Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-12-02
MRS. SHERMAN.
The Supposed PePpetratOr Of Four
Goid-sloOded Marders-Her APP
preaching Trial

One of the most remarkable cases ever put on
criminal docket is about TO be tried in New
Haven. The accused, q woman, Is charged In
the indictment with the guilt OF four cold
biooded murders, while by popular opinion she
IL guilty of these and seven more. All of her
victims, at least all Of these eleven, were con-
list Is made mp Of three husbands, six own chill
dren and two step.ehildren.
The history of the case is briefly as follows:
In MAY last H0rstio n. Sherman, factory hand
in Birmingham, Conn.,, died suddenly, with all
the symptoms Of arsenical poison. Suspicion
naturally rested on his wife, who was known
woman, however, bore at the SINE q good
character, having been for many years q MEM
Der Of the Presbyterian church, in good and
regular standing. She was A years Of age, and
might be supposed to have enjoyed whatever
benefit there Is in family affiction, as before
she became Mrs Sherman she had lost two
husbands and six children. In 1916 the woman,
whose maiden name was Lydia Danbury, mar
ried her first husband, a widower of the
name of Struck, and bore him seven children.
After eighteen years of marriedlife Struck died,
after short illness, in 1854. In the two follow.
ing years six of the seven children, all who lived
with her in New Jersey, also died, and were
buried in Trinity Cemetery. After the death OF
her children the widow Struck moved TO STRAIT.
ford, where she became acquainted with and
married an elderly gentleman, Hurlburt by
name. After union of fourteen months Mr.
Hurlburt died suddenly, leaving her his entire
property, amounting to $4,000. This was in
1859. In the fall of 1870 she once more promised
to love, honor and obey a husband, this
time a Mr.. Sherman, for whose murder
she Is now on trial. sherman, like the for.
mer two, was widower, and had four children
In less than six months after this marriage
Frank Sherman, the youngest of the family,
dleu, after a day or tw0s sickness, with violent
cramps and vomiting. In less than two months
on New Years eve, second child, Ada, fifteen
years old, beautiful and q village favorite, died
In similar paroxysms. None appeared more
deeply affected than the mother who had de-
voted q in fffrp ka q Ina mt
suspicion was not even then aroused, but when
three months later the husband expired with ex-
actly similar symptoms, and those the symptoms
OF death by poison, the coincidence became 50
startling as To compel attention and in vestg
post norton examination was held and the
stomach sent to Professor Barker, of the Yale
Medical Faculty, for chemical analysis. He
reported the presence of arsenic in large quanti-
ties. The graves OF the two children were then
secretly opened and the same deadly drug found
IN their bodies also. This was damning proof
enough, but the physicians wished to be doubly
assured, and 30 had the long covered grave Of
Hurlburt also opened and his em2ins examined.
The result was the same. There seemed now
but one possible conclusion, and the stepmothsr
was arrested -
The indictment has to do with only these four
murders, but the probabilities now point to her
p the murderess OF her first family as veal, and
II acquitted on the present charge she will un-
doubtedly be held to answer for the Struck NOR
tality. After the preliminary examination in
july she was taken to the county Jail in New
Haven, where she remains awaiting her trial,
Here she has been visited by a large number of
persons, and, among Others, by correspondent,
who yesterday had an interview with her.
During the interview he SAYS she seem cd Dor
fectly at ease, was fashionably and neatly
dressed, carried an elegant gold watch at her
waist, and in appearance and conversation i'm
pressed me as a lady of culture aud refnem ent
Alter passing the ordinary preliminary COM
workplaces Of conversation, 1 remarked that
she must find her present life very monotonous
and wearing, and asked if she was well treated
4" oh, yes" she replied, have every liberty
given to any Of the prisoners"
% suppose you would like as eariya trial az
possible?" continued.
81 should think that the weight of so terrible
an accusation would wear upon you"
alt would, indeed, Sir, were not conscious OF
my own innocence"
''But you must admit that the appearances
are al present against you"
"Perhaps 50; but (smiling) one mustn't Judge
by appearances, you know"
SO suppose one of the strong points in the de-
fence is the absence OF any apparent cause for
the alleged crimes?"
"That will be one argument, no doubt Idon't
see why should have taken any of their lives
i am sure no one can say but what was an af-
fectionate wife and mother"
THE PROBABLE LINE OF DEFENCE.
This will undoubtedly be plea OF insanity 1t
IS stated that Mr.. Watrons, her counsel intends
to admit the facts and the Inevitable conclusions
therefrom, perhaps going so far to instruct
his client to plead equity" at once and then
IN rQya hpr irrsau nifty