Victim: [Unnamed Baby] Sherman
Perpetrators: Pearl Sherman, Jennie Sherman, Dorothy Sherman, James Sherman, and Emma Houze
Date of Incident: 1936-03-26
Location of Incident: Center Township (Dearborn County)
On March 26, 1936, an unnamed newborn girl was drowned in Hogan Creek. Her mother, Pearl Sherman, was committed to Craigmont Hospital in Madison, IN, and her grandmother, Jennie Sherman, was sentenced to life in the Indiana State Women’s Penitentiary, but paroled in 1954. Pearl’s siblings, Dorothy Sherman and James Sherman, and a neighbor, Emma Houze, were also arrested and later released.
Sources
The Anderson Herald (1936, April 18). Five face charge of killing baby. The Anderson Herald, 1.
The Evansville Press (1936, April 18). Five accused of drowning baby. The Evansville Press, 1.
The Greenfield Daily Reporter (1936, April 18). Baby dressed as doll drowned. The Greenfield Daily Reporter, 1.
The Hammond Times (1936, April 18). Hold five for drowning babe of unwed girl. The Hammond Times, 1.
The Indianapolis News (1936, April 18). Baby drowning confessed by 4. The Indianapolis News, 1.
The Indianapolis Star (1936, April 18). 5 held at Aurora in death of baby. The Indianapolis Star, 1.
The Indianapolis Times (1936, April 18). 5 Hoosiers accused in death of infant. The Indianapolis Times, 3.
Lafayette Journal and Courier (1936, April 18). Four confess to hurling new born infant to death. Lafayette Journal and Courier, 1.
Muncie Evening Press (1936, April 18). Five charged with drowning baby. Muncie Evening Press, 1.
The Muncie Morning Star (1936, April 18). Five held in murder of infant at Aurora. The Muncie Morning Star, 12.
The Munster Times (1936, April 18). Hold five for drowning babe of unwed girl. The Munster Times, 35.
The Richmond Palladium and Sun-Telegram (1936, April 18). 5 admit part in murder of Aurora baby. The Richmond Palladium and Sun-Telegram, 3.
The Tipton Daily Tribune (1936, April 18). Five are held. The Tipton Daily Tribune, 7.
The Indianapolis News (1936, April 20). Crude coffin of new-born baby sought in Aurora slaying probe. The Indianapolis News, 3.
Seymour Daily Tribune (1936, April 22). Aids in probe. Seymour Daily Tribune, 1.
The Aurora Bulletin (1936, April 23). Five held in baby murder. The Aurora Bulletin, 1.
The Aurora Journal (1936, April 23). Five are held in county jail on murder charge. The Aurora Journal, 1.
The Lawrenceburg Register (1936, April 23). Aurora people held on serious charge. The Lawrenceburg Register, 1.
The Lawrenceburg Press (1936, April 24). Baby girl thrown into Hogan Creek. The Lawrenceburg Press, 1.
The Lawrenceburg Register (1936, May 28). Separate trials asked in Sherman murder case. The Lawrenceburg Register, 4.
The Evening Republican (1936, June 3). Kills daughter’s baby; gets life. The Evening Republican, 1.
The Indianapolis News (1936, June 3). Woman convicted of drowning baby. The Indianapolis News, 14.
Lafayette Journal and Courier (1936, June 3). Convicted of slaying. Lafayette Journal and Courier, 1.
Muncie Evening Press (1936, June 3). Life sentence for drowning of baby. Muncie Evening Press, 8.
The Richmond Palladium and Sun-Telegram (1936, June 3). To get life term. The Richmond Palladium and Sun-Telegram, 11.
The South Bend Tribune (1936, June 3). Grandmother gets life term. The South Bend Tribune, 12.
The Anderson Herald (1936, June 4). Woman awaits sentence. The Anderson Herald, 11.
The Aurora Bulletin (1936, June 4). Woman given life sentence. The Aurora Bulletin, 1.
The Aurora Journal (1936, June 4). Grandmother of baby convicted. The Aurora Journal, 1.
The Indianapolis Star (1936, June 4). Woman, 59, awaits infant death term. The Indianapolis Star, 21.
The Muncie Morning Star (1936, June 4). Convicted in baby’s death. The Muncie Morning Star, 3.
The Richmond Item (1936, June 4). Woman convicted. The Richmond Item, 14.
The Lawrenceburg Press (1936, June 5). Life term given Aurora woman in baby murder. The Lawrenceburg Press, 5.
The Lawrenceburg Register (1936, June 11). Houze trial set for June 19. The Lawrenceburg Register, 1.
Anderson Daily Bulletin (1936, June 22). Neighbor freed in drowning of baby of unwed mother. Anderson Daily Bulletin, 1.
The Edinburg Courier (1936, June 22). Neighbor woman freed in baby drowning case. The Edinburg Courier, 1.
Muncie Evening Press (1936, June 22). Aurora woman freed by jury on murder charge. Muncie Evening Press, 5.
The South Bend Tribune (1936, June 22). Freed in baby’s death. The South Bend Tribune, 4.
The Hammond Times (1936, June 23). Woman is freed. The Hammond Times, 1.
The Indianapolis News (1936, June 23). Unwed mother of slain infant is found insane. The Indianapolis News, 4.
The Anderson Herald (1936, June 24). Indiana news briefs. The Anderson Herald, 14.
The Edinburg Daily Courier (1936, June 24). Unwed mother of slain infant is found insane. The Edinburg Courier, 2.
The Muncie Morning Star (1936, June 24). Slain baby’s mother insane. The Muncie Morning Star, 3.
The Richmond Item (1936, June 24). Mother [illegible]. The Richmond Item, 1.
The Aurora Bulletin (1936, June 25). Sherman case disposed of. The Aurora Bulletin, 1.
The Aurora Journal (1936, June 25). Doctors declare mother of slain baby is insane. The Aurora Journal, 1.
The Lawrenceburg Register (1936, June 25). Mrs. Houze freed, Miss Sherman insane. The Lawrenceburg Register, 1.
The Lawrenceburg Press (1936, June 26). Mrs. House goes free. The Lawrenceburg Press, 1.
The Lawrenceburg Register (1936, July 2). Jennie Sherman in the state prison for life. The Lawrenceburg Press, 1.
The Aurora Bulletin (1938, May 19). Former Aurora youth died in hospital. The Aurora Bulletin, 4.
The Lawrenceburg Register (1938, May 19). Aurora boy dies in Wabash Hospital. The Lawrenceburg Register, 1.
The Aurora Journal-Bulletin (1963, August 22). Dorothy M. Sherman. The Aurora Journal-Bulletin, 6.
The Journal-Press (1967, June 29). Jennie Sherman. The Journal-Press, 6.