The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1910-01-21
SUSPECT ADMITS
KILLING NURSE
Makes Full Confession at Re-
quest Of Mother.
INT0XICATIOA HIS EXCUSE
Schermerhorn Declares He Had No
Intention to lnjure Miss Brymer and
siames Crime on Beer and Whisky.
Doesn't Remember Details.

slames 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 Brymer,
the nurse in Barnes ComptOn's home
at MillbrOok last week lie made the
s,onfession 10 Under Sheriff Horn
beck In the vassar hospital at Pough-
axeepsie. n. Y. SchermeThOrn. 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 6rst time bis
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 of some distance the mother
cOCnseled Frank 20 make a 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 it, / will tell"
Mrs Schermerborn swooned. falling
on the floor Under Sheriff Hornbeck |
picked her up and then. while nurses |
cared for her. HOrnbeck wrote down |
the prisoners statement which Scher- |
merhorn signed. His sister. Mrs. XII |
mer. was also present and showed /
great feeling
The confession was given 10 District I
Attorney Mack. who declined % per.
NIT its publication In fun but gave
ON the substance as follows "Scher
mcrhorn pleaded intoxicati0n for his
crime lie decl-red at the d-;set that
he had no intention 10 kill or iniure
Miss Brymer He told Of taking the
maids. Alice butcher and Mary Far.
rel. for a sleigh ride the evening be
fore the murder. He drank consider
allie beer and whisky. and after leav.
ing the girls az the big house he put
the horses in the barn and went 10 his
own house and changed his clothes.
He says he was so drunk that he re.
members indistinctly the subsequent
events.
Some time after himdight he re.
members he went 10 the mansion
Which he entered through the kitchen.
the door Of which was unlocked He
made his way upstairs and ont upon
the porch where Miss Brymer and
three-yearold Polly Compton we're
sleeping He has no remembrance. he
SAYS. Of assaultng the nurse or Of
choking her but he told Under Sheriff
Hornbeck that if it was true that she
haG been assaulted then he must have
done II. He declared. however that he
had no Intention Of injuring Miss Prv-
mer when he entered the house. and {
went only 10 her room 10 scare her
With regard TO Mary Farrells story :
d the appearance of the supposed &
burglar at her bedside with a dark Q
antern. Schermerhorn saws that he b
went TO the east wing where the ser 5
rants rooms are situated. but he docs a
LEI remember entering the cooks room w
" OF having a dark lantern. He be- D
leves. he SAYS that he struck a match
o find his way to the stairs leading 10
he kitchen
With regard to the silverware taken is
rom the Campton house to the value hi
n $500. Schermerhorn SAYS that he in
las no recollection Of removing If but &c
Ie does remember putting It into the 81
tove in his house and then. when the TO
re did not consume it. placing the tn
haired and best pieces in the chin. W
ey fue IN
He saws that he has no recollection
blackenins his face before entering
be Compton house.
Schermorhorn's wife. who has been oil
J. is still in Vassar hospital unaware va
her husbands predicament He W
eonently expresses a desire to see I'D
'r Schermerhorn viii be well enough an
De removed to the county jail in a Get
w days The