The New York herald., 1871-07-11
The BIRMINGHAM BORCIA.
- is'k f.sv . 80 .''~-,,i r. "a
Interview with Z Clergyman Who Attended
Members of The Struck Family-suspicious
Circumstances Refusing Stockings to
Corpse-Record Of tho Death Of the
strucks- -Doctors Suspicious.


Lydia Sherman, now on trial at Birmingham, Conn.,,
for poisoning her husband, Horatio N. Sherman,
two children and previous husband, will be read
with interest, the more so as she is suspected OF
having poisoned her first husband, Edward W.
Struck. late Of the Thirty-secOnd New York; pre-
cinct police. II win be remembered that on Thurs
day the correspondent OF the HERALD at Birming'
ham gave some details Of
HER CONNECTION WITH THE sTRUoK FAMILY.
Yesterday HERALD reporter called upon respect
able clergyman Of Harlem, who was present at tho
bedside Of two Of the deceased children, and from
him ascertalned some important details
relative to the family. 1t appears
that the woman married Struck, who
was then o coachmaker for Mr.. Butler of Manhat-
tanvie, about 1885, They lived together some
eighteen years. four or five children being the result
Of the marriage. When she linked her fortunes to
Struck, who is Jerseyman by birth, he was
widower with several children, one Of whom Ia Mr.
Cornelius struck, formerly gallant soldier OF the
First New Jersey infantry, and now conductor ON
the Third Avenue Railroad, where he is highly es-
teemed by his employers. Struck was quite poor
but was able from his salary the police force to
comfortably rear his family. In 1864 the family
lived In Manhattanville where Mrs. Sherman nee
Struck
A COMMUNIcANT IN THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH.
In 1854 Struck died, after short illness, and was
| buried In Trinity Cemetery. He was appointed on
the police force in January, 1857 and dismissed in
December, 1858, for violation OF rules. The next
member Of the family that "shunled Off the mortal
| coll' was Edward Struck, Jr aged about four
| years. who followed bis father on July 8, 1854, to
Trinity Cemetery, and the same day his little sia
| ter Martha died, aged six years and nine months
The next to fnd resting place in Trinity was vii.
| liam Struck, aged nine months ana fifteen days.
Then, on the 9th Of March, 1865, Ann Eliza Struck
aged twelve years, died, and was laid away to rest
in the family plot. But death did not stop here,
On May 10, 1898. Lydia Struck, sh accomplished
young lady. aged eighteen years, eight months and
eleven days, breathed her last at the family resi-
dence The cause OF death and the record OF the Bu
reau Vital Statistics will be referred to hereafter
| The gentleman with whom the reporter conversed
stated that he was during the sickness Of the two
last named frequently at their bedside IN tenement
house in Manhattanvlle, where they resided. They
| were attended by Dr. L. A. ROdenstein and had
| SEVERAL OF TIE SYMPTOMS OF ARsENICAL
| POISONING,
| Including nausea cramps and violent vomiting,
Lydia especially showing these symptoms. To him
| DR.. ROdenseln expressed his surprise at the symp.
TOMS which, at the time, ne considered suspicious.
! Ann lived abont two weeks after her first attack.
| and Lydia about three weeks. The gentleman de.
ClArod that Wn1l0 AZ Cn0 OF Cnc Ooatn OF CnoS0
two girls there was no openly expressed suspicion
OF poisoning, the circumstances were spoken of as
THE CONDUCT OF THE MOTHER
especially excited comment few weeks before
her illness, while visiting friend, Lydia declared
that she was soon to be stricken with illness from
! which she would not recover, and, lying down Oh
the floor In front Of mirror, she instructed her
| THE POSITION SHE SHOULD BE LAID OUT IN
When ny were preparing asr or the grave m TINS
| tha vial mi
to allow her TO oe encoilned IN the clothes named,
dressed that part Of the body that was exposed
when the coffin lid Is opened IN dress the skirt VI
| which was cut OF, and even
| DENIED THE CORPSE PAIR OF STOCKINGS
| Previous to this Dr. ROdenstein had employed
Mrs. struck as nurse for his patients and she was
markably attentive to them. During the illness Of
iected them and tie day after the funeral atsended
| to her weekly washing as usual. Alter LYDIA was
laid away IN the grave she
fUr AND WORE HER CLOTHING.
the above ls tle substance OF the Information
ali the facts and DESCRIBES the death II The TWO two
girls as the most affecting ne mas ever seen In MS
The reporter next visited the Bureau OF Vital
Statistics and by courtesy OF Dr. Russell was per-
TIE RECORD OF DEATH.
The following are the enrles:-
Edward W Struck aged hfynne years residence Tenth
sumption a.s1s a frssX Cemetery; dea May g. 1854
aged four year. and hr..
months; rendencs, Tenth svenae native Of New YORK;
ing physician, DR.. q. jackson.
July ., ls64wiiam Struck, aged nine months and r-
residence Norfolk street; native OF New York
died Of bronchs buried Trinity Cemetery; attending
physician, DR.. b. Gross.
MARCH 1s66-Ann E. Struck, aged twelve years. resi-.
dence corner Of Lawrence street and Broadwa died OF
typhoid buried Trinity Cemetery undertaken, L.
| Zangner attending physician, L. Rodenstein
MAY ~, s6dLyda Struck, aged eighteen years, eight
months and eleven days Residence corner OF Lawrence
trinity '6s csmssrS Attending br L.
| stein.
The above are all the Of deaths In the fani.
| ly recorded IN three volumes of the register and
probably the statement that six children died sud.
denly is untrue else the physicians attending the
others failed to report their deaths. 1t Is said that
the Connecticut authorities intend TO have the graves
OF the struck family opened and an analysis Of the
| stomachs and liver made. III poison Is found (and
| the statements Of the clergyman would lead to that
belen the web OF circumstantia evidence now being
woven about the Connecticut mlrderess Will be COM
| plete.
| AQUATiCS.