Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-01-22
SUSPECT ADMITS
KILLING NURSE
Makes Full Confession at R0-
quest Of Mother.
MODIFICATION HIS EXCUSE


Intention to lnJure Miss 6rymer and
elames Crime on Beer and whisky.
Doesn't Remember Details.
In the presence OF his mother and
sister. Frank Schermerhorn confessed
to the murder OF Miss Sarah Prymer.
the nurse IN Barnes Compton's home
at Millbrook. last week. He made the
confession to Under Sheriff Horn
beck I'm the vassar hospital at Poughr
keepsIe. N. Y. Schermerhorn. who was
Compton's coachman. has been In the
hospital under constant guard since
last Thursday night. when he cut his
throat while the officers were seeking
him. Monday was the first time his
mother has visited him in the hos
pital.
Schermerhorn. propped up In chair
and with his hands. which had been
tied while In bed TO prevent further
attempts at suicide. entirely free,
greeted his mother affectionately. She
bent over him. and while the officers
stood OFF some distance the mother
cornseled Frank to make q full and
free confession. He seemed reluctant
for time TO do so. Finally. while his
mother spoke TO him in low tones. he
blurted out: "Oh. did II. I Will tell"
Mrs. Schermerhorn swooned. falling
on the floor Under Sheriff Hornbsck
picked her up. and then. while nurses
cared for her. Hornbeck wrote down
the prisoners statement. which Scher-
merhorn signed. His sister Mrs Kill
mer was also present and showed
great feeling
The confession was given to District
Attorney Mack who declined TO per-
init its publication in full. but gave
our the substance as follows: "Scher-
nerhorn pleaded intoxication for his
crime. He declared at the outset that
he had no intention to kill or injure
Miss Brymer He told OF taking the
maids. Alice butcher and Mary Far.
rell for sleigh ride the evening be.
fore the murder. He drank consider.
able beer and whisky. and after leav-
ing the girls at the big house he put
the horses in the barn and went TO his
own house and changed his clothes.
He says he was so drunk that he re-
members indistinctly the subsequent
events
Some time after hlmdight he re-
members he went to the mansion,
Which he entered through the kitchen.
the door Of which WAS unlocked. He
40 a. Ns.ax eNaa
tho porch where Miss Brymer and
three-year-old Polly Compton were
sleeping. He has no remembrance. he
says. OF assaulting the nurse or OF
choking her but he told Under Sheriff
Hornbeck that II II was true that she
had been assaulted then he must have
dcne IT, He declared. however. that he
had no intention OF injurlng Miss Bry-
mer when he entered the house and
went only TO her room to scare her.
With regard to Mary Farrcil's story
OF the appearance of the supposed
burglar AT her bedside with n dark
lantern, Schermerhorn says that he
went 10 the east wing. where the ser.
wants rooms are situated. but he does
not remember entering the cooks room
or OF having . dark lantern. He be-
lieves. he says that he struck a match
TO find his way to the stairs leading to
the kitchen.
With regard 10 the silverware taken
from the Campton house to the value
OF $500. Schermerhorn says that he
has no recollection OF removing Il. but
he does remember putting II into the
stove in his house AMI then. when the
ERE did not consume II. placing the
cherred and best pieces In the chin
ney fiue.
He says that he has no recollection
OF biackenlng his face before entering
the Compton house.
schermerhorn's wife. who has been
III. Is still in vassar hospital unaware
OF her husbands predicament. He
frequently expresses desire TO see
her Schermerhorn will be well enough
n be removed TO the county jail In .
few days.