Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-01-20
C0ACHMAN CUT
THROAT IN FEAR
Accused Of Numbering Pretty
Governess, He Lays Blame
on the Butler.

Poughkeepsie. N. Y. Jan. 13.-Sarah o.
Breymer, aged 26 years, a pretty and
cultured governess at the summer home
of Mr.. and Mrs. Barnes Compton. Mill
brook. Duchess county. was found in
her bed early this morning stranged to
death. Frank Schermerhorn, OF the same
age and who is employed as coachman
on the Compton place. has been brought
10 this city charged with the murder
Late this afternoon he made an I'M
successful attempt at suicide, cutting
his throat with a razor.
About three O'Clock this morning Mary
Fennell. a maid in the Compton house.
was awakened by strange noise and
says she saw mans form disappear
out of the corridor. She ran to awaken
the governcss and not receiving any reply
entered Miss Breymer's room The
governess was found lying in bed. her
face black and finger prints ON her
throat. Life was extinct. on a cot in
the room was little Polly Compton, aged
three years unframed. The maid quick
~ pressed an electric button summonng
the coachman and when he arrived the
sheriff and police of this city were
notified.
The county and Poughkeepsie officials
spent the day at the Compton place.
questioning all the maids and servants
and the coachman. Frank Schermerhorn.
They found that Miss Breymer's hands
had been tied. the big chest containing
the Compton's silverware had been
forced and several of the rooms were
In disorder, making 1t appear that the
tragedy had been part of the burglary.
GURGLED II AM NOT GUILTY"
Chief of Police Charles J. McCabe went
20 the coachmans house late this after
noon to further question him and not re-
ceiving any answer to his summons. went
up into the coachman's bed room. The
room was dark and on throwing open the
binds the chiefs attention was attra cte ed
b. A trickling sound under the bed In
vcstigation revealed Schermerhorn lying
under the bed with his throat cut and
blood dripping in a pool on the floor rs
that you chief?" gurgled Schermerhorn.
Yes, this is I, Frank you better come
out; want you"
am not guilty" said the coachman.
II would rather die than go to Jail"
SchermerhOrn was taken into custody
and his wound dressed by physician
efter which he was brought to the county
JAN mere. On tne taDle IN inc room the
chief found a note which read:
MY Dear Wife: / am not guilty.
FRANK"
Schermerhorn was too weak to make
much OF a statement. He did say. how
ever that he stood watching under a
window of the Compton mansion while
Shtiro Ohashi. the Japanese butler. COM
mitted the deed. This statement the po-
ND &c
in their mind but that Schermerhorn
strangled the governess to death either
during or following a criminal assault
Schermerhorn is married and his wife is
in Vassar hospital. this city. where she
has been for several weeks.
COACHMAN WILL LIVE.
When Schermcrhorn reached this city
after a 16-mie ride on a etretcher in a
farmers sleigh. he was taken to Vassar
hospital and put on the operating table,
Chief McCabe and District Attorney
Mack standing near to get any statement
he might make. Schermerhorn refused
to say anything further about the
tragedy. Tonight IT was stated at the
hospital that he would live.
Chief McCabe is OF the opinion that
Echermerhorn backened his face TO give
him the guise of negro before COM
uniting the crime The servants in the
house stated to the police that when the
Coachman first appeared after being
summoned there We're patches Of black
on his face and also black finger prints
on the wainscotlng in the room occupied
by Miss Breymer.
An officer will guard Schermerhorn
night and day at the hospital and when
able ne will be arraigned on the charge
Of murder in the first degree