The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-16
The Alleged Murderess on Trial
for Her Life.
DIAGRAM OF SHERMAN'S HOUSE.
Wholesale Slaughter Of Innocents-Three Hus-
bands and Six Children Supposed to Have
Been Poisoned-How the Struck
Family Of New York, Died.
PREPARING FOR THE TRIAL

the practice OF taxing lie ala poison mas
OF late years become prevalent In this country
that the discovery OF murder by this means does
not attract as much notice as formerly but when
the accused Is woman additional interest Is al
ways felt In all the circumstances attending the
death OF the victim. This was Illustrated in the
trial last winter of Mrs. Wharton for the murder of
General Ketchum-a trial that, perhaps, has no
parallel in the annals of criminal prosecutions In
this country. While the jury adjudged her not
guilty, there are doubtless hundreds who perused
the graphic report Of the investigation In the
HERALD who still believe her guilty Of the murder
Of Ketchum and who were disappointed at her ac-
quittal
The excitement that attended the trial OF Mrs.
Wharton promises to be eXceed by the trial OF Mrs.
Lydia Sherman in this city, for numbering her third
husband Horatio N. sherman, of Birmingham, In
this county, last May by the administration of white
arsenic in his food. II is not the bare fact that she
is suspected putting Sherman of the way that
gives prominence TO this woman, but rather the be-
lief that he the last OF number OF victims who
had fallen by the same subtle drug administered by
her hands, and that of the victims of her
own offspring and step-chdren, for whom she had
displayed mothers tender care and soiicitude.
HER PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION
before Justice Platt was held at Birmingham in
this county, the 9th and 7th July last; but while
1t is believed she has poisoned nine persons, she
was examined only upon The charge Of numbering
her husband. AZ her final trial commences to-mor-
row will give brief
RESUME OF THE CASE
as developed upon the July examination
1t appears that some time in the fall OF last year
Mrs. Sherman, who then the widow OF Dennis
Hurlburt, who had died very suddenly and mys-
teriOusly after willing his property, worth 500
TO her, made the acquaintance OF Horatio N. Sher-
man, widower, employed in factory at
Birmingham. For several weeks she visited
his famy-whch consisted OF himself
and four children, the youngest of
whom was aged one year-and finally, about a year
ago. they were married, and Mrs. Sherman was in
stalled as the second wife OF sherman. Frank, the
youngest child Of Sherman, was taken sick in De-
cember, and after a few days illness, while under
the care OF his stepmother and of his grandmother
Mrs. Jones, died with
ALL THE SYMPTOMS OF ARsENIcAL POISON
few weeks later another child, Ada beautiful
GIRL aged fifteen, and a universal favOrite In the
village, was taken sick and died on New Years
OF last year. She, too, showed symptoms OF poison.
In the May following sherman, who dss-
pated man, was taken Ill and died, with the symp-
toms of arsencal poison, the 18th Of that month
The evidence OF DR.. Ambrose Beardsley, the Health
Officer OF the town and the physician who attended
sherman and his two children, showed that they
died OF arsenical poison.
After Sherman's death Lydia left for New Jersey
Ostensibly on visit DR.. Beardsleys suspicious
having been aroused, he communicated with Dir.
Pinny, post mOrtem examination was had upon
THE GRAVES OF THE CHILDREN WERE OPENED,
the contents OF the stomach secured and sent TO
New Haven for analysis
The parties who had taken these preliminary pro-
ceedings acted very secretly and on receiving the
report Of the chemists that sufficient arsenic was
found in the stomach of each victim to cause death
they instituted inquiries into
THE ANrECEDENrs or MRS. SHERMAN,
when the facts of her marriage to Dennis Iurburt,
wealthy farmer, living in an adjoining town, and
his mysterious death, were ascertained. One very
strong circumstance regarding Hurlburt's taking
of was that the only person who was an occupant
Of the house with him during his illness was his
wife, the accused.
GRAVE WAS OPENED,
the stomach secured and sent to New Haven for
analysis. Unmistakabe evidence of poison was
found In It's contents. Having carefully woven the
web of circumstantial evidence around the ac-
cused DR.. Beardsley and his associates communi-
Gated their Investigations A. II. Gilbert the local
Grand Juror, who went before Judge Pratt and Sc
cured warrant for the arrest Of the female Borgia
This was placed in the hands Of Sheriff Henry A.
BaCkman, who proceeded to New Jersey, and
resting her, conveyed her to Birmingham where
the preliminary investigation already referred to
was had, Colonel william b. Wooster and +. X. Fos-
ter State Prosecuting Attorney, appearing for the
people, and George b. Waterous, of New Haven,
and s. NJ. Gardener, of Derby for the defence Ar
ter q three days patient hearing she was
COMMITTED TO THE COUNTY JAIL
OF New Haven on the charge OF poisoning her hus
band.
This is considered OF the weakest cases OF all
the alleged murders committed by her in this state,
and upon IL she is to he tried first The evidence
heretofore given shows that she could have no in
centive to the murder of Sherman unless
TO RID HERSELF OF 4 Worthless HUSBAND,
she had squandered several thousand dollars in
herited from Hurburt, that she might marry more
wealthy one. In the death of the children she
could not achieve any gain; hence the absence OF
motive in making away with the Sherman family,
for whose members she had betrayed much affec-
tion Is strong point In favor OF her Innocence Ia
the death of her previous husband, Hurlburt,
THERE WAS AN INCENTIVE
10 the commission OF the foul deed Of which she Is
suspected. He wealthy and had made his will,
bequeathing all his effects to her. lie was taken
suddenly sick at his farmhouse q nelghbor passing
was called In and requested to summon physician.
DIR. Shelton called, prescribed and Hurlburt
died three days after, and was
LAID AWAY IN HIS LAST sLEEP,
no one being in the house who could administer
poison but the accused, who attended him in his
illness. Yet, Professor George +. Barker who made
the analysis Of the stomach swears that Dennis
Hurburt died from arsenical poison. II acquitted
on the Charge of poisoning sherman she will likely
be placed on trial for poisoning the children, Frank
and Ada. These three are the only murders charged
against her In this county, aud In the Of her
acquttal she will no doubt he handed over to the
authorities of Fairfield county TO answer the charge
Of poisoning her second husband, Dennis IIurlburt,
the evidence In which case is very explicit, and by
all who are familiar with the facts IL believed to he
SUFFICIENT to convict her OF the grave suspicious
while these Investigations were progressing in
this state the authorities instituted inquiries Into
her antecedents in New York, when 1t was dis
POISONED HER FIRST HUSBAND,
Edward Struck policeman of your city, and nye
GnlluTcH, some OF WHOM were HeF OWL OFFSPRING ny
him. She was married to Struck, who was then
coachman in the employ Of man named Butler, at
Manhattanvc, In the year 1916. They lived appa-
rently on affectonate terms for several years. ana
mad several children Mrs. Struck, now sherman,
being deyout communicate In the First Presbyte-
ran church OF Manhattanville.
In 1864 Struck died. after short illness, and was
buried Ia Trinity Cemetery lie was appointed on
tne ponce force In January, 1857 and dismissed IN
December 1868, for violation OF rules. The next
member OF the family that shunled OF the mortal
COM was Edward Struck, Jr., aged about four
years, who followed his father on July 8, 1864 to
trinity Cemetery, and the day his little sister
martna died aged six years and nine months. The
n neNt 10 hnd resting place in Trinity was william
on the 9th of March, 1865, Ann Eliza struck aged
we've years died, and was laid away to rest in the
,a ny oiot nut death did not stop here ON May
~ ioo9, Lyda struck, an accomplished young LADY,
Ssphteen years, eight months and eleven DAVIS
record In Wv '""''! iesiuchoc' ihc
80 .,,s o,, THE BrnEtu or VITAL sTsrsrIcs
Edward w Sfruck o,aa