The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-05-17
MRS. LYDIA SHERMAN DEAD.
-1E POISONER'S MISERABLE END ~
THE UETHERSEJfLD PRISON.

r.ur Year. nr Life Scntcnce-ttrr Re |
.nrturc and her Subsequent Prison Life.
Hartford, Conn, May 10. Lydia Shcr-
man. the Derby roisoncr died in the Connect
ont state prison to-day. She was serving life
sentence for poisoning her husband. She was
.uuc over 80 years OF age. having boon born
An Burlington. n. j.. in 1924. Her life was ono
a, the most remarkable in the criminal annals
Of the country
Even after having poisoned nine persons. two
husbands and seven children. Mrs. sherman
was not suspected. but was viewed as model
wife and mother. After her third husband.
Hora'lo y. Sherman. died In Derby. in 1872 his
physician sent his stomach to the chemist "
the Yale Scientific School. Soon aftcrward sho
was arrested. and she laughed when the officer
told her what IL mission was. Her trial i'm 1872
excited great interest throughout the country
She was the coolest person In the court room.
Her eldest son continued In attendance upon
her throughout 1t all. and did not doubt. until it
was over. that his mother was innocent. Whom
the verdict. Guilty Of murder in tho second
degree" was announced she riadc some COM
monplacc remark md quietly sat down. Ono
Of the Jurors said that had II been man on
trial tho verdict would have been in tho first
degree.
While she was in the New Haven county JAIL
for some months previous to the beginning Of
her prison life. she was treated with great kind
ness by Mr.. Webster. the jailcr who attributed
her conduct to monomania. For his Kindness
to her she wrote out the confession. mn abstract
Of which is published below. II was received
with amazcmcnt and given as n proof Of her in
sanity. Investigation. however. proved tho
truth OF all that she had said After the rove
lations had been read there was some talk Of
hanging her by lynch law and she was speedily
A..
OF the confession Mrs. Sherman talked Of it
with MS much unconcern as though 1t was some
simple business matter. In speaking OF the
Incidents her face never palcd. her voice never
quvered. and she would say L gave him
arsenic" or put arsenic in his tea" or little
Ann Eliza was better of after sho took the
arsenic" At this time. too. she declared that
she had given herself to Christ" and main
tanned the role Of penitent Christian.
While in prison she was very roticent. except
with Mrs Warehouse. the ma,ron. with whom
she talked freely. admitting that she was on
terms OF criminal intimacy with the New York
police officer who suggested to her the idea OF
poisoning her first husband. Mr.. Struck. n fact
which il not included in her confession.
Mrs. sherman was Of medium height, with
very black Dyes and black hair. She had u
deep. dirty-brown yellow complexion. which it
WINS discovered that she produced 10y the use Of
a dark yellow crayon. II gave her an unhealthy
look. and won for her much sympathy. She
passed in prison for woman OF mdness and
resignation. but the Warden says that he hns
seen her eyes flash with glare Ike thnt Of a
wildcat seeming to him person gifted with an
extraordinary power Of scli-controL
In 1871 after she had served four years OF her
time one morning. when the cell door WIS un-
locked Mrs. sherman was reported "a having
escaped Miss Josie Hewes. daughter of the
Warden. entered the female department and
took account Of stock among the inmates.
Within n minute after entering her keen oyo
noted the. n9n-appeNrance Of the, most inn
Hwhere is Mrs sherman % I'm bed / sup
pose" replied ths MatE2n. one Of The prism,
quickly. No. she Is not here" The Matron
seemed overwhelmed and bcwildered toy aston
ishment. and murmured. after yainy looking
in the empty cell: Then she must be gone
The MatrGn's fooling us" said one Of The
yitted girl, alive to duty and prompt To- realize
The situation. ut once sprans out and gave the
Tho Matron explained tho escape by a sort Of
carelessnees Of which she hal been guilty.
She had been attending an r." cr'nln party on
the night before ana WAS not Us NiEiiantns usual
In looking alter the women IN prison; ~ =, Vat
sen what shS s AZ IL hoe r I %y b 9 Mr
stopped to get my reply. rs sae had svmpathizcd
with the prisoner because she WIS si"kly. She
know nothing OF the escape. however. until
An employee Of the prison at late hour had
seen the door of the main entrance op"n 90
wide that he could see the light in the centre OF
tho hall. II WINS then closed. but presently rc-
opened and woman glded out. down tho
sieps. met him two rods from tho door. and
passed on toward the gate, Her face WAS con
rd 3y 1 ibe sloT ~ W dD1ne o'n ~
ih" cato to meet her daughters, who We're out
attending a concert. and gave It no more con-
The fugitive was captured at the Central
Hoto n Providence seven days after her es.
cape. The Mgtron had been late in her last
visit 20 the cells. and the thought ~ escape
came To her like an inspiration. She arose and
dressed herself. stepped into an unlocked ecu
M,tr0n went to the Kitchen followed her, So
crctng herself in corner From this place
losing her way 20 the depot. walked nhnut until
ih',r.'rly morning trnin ior SprnsIlrid. SnG
fancy work and $50 had been given 10 her 10y a
conv,, 70 whom she had done u Kindness. Shc
bcasht some Garm"nls IN Sprlnghcld, ana
to Providence. At Proyldence she ;, BE-
s1m% quit atima,s With Ecr %n @l5r
who recommended her M housekccprr 70 q
wld2wer B.ore any arranscment con, Gould l..l h'
ini reported the matter T. the loIirr. dt'
iccllye called upon her. and she supposed i t.
Ss .9n 0 wdoTer r IN ins c9nVo ond ba n
She Ind not heard Of IL, and on being told that
she looked good deal like her, shH replied
that II was Incredible, for She was Mrs. Moore o
Phladolpna. She mad" no objection - being
taken 10 the station house despatch Wa
unon Arr he rycamcd. " Caught ut last" Sh,
oppressed herself rs very glad 10 return. ano
begged the deputy ~ take her home ~ lmmc
lHtev.
Hartford. MAY lG.-ilrs. sherman had boon
suffering from a chronic affection cf the liver
Tor years, and after her return To- the stat,
prison after her escape year ngO TINS month
she ialed in health. \ reporter for THE sun
SAW her two weeks AGO and found her muri
cra'iAted and looking ~ yellow ~ saffron
hho said that She WAS not i""iing we'll; She
seemed 10 be- much alarmed about herself We
shn nal ncy"r been known to cNprrss a fear %
death. Sh" lailrd rapidly forafoW DAYS previou'
" hgr death. md the prison physician wa'
satisfied that II was her last Illness. She died
however. much sooner than anticipated. Nhu
sea set In violently, that she could not retail
e!th"r food or medicine, and -pasms or sinklnA
turns became moro and moro frequent, AM
en-" lost consciousness, aud died ~ last un"on
s'lous. She had not been able 90 do any Wurl
Tor several months, and kept her cell and be'
much of the tIme, although Occas ionnlly walk
Ing about the wOmon's prison, small room II
whlfh her cell was situated. Sne never con
versed much with the other prisoners Sir
was more rrticent than ever after her late
troubles came upon her.
Mrs. Sherman's Confession.
In 1873, after Mrs. sherman had been son
tenoed 10 imprisonment for life sho made