Extracted from The Redlands Daily Facts (Redlands, CA)
Monday, June 14, 1954

Officer's Wife Served Him Poisoned Cocktail

What kind of poison Lillian Guice Sherritt placed in the martini cocktails she served her Air Force officer husband, then took herself, is the subject of an investigation by chemist investigators in the office of Coroner R. E. Williams he said today.

Lt. Col. Fred G. Sherritt, 38, and his wife, Lillian, 34, were found dead in twin beds in their newly purchased home at 522 Lime street here Saturday morning at 10 a.m. She left a note indicating that she took her life and his also.

Coroner Williams told the Facts at noon that preliminary reports of the autopsy showed that there were evidences of metallic poisoning in the stomach contents.

``Our men are running tests to determine just what these poisons were. On the basis of the note written by Mrs. Sherritt we believe that she put poison in the drinks that they had mixed,'' he said.

He explained that empty glasses, a gin bottle and a vermuth bottle found at the scene indicated that the couple mixed and drank martini cocktails on the fatal night and the poison apparently was in the drinks.

Investigators said that is is impossible to determine which of the two died first or the exact time of death.

Police learned that Mrs. Sherritt was last seen alive Monday, June 7, when she took some clothing into Bob Bourret, who operates Bob's Redlands Cleaners. He said the time was between 10 a.m. and noon. Thursday he delivered the clothing. When no one answered and he found the back door open, he entered the service porch and hung the clothing there, police quoted him as saying.

The last time that both of the Sherritt's were seen was Sunday night, June 6, when they visited with neighbors across the street.

The bodies were discovered by Hugh Fowler, 39, of Wrightwood, former owner of the home at 522 Lime street, when he returned to remove lawn furniture stored in the garage. He found the rear door open, Fowler told investigators, and then discovered the bodies in a bedroom.

Lt. Col. Sherritt and his wife were in night dress, and with covers pulled up to their shoulders.

Note Found

A note found on the night stand, apparently written by Mrs. Sherritt read

``There must be no more separations, darling. Last year was all a mistake. I joined you anyhow, which you couldn't help. Since your orders came, I've been out of my mind.''

``Forgive me, dear. I've made peace with God.''

The note also referred to Mrs. T. S. Spradling in Georgetown, Ky., to whom the letter said:

``Aunt Meg, please see that my dad uses any money received to buy a home and property around Sicily Island (Louisiana), and deed it to his grandchildren on his death.''

``Also help them through college.''

``Forgive me. Bury us together in a national cemetery.''

``I meant to go alone but couldn't disgrace him.''

Norton Investigating

A spokesman at Norton Air Force Base told the Facts today that the Air Force is conducting an investigation along with the civil authorities.

He said that Lt. Col. Sherritt was ordered to Norton and was scheduled to report June 19 for his assignment to be with the Inspector General's office as armament specialist.

According to the records he had served as commander of an ammunition support squadron in Korea from July, 1953 to May, 1954. It was during this time that Mrs. Sherritt went to the Orient to be with her husband. Apparently she did not get to Korea but as far as Japan. She returned to the U.S. last month when he returned.

The records show that their permanent address had been 1819, First street, Atwater, California, which is near Castle Air Force Base in Merced where he apparently had been assigned to duty prior to his Korean service.

A native of Georgetown, Kentucky, Col. Sherritt attended schools there and also the University of Kentucky.

Commissioned in 1942

He was commissioned July 3, 1942, and served with the Air Force in World War II in both European and China-Burma-India theaters.

They have no children and his parents are deceased. He leaves a cousin, Mrs. Margaret Spradling of Georgetown, Ky., and she leaves her father, Grover Guice of Sicily Island, Louisiana.

Coroner Williams said that the cousin had been contacted and requested that the bodies be shipped to Georgetown for services. Up to noon today he said his office had been unable contact Mrs. Sherritt's father.

The couple had just purchased the house from Fowler. He said he had met them Saturday, June 5, the day they moved in, only briefly and did not know them or where they were from. The transaction was handled by his real estate agent and the purchase was in escrow.

Met Neighbors

Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Austin, 521 Lemon street, said that they had met the Sherritts, Saturday, the day that they moved into the house and welcomed them to the neighborhood, according to Redlands police investigating the deaths.

Assistant Chief of Police Warren Elliott quoted Mr. and Mrs. R. F. Helbron, 521 Lime street, as saying that the Sherritts had spoken on Sunday evening, June 6, of ``going away for a few days'' so no alarm was felt when they were not seen about the place after Sunday.

Elliott said that the Sherritts visited with the Helbrons that evening for about an hour and a half. They appeared to be happy and cheerful and seemed to be exceptionally well pleased with the purchase of their new home.

While the officers, coroner and his men, Air Police and Air Force officers from Norton base were investigating the scene Saturday afternoon the mailman arrived. He had a letter from the Department of Motor Vehicles at Sacramento, for Mrs. Sherritt. It was the change of the registration of her car from Atwater to the new Redlands address.

In addition to Elliott officers from Redlands investigating the deaths of the Sherritts included Lieutenant Glen Solberg, Lt. Claude Miles, Sgt. J. D. Pattison, Patrolmen H. N. Silky, H. Gerner and R. L. Grainger.