of poisoning, on the sth of
May, Horatio Sherman, with white arsenic
mixed with his food and drink. The prison.
er pleaded "not guilty." and the examina-
} ton produced son of the deceased as the
first witness. His testimony occupied all the
mornings session, and was to the effect that, on
the day mentioned, he had carried the dinner
prepared by his mother to his father at the
shop in the village; that, on his return that
evening, his father was taken with violent
| pains in the stomach and continual vomiting.
The doctor was called the next morning at
Mr.. Sherman's request, and prescribed. The
violent retchings, vomitings, and intolerable
thirst continued, however, and increased I'M
til Friday morning, when the patient died.
| The young man also testified to the death of
his sister Ada on Dec. 81, her symptoms being
precisely like those of his father. One day,
soon after the sisters death, the young man
proposed to his father to set trap for rats.
Mr.. Sherman thought better plan was to
poison them with arsenic, and, on going into
| the cellar to get some of the poison he had
| left there for use, not trace of it was to be
found. Mrs Sherman was called, and sug-
gested that probably the rats had carried it
off, paper and ALL Young Sherman also tes-
tilted to the death, months previous of babe,
Frank, the symptoms being similar in the
i character 10 the Otner TWO cases.
The prisoner retained her appearance of
stoical Indifference through the entire evil
dence, excepting when reference was made
to the arsenic, when she suddenly started,
but almost Immediately recovered self-pos-
session.
At the afternoon session the first witness
called was DR.. Beardsley, the family physi-
clan, who attended Mr.. Sherman during his
last illness. His testimony only confirmed
that of the young man, though more fully and
precise concerning the symptoms preceding
the death Of Sherman. The prisoner told
him that the deceased had Just returned from
one of his periodical sprees, and she did not
not seem to regard his case, at first, as seri-
Gus. After the death of her husband, DR..
t Beardsley proposed to Mrs. Sherman that a
post-mortem examination be made, and she
offered no objection. The stomach and one
half of the liver were therefore sent to Prof
e Barker of New Haven for examination. Dr.
Beardsley also testified as to Ada's sickness
and death, the same symptoms attending the
child's and the fathers disease. Mrs. Sher-
t man, in this case, refused to permit the post
4 norton to be held, but after his death the
grave was re-opened unknown to the mother
Il and the stomach also sent to Prof. Barker
s In regard to the baby Frank, the DIR. is in
h clined to think that death resulted from ar
attack Of cholera infantum, but from a sus
pcion that it might have been poisoned, he
: had the stomach and liver exhumed and sem
, to New Haven at the same time.
DR.. Pinney was called, and testified a
length, but without eliciting anything new
r The next witness was DIR. Gould Shelton O.
} Huntington, who attended Dennis Hurlburt
former husband, who died under suspicious
circumstances in July, 1870. Mr.. Hurburt
symptoms were great pain at the pit of the
aomach and continual vomiting. On the las
day of his sickness the patient had six con
vulsions, in the last of.which he died. The
opinion was given at that time that death was
caused by acute Inflammation in the stomach
though the doctor confesses that even ther
he had his suspicious aroused that thi
was a case of poisoning, yet strangely
f enough, he neglected to order post mortem
When suspicion had been raised against the
woman, examinations have been made; one
half the liver and the decomposed mass,lyinl
in the region of the stomach also undergoing
analysis by Prof. Barker.
The startling results of these severel ex-
aminations were reported by the next witness,
S Prof Geo. +. Barker of Yale College. On
. the 18th of May, the stomach and liver pur-
porting to be that of Horatio Sherman were
received and the tests for metallic poisons
G made, enough of both bismuth and arsenic
n being found to have caused death. On June
e oth, the same organs represented as be-
u longing to the bodies Of Ada and Frank
n sherman and Dennis Hurlburt were given
n the doctor and were subjected to ANALYSIS
, The liver of Dennis Hurlburt contained an
c enormous amount of arsenic" Intile case o,
Q Ada the same poison in small quantities was
, detected, and in the liver of Frank unmstak
able traces OF the same were distinguishabie
The Professor gave his opinion unhesitating
} ly, that Dennis came to death from arsenica