Norwich bulletin., 1910-01-14
GovernesS Found
 Dead in Bed
MAID AWAKENED BY STRANGE
 NOISE AT 3 A. M.
FINGER PRINTS ON THROAT
coachman in Same Family Believed to Be the strangIer-Attempts to Com init suicide-Is Taken Into Custody.

Poughkeepsie, N- r., Jan. 1s.-Sarah o. Breymer, aged 2e years a pretty and cultured governess at the summer home or MT. and Mrs. Barnes Compton, MIlbrook, Dutches county, was found Tn her bed early this morning stran- gLed to death Frank Schermerhorn, Of the same age, who is employed as coachman on the Compton place, has been brought to this city charged with the murder: Late today he made an unsuccessful attempt at suicide. cut dlng his throat with a razor. Strange Noise Awoke the Maid. About o'clock this morning Mary Fennell. a maid in the Barnes Comp ton h0uSe. was awakened by a strange noise, and says she saw a mans form disappear out of the corridor. She ran to awaken the governess, and not re- celving amy reply. entered Miss Brey- lying in bed with her face black and finger prints on her throat. Life was extinct.
 She Aroused the House
 On a cot in the same room was little Polly Compton, aged 3 years, unharm- ed. The maid quickly pressed an cleo trlc button, summoning the coachman and when he arrived the sheriff and police of this city were notified.
 What the Officers Found.
 The county and Poughkeepsie off, c1als spent the day at the Compton place, questioning all the maids and servants and Schermerhorn They found that Miss Breymer's hands had been tied. the big chest containing the Compton silverware had been forced and several of the rooms were in dis order, making it appear that the trag- edy had been the part of burglary.
 Coachman Cut His Throat
 Chief of Police Charles J. McCahe went to the coachman's house this aft ernoon to further question him, and not receiving fO h 1i< zIIr1 went up into the mans bedroom. The room was dark, and on throwing open the blinds the chiefs attention was attracted by a sound under the bed Investigation revealed Schermerhorn lying under the bed with his throat cut and blood dripping in a pool on the floor.
 -Is that you. chief?" gurgled Scher- merhorn-
 Yes. that is I, Frank; you better come out. I want you"
 T am. not guilty said the coacl1- jail" ~ ~ ''''i- so ~
 Schermer11ora was taken into cus- tody and his wound dressed by a phy- sician, after which he was brought to the county jail here.
 On the table in the room the chief found a note which read:
 My Dear Wife: I am not guilty.
 FRANK" Says Japanese Butler Did the Choking.
 ScnermerhOrn was too weak to make much of a statement He did say, however, that he stood watching under a window of the Compton mansion while the Japanese butler committed the crime This statement the police discredit. They say there is no doubt that Schermerhorn strangled the gov- erness to death
 Coachman in Hospital. When Schermerhorn reached this city. after a. sixteen mile ride on a stretcher in armer's sleigh, he was taken to Vassar hospital and put on the operat- ing table. Chief McCabe and District Mack stood near to get any statement he might make, but Scher- merhorn refused to say anything fur ther about the tragedy. Tonight it was stated at the hospital he would 1 live. Chief McCabe is of the opinion that Schermerhorn blaclxened his face 1 to give him the guise of a negro, be- l fore committing the crime. The ser | wants in the house told the police that | when the coachman first appeared aft | CT being summoned there were patches | of black on his face, and also black | finger prints on the wainscotting in the | room occupied by Miss Breymer.
 When he has fully recovered he will | be arraigned on a charge of murder in | the first degree,