The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-01-15
NURSE MURDERED
GOverneSS Slain While Re-
SiSting Assault.
C0ACHMAN'S THROAT CUT
Man Suspected of Crime Attempts
Suicide and Leaves Note to
His Wife Protesting His
Innocence.
COACHMAN'S THROAT CUT

Millbroolk. ~ Y. Jan. Ii. - Sara
Bramer. twenty-six years old. nurse
for the little three-yearold daughter
Of Barnes Compton. millionaire was
slain while resisting assault The man
first tied her hands and then choked
he. TO death.
There was considerable mystery
about the perpetrator Of Miss Bramer's
death until Chief Of Police McCabe
went into the house of Frank Scher
merhorn. the Compton coachman. and
found him under the bed with bis
throat cut This the authorities be
lcve clears up the case which had
caused an allday Investigation Scher
mcrhorn was not dead. bat weak from
loss of blood He had been about the
place all day going over the incidents
attending the finding Of the nurses
body after the frightened servants had
runs bell to bis house asking for
assistance.
Upon entering the coachman's house
McCabc called lis name and received
no answer. He entered the kitchen
AMI found on a table a note reading:
My Dear Wiie--I am not guilty
write this to say goodby. Your loving
husband. FRANK.
Schermerhorn. who IS tweniyslx
years old. had bcon married several
years. and his wife has been in Vassar
hospital for three weeks III Of a fever.
After reading the note Chief McCabe
again called Franz" and receiving no
answer. entered a bedroom, whe Q he
heard a sound as OF dripping water
H struck light and heading a moan,
looked under tho bed and saw Scher-
merhorn lying in pool Of blood. with
his throat cut. \ razor lay nearby.
Schormcrhorn was conscious and said:
"Oh please. chief. let me die ! would
rather that than go to jail"
As the mans throat was cut from
ear 10 car McCabe thought the man
was dying and tried 10 get an ante
norton statement. Schermcrhorn de-
MED that he assaulted Miss Bramer.
lie said he watched under the window
while Soteri Ohashi. the japanese but
Ter. committed the assault upon the
nurse. Dr. Mckenzie had taken In
hand Schermcrhorn and sewed up the
cut in his throat. He said that the man
had n fair chance TO live. as the iugu-
lar vein wasn't cut. Chief McCabe
said that he believed the story about
Ohashi was a lie That Schermer-
horn was enamored Of Miss Bramer is
confirmed By this act Of his" said the
chief
4 search Of Miss Bramer's effects
disclosed that she was a married wo-
man and came from Boston. She was
married. the police say last June in
Boston 10 Clarence Morse, wao IS now
musician In the National Soldiers
home at Tagus, Ne.
Some Of the facts about her mar
rage appeared to be known TO the
domestics. although the dead woman
was always addressed as Miss Bramer
She was a woman Of education and
was especially trained In the care OF
children and WAS no mere nurse In
the general accordance Of that term
The burglary and murder took place
while Mr.. and Mrs. Compton were In
New York city Miss Bramer and the
child occupied a sleeping piazza on
the upper floor. Other domostics In
another part OF the house were awak
ened. but were unable to offer any op
position.
The little girl. who slept nearby
was not awakened by the struggle.
The nurse came there three or four
months ago from New England and
obtained employment in the Compton
family. She was well educated. The
little girl. Polly" was especially fond
Of her. and II was at her request that
she was left here with the girl.