Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-06-16
LYDIA SIIERMAN'S CAPTURE.
The story Of Her FLIGHT and Adyc.iurcs
FROM Her avn Lips.

poisoner, who escaped from the Connec'
ticut State prison, where she was serving
life imprisonment, was recaptnred in
Providence n few days after her flight,
The story Of her escape from prison and
how she was again caught is told in the
New York SIN. Mrs. Sherman herself
being the medium from which tho re-
porter CLEANED most I "a information.
Mrs. Sherman says that the matron OF
the prison had been out on the evening
of the escape, and in consequence her
goodnight round was somewhat later
than usual. She says she had had no
idea of escaping until that night. She
hod undressed and gone to bed. The
thought of escape came to her suddenly,
like an inspiration, and she arose and
put on her clothing. The cell was not
locked. Tho matron never locked the
cells till her last visit for tho night As
she heard her approach about half-past
ten Mrs. Sherman slipped out and Sc
creted herself in II corner cell, which was
used for storage, and the door OF which
stood aiar. The matron passed along
tho lower tier Of cells, locking them. 1t
was her duty to say goodnight to the
occupants, and hear them respond, but
she omitted to do 80. In fact, she had
grown exceedingly slack in many details.
She then went to the upper tier of calls.
Meanwhile IN oil lamp, turned low
down, afforded the only light Mrs.
Sherman says shc asked one of the pris-
oners, as she was going to her cell in
the upper gallery, to turn the wick down,
as the light hurt her eyes. While the
matron was in the upper gallery, one of
the prisoners discovered n rat, and the
matron went down and into the further
kitchen to get lamp with which to
make thorough search for tho rat.
The two kitchens hre off from hallway
which leads from the women's depart
ment to tho main hall Of the prison.
Mrs. Sherman says that she followed the
mntron into the first kitchen, and there
she secreted herself i'll n corner, behind
partition which in's out foot or two.
When tho matron had returned to the
women's prison Mrs, Sherman went
through the kitchens to the main hall
and out of the front door which was open.
The warlens daughters had gone to
concert at Wcthersiield and had not yet
returned. The door had been left open
for them. Mrs. Sherman walked deliber-
ately down the avenue. She wore
light colorcd muslin dress and veil
upon her head in lieu of n bonnet. She
was observed by one Of the prison at
PENDANTS, who thought she was the
warlen's wife going to meet her children.
When she reached the street she waited
for horse Cur, intending to ride to
Hartford. Pretty soon one came along
crowded with the musical party who had
been giving the concert. Among them
Mrs. Sherman observed Dan Hayden,
the post-oflice clerk, who had served
term in the prison for robbing the mails.
OF course she let that car go by. She
walked along the track until she reached
Folly brook, VIII re the Valley railroad
crosses, and here being bewildercd, she
took the steam car track, thinking all
the while she was ON the horse car track,
and followed it until she reached Colts
factory.
Seeing gaslight at the foot of Charter
Oak street, she turned toward it, and soon
met man, Of whom she asked the way
to the depot. "My good woman," said
he, "you are far out of your way. How
did you happen to get lost at this time
of night 2" "Well," she replied, 81
missed car, and being a stranger in the
city, have got out of my way" The
man attempted to direct her, and finally
said he would show her the way to the
depot. He took her across park, she
Park, no doubt-and she
got to the depot just as the 1877 morning
train north arrived. She had barely
time to get on board. She had with her,
she says, about $50. This included a
$40 bill which had been sent to the
matron for her by one Miner of New
y convict who had been released |
six weeks before, and to whom Mrs.
Sherman had done kindnesses. The
matron had given her this money, al
though she (Mrs. Waterhouse) had never
revealed the fact to the warden. The
other $40 she had earned from the sale
of fancy work.
Arriving in Springfield, she went to
hotel-from her description, probably
the Pynchon House-and secured a room
without registering her name. This
WAS on the morning Of Wednesday, May
30. When she awole her first thought
was to get some clothing. The stores
were closed; but about ten o'clock she
succeeded in finding one open, and there
she bought a travelling dress, morning
dress, toilet articles, n fan, towels, etc.,
not forgetting n bottle of perfume, and
two satchels i'll which to carry her pur-
chases. She had taken with her lot
OF spoons, knives, forks, and napkin
ring, which she had retained from her
family effects, and which the lax matron
had allowed her to keep in her cell.
Going back to the hotel, she took dinner,
ami at one o'clock got ON board the
train for Worcester. She had no plans,
but by mere chance, at Worcester, she
took n Providence train, arriving about
seven o'clock. Here she went to the
Central Hotel, and registered as Mrs.
Brown. Before long she became init.
mate with the landlady and her mother.
She told them she had come from Phila-
delphia. "This," said Mrs. Sherman,
with demure AMI innocent look, was
not real lie. because L have lived in
Philadelphia. / wasn't going to tell
them with Il laugh) that came from
Wethersfeld. Her desire was to get
work, and the people told her of a
with three children in East
Providence who wanted housekeeper.
This was lust the thing for her, she