The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-22
Three Times a Wife---Many Times
q Mother.
Her Brothers Lose All Traces Of Her for Years
A Beautiful Maiden, a Bride, a Devout
Church Member in Manhattanville-
Widow, Housekeeper and
Twice Again Wife,
INCIDENTS OF THE new HAVEN TRIAL.

sherman poisoning case was compelled to pass
over many incidents and facts, well authenticated
that properly do not form part OF the regular report
Of this remarkable trial. AS the Court has taken an
adjournment until next week now propose to
give you some comments upon the trial, so far as it
has progressed that the readers Of the HERALD may
the better comprehend the circumstances attend
ing the arraignment of this alleged modern Borgia.
WHAT THE PROSECUTION HAvR SHOWN.
am violating no confidence when say that when
the facts relative tO.the death of the Sherman fam
lily, the father and husband, HOratiO N. Sherman
and two children, were developed last July on the
preliminary examination before Justice Platt at
Birmingham, Colonel Wooster, who there repre-
sented the State, felt that while the evidence
clearly indicated that the accused was the instru-
ment OF death, there were circumstances strongly
IN FAVOR OF THE PRISONERS INNooENcE;
and while everybody believed her guilty fears were
entertained that she could not be convicted on the
single case Of Sherman, and an effort was made to
connect that death with those Of his daughter
ada" and his son "Frankie," and the previous
death OF a former husband, Dennis Hurlburt in the
stomach and liver OF each OF whom sufficient arsenic
was found to produce death. In the preliminary
| examination the Justice admitted the evidence
| relative to the death Of Sherman's children, but
ruled out that regarding Hurburt. After consul
tati0n with Mr.. +. X. Foster, OF New Haven, the
prosecuting attorney for the county, the accused
was indicted ON
THE SINGLE AND SEPARATE CHARGE
OF poisoning Sherman, but Messrs. Wooster and
Foster carefully studied authorities and hoped to
get in evidence Of the other cases. In the
present trial they ably represented the pro-
priety Of such admission; but the Court,
following the more recent precedents OF the
Wharton trial. in ruling out the evidence rela-
nd iUpn rip Evsv oh
precedents, threw the State upon the responsibility
OF trying the case upon the facts as set forth in
the Indictment These rulings OF Judge Sanford,
which were concurred in by his able associate,
Judge Park, Of the Supreme Court, virtually
"KNOCKED THE BOTTOM OUT OF THE PROSECUTION
and was considered great and just victory for the
accused, who was expected to answer to an ndict-
ment charging but one murder. The defeat of the
prosecution was considered a crushing one, and
few here entertained any hope OF the conviction OF
the prisoner, who is generally believed to be guilty.
NEW LIGHT ELECTED.
The prosecution, after these rulings. enter
tanned but slight hopes of securing conviction
tImony is considered very damaging. This person
| is the Birmingham druggist, who previously denied
that he had any recollection OF the accused pur-
| chasing poison In his premises. On being sworn he
| testified that o few days before Sherman's death
| THE PRISONER PURCHASED ARSENIC
new hope to the prosecution, and is likely to have
its effect upon the jury Connected closely with this
Is the evidence of the mother of the deceased, who
testified that on the day before his death the ac-
cused administered to him cup OF tea; that imme
diately after swallowing it he was seized with
intense pain, exclaimng,
''OH GOD MY STOMACH !" AND PAINTED
and that he died the day following.
Inese clrcumstanccs, coupled with the medical
accused have given new hope to the prosecuting
officers and now there IS reasonable hope of con-
viction, II the jurors, who are permitted at each
days adjournment to leave the custody of the
Sheriff and pursue their ordinary vocation their
farms beyond the Jurisdiction OF the Court are not
Influenced
THE STATE
will likely close their case by Tuesday evening, as
there are but three or four more witnesses to be
examined for the people. Among them will be Mrs.
Jones, the mother of Sherman's first wife, who win
detail conversations and Incidents showing that
the domestic relations OF the prisoner and her
alleged victim were anything but happy. The prose-
cuon, 30 far, has failed to show an incentive for
the commission OF the offence charged, except a
slight one In the circumstance that, when dying he
handed to his mother wallet, containing SIP to
was yet unburied the prisoner compelled the son. a
young man OF twenty, to
SURRENDER THE INHERITANCE
left him by his father when In the last stages OF dis
solution.
THE PRISONERS ANTECEDENTs.
The accused was supposed to have been deserted
by her family until the opening OF the on Tues
day last when her brother, John Danburry a grocer
and farmer OF New Brunswick, N. j., her sister Mrs.
Nafey, and the husband of the latter suddenly APP
pearcd and were afrcctionately received by her
Since their arrival they have been constantly in
attendance with her and show q deserving solicit
tudc for her. Later in the week came her son,
John Struck an oyster dealer, OF Boston, and he
manned seated near her until yesterday, when he
suddenly disappeared, and was followed by her step
son, Cornelius Struck, conductor the Third
Avenue Railroad Of New York. This son, who
death OF his father (her first husband) and several
children, was however merely a spectator, and
avoided coming in contact with her in the court
room.
From Mr.. Danburry, brother Of the accused, I
learn that
SHE WAS BORN IN TRENTON N. j.,
died, and she was adopted by her grandmother and
taken to the territory in New Jersey known as
She was one OF family OF four sisters and three
brothers, but the brothers lost sight of her for
brothers instituted inquiries to find where Lydia
was, which resulted in discovering her in the
custody OF an uncle in Camden, N. J.
THE LITTLE wATF,
now well grown, was conveyed by the brothers TO
New Brunswick where she was educated in the
public school, and finally developed into prepos-
sessing woman There, with her brothers, she re-
NAMED until she married Struck, the New York
coachmaker, and removed to Manhattanville, where
she became q devOut communicate in
THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
After the death OF struck the widow proceeded
to Connecticut and filled the position OF nurse and
housekeeper In several families. While a house
keeper In Stratf0rd she made the acquaintance OF
Dennis Hurlbuit the wealthy farmer OF Huntington
county who subsequently became her second nus
band and who, previous to his DEATH willed her his
entire property, and finally died OF arsenical poison
after being attended by her for three four days.
Mr.. Danburry further states that her domestic rea-
tons with IIurlburt were Of the most devoted
character He was
AM OLD MAN.
and dotted upon her as his "darling.n So wrapped
up was he in the young wife he had take to his
nome that ne gave her son, John Struck, about
three thousand dollars with which he opened the
Palace Gardens corner OF Prince street and Broad
way, where he ran brief career az a saloon
keeper, and, failing In business, proceeded to
Boston.
After her marriage to sherman Lydia appeared
in New Brunswick with the deceased and little
Nathaniel. IN al
house. While there Sherman purchased restat-
rant, and, determining upon remaining there, got
into debauch, and requested Mr. Danburry who
Is man Of property, to go his security for 81 600
Danburry was at the time confined to his house by
sickness, and, declining to join him IN thc ponu,
in Connecticut.
AT BRIDGEPORT ne BECAME INTOXICATED,
and his wife and child returned without MIN 10
their home in Birmingham Mr.. DanDurry, VINO
keenly feels the disgrace brought upon MS Iamly
by this trial il to be witness for the defence lie
seaIpa 10 douht the guilt or Innocence OF