Milford chronicle., 1910-01-21
Makes Fell Confession at Re-
Guest Of MOtheT.
INTOSICATIOs HIS EXCUSE
sehermerhorn Declares He Had No
Intention to Injurs Miss 5rymsr and
5Iames 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 BTymer.
the nurse in Barnes Compton's home
at MillbroOk. last week. He made the
| confession to Under Sheriff Horn
beck in the Vassar hospital at Pough-
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 a chair
and with his hands. which had been
tied while in bed to prevent further
attempts at suicide. entirely free.
greeted his mother affectlonately She
bent over him. and while the officers
stood OF some distance the mother
counseled Frank to make a full and
free confession. He seemed reluctant
for a time to do so. Finally. while his
mother spoke to him in low tones. he
blurted out: "Oh, did it, will tell"
Mrs. Schermerhorn 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. Kill.
mer, was also present and showed
great feeling.
The confession was given to District /
Attorney Mack. who declined to per /
NIT its publication in full. but gave
ouJ the substance as follows: "Scher
merhorn 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 a 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 himdight he re-
members he went to the mansion.
which he entered through the kitchen.
the door of which was unlocked. He
made his way upstairs and out upon
the porch where Miss Brymer and
Polly Compton we're
sleeping. He has no remembrance. he
says. of assaulting the nurse or OF
choking her. but he told Under Sheriff
Hornbeck that if it was true that she
lad been assaulted then he must have
iCne IT, He declared. however that he
iad no intention Of iniuring Miss Bry-
ner when he entered the house. and
vent only to her room to scare her.
With regard to Mary Farrell's story
y the appearance of the supposed
burglar at her bedside with a dark
antern. Schermerhorn says that he
vent to the east wing. where the ser.
ants rooms are situated. but he does
Ct remember entering the cooks room
r OF having a dark lantern. He be-
eves. he says that he struck a match
0 find his way to the stairs leading to
he kitchen.
With regard to the silverWare taken ,
rom the Campton house to the value !
f $500 Schermerhorn SAYS that he
as no recollection OF removing it. but
e does remember putting It into the !.
-ove in his house and then. when the .
re did not consume it. placing tho I
barred and best pieces in the chin. v
ey fue.
He says that he has no recollection
blackening his face before entering
70 Compton house.
Schermerhorn's wife who has been =
!. is still in Vassar hospital unaware n
her husbands predicament He n
expresses a desire to see =.
sr. Schermerhorn will be well enough =
he removed to the county Jail in a a,
w days. :,
Mora Craft A Arresfs In pittshuro