The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-12
IMPRISONED FOR LIFE.
lydia Sherman Sentenced in New Haven for
the Murder Of Her Husband.
A Murderer and Murderess in Court-The MUIR
deress is Calm and Happy-srectators Hor-
rifed at the Woman's Demeanor-A
Startling Confession Expected.

NEW HAVEN, Conn.,, Jan. II, 1873.
Lydia Sherman, the modern Lucretia Borgia, has
finally been sentenced, and the balance OF her
natural life will be spent inside the walls OF the
State Prison. at Wethers1ed. This announcement,
so long expected and so long deferred, made
In the Superior Court, in this city, to-day Rumors
that
THE HEARTLEss MURDEREss
was to be sentenced had the erect OF drawing
large number OF spectators to the court room, and
among the auditors were many ladies' of distinc-
ton, all anxious to hear the sentence and see how
the wretched woman would receive 1t.
Contrary to general expectation the unfinished
business of the Court was first disposed OF, and,
inasmuch as this was of tragical nature, the as
sembed spectators were not unreasonably impa-
tient. The trial Of
JOHNSON, THE MURDERER OF MRS. HESS,
in Merlden, was progressing at the time. John
Harry Johnson was a laborer. He was born In
Stockholm, Sweden, and came to this country
early this year. Going to Meriden, he obtained
work In one OF the manufactures of that city, and
soon afterward went to board with Mrs. Hess He
had not been there long before misfortune over
took him, and then his troubles began. He went
one day last July and tried to get his clothing
from his landlady. He was in arrears for his board,
and Mrs. Hess would not allow him to take his
goods away He started to 60 up stairs, and Mrs.
son stabbed his boarding mistress in the neck with
q knife, INJECTING a wound from which she died
within twenty-four hours. Johnson has been on
trial here during the whole week, and this forenoon
the charge given to the jury by Judge Lafayette
F. s. Foster The Jury was out only about twenty
minutes before returning
VERDICT OF MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE.
During the Johnson trial Mrs. Sherman was
brought into Court by the aier She was not so ex-
cited her escort and If this had been State OF
woman's rights an impartial observer would have
been at q loss to know which was the prisoner and
which was her custodian. OF the two Mr.. Webster,
the jailer, was the most confused and excited. The
real criminal according to the verdict OF the jury
in July last, was
and evidently happy. day or two ago she satd
she was happy, and from her demeanor this morn
down. The spectators were not prepared Tor such
nonchalance as this, and when Lydia received her
sentence and did not cry or aint or sW0On they all
united IN declaring her wicked woman. A terri
BILE scene was expected, but
THE MuRDERESs WAS "GAME"
all the way through, and the judges and officers
were as much surprised at her indifference tho
aer Webster trembng and nervous
escorted the smiling Borga to a chair in the mid
die OF the court room; there was spasm OF pain.
full silence-panui to all except Lydia. She seemed
to enjoy it. Judge Sanford who was to pronounce
the laws decree, Strengthened himself up and gave
a dgnified glance around the court room and then
began as lollows:--
THE SENTENCE.
'Mrs. Sherman as one OF the Court before whom
you were recently tried and convicted Of one of the
highest crimes known 10 the law am now called
upon to pronounce upon you the laws sentence.
Before doing so, however, If you desire TO say any
thing, the Court Will give you opportunity"
Samuel NJ. Gardner, Of Derby, one OF her counsel,
responded in her behalf that she had nothing to
say and was ready for sentence.
Judge SANFORD, resnminp--rhe indictment upon
| Which you were tried charges you with having, on
the sth day OF May 1871 feloniously, wilfully and
with malice aforethought taken
THE LIFE or YOUR HUSBAND,
Horatio N. sherman, by means OF deadly poison
by you administered to him: and so you were
der in the first degree. Upon that Indictment you
were tried by jury largely OF your own selection,
after full, fair and impartial hearing were pro-
nounced by your trlers guilty, not of the crime as
charged against you but OF murder in the second
at the time of your trial the jury would have been
fully justified upon the evidence in finding you
guilty OF murder in the first degree, the punish.
ment for which would have been death.
Recent developments have fully indicated the
soundness OF that opinion; but the jury. while be-
leving and finding you guilty of murder, were
probably NOT satisfied that the crime was estab
ished by that amount of evidence necessary under
the statute to conviction Of capital offence, and
therefore, as was within their province, convicted
OF the crime OF murder III the second degree, and
ESCAPE THE GALLONS
only to suffer lifelong confinement within prison
walls. The Court has no discretion as to the term
of your Imprisonment. We can only pronounce
the sentence provided by the statute which is that
convicted OF the crime OF murder In the second de-
gree be imprisoned In the Connecticut State Prison
during the period OF your natural life.
The throng which had gathered to await the sem
tence waited to see the famous murderess taken
away. The pleasant-faced Sheriff Scott soon ap-
peared and appointed Deputy Sheriff stevens to,
deliver the woman TO her friend, Tailor Webster,
which he did within two minutes after her sentence.
Then everybody who was excited was anxiousy
inquring when
THE LONG EXPECTED CONFESSION
would be published. IL Is rumored that the famous
murdereSS preparing statement or ner lie,
which will disclose not only the crime oil which She
has been convicted, but also include an acknOwl-
edgment OF various capital offences. But still, as
she said upon leaving the court room today she il
the happiest woman in the world.