Law & Order: Frank Sharbino Poisoned - 1939, Grant Parish La Submitted to USGENWEB by Evelyn Corbett Cunningham, 9457 E. Montego Lane, Shreveport, LA, e-mail evelyneva@aol.com Thanks to the Colfax Chronicle for allowing the LaGenWeb use of this article. ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** Colfax Chronicle June 2, 1939 FOUL PLAY SUSPECTED IN SUDDEN DEATH OF MONTGOMERY MAN Frank Sharbino Dies in Manner Indicating Poison Mrs. Gladys Sharbino and a niece, Edith Phipps, are being held in the parish jail pending further investigation into the death of Mrs. Sharbino's husband, Frank Sharbino, who died Friday evening, May 26th, at their home one mile and half east of Montgomery. Relatives became suspicious of the circumstances surrounding the death of Sharbino, which indicated poisoning and fearing foul play, notified the sheriff's office here. Sheriff Bowen accompanied by Dr. I. W. Sandiford parish corner, deputy S. W. Johnson, Br. Brian and district attorney Harry Fuller went immediately to the scene and conducted an investigation. Dr. Sandiford, the corner, empanelled a jury to examine into the death of Sarbino. They adjourned, however, without making a report, but later will be called back to receive further instruction before rendering their verdict. It is stated that evidence obtained fro the investigation point to foul play and it is believed that death was caused by poison being administered to the victim. The viscera of the deceased was sent to the state chemist for an analysis and as yet no report from the state chemist has been received. Colfax Chronicle June 16, 1939 WIDOW AND NIECE HELD FOR DEATH OF FRANK SHARBINO Corrosive Poison Found in Vital Organs of Frank Sharbino Formal charges of murder were preferred Monday afternoon. June 12, by Dr. I. W. Sandford, Grant parish coroner, against Mrs. Gladys Sharbino, 22, and Mrs. Edith Phipps, 26, as a result of the death by corrosive poisoning of Frank Sharbino, 31, Grant parish WPA laborer, on May 26. Action by the coroner in preferring the charges, followed a verdict of the coroner's jury, which convened at Montgomery at 11:15 a.m. on June 12th. The report of C.L. Clay, state chemist of New Orleans, declared that a half grain of the corrosive poison was found in the vital organs of Sharbino. After the examination of several witnesses, he jury returned a verdict that Frank Sharbino came to his death from poisoning and recommended that Gladys Sharbino; his wife, and Edith Phipps, his niece, be held over to wait the action of the Grant parish grand jury which will meet the third Monday in September. Mrs. Sharbino is still being in the Alexandria city jail, while Mrs. Phipps is held in the Grant parish jail. Parish authorities said that no motive had been assigned as yet for the murder. Those on the coroner's jury were Charlie Harris, Henry Lasyone, Mitchell Lang, W. J. Crayon and Richard Bird, District Attorney Harry Fuller, who conducted the examination of witnesses, declared that when the coroner's jury held its first session, evidence was introduced that Mrs. Sharino tried to buy poison, which he said she alleged her husband wanted to kill a dog. Colfax Chronicle August 19, 1939 MRS. GLADYS SHARBINO NOW CONFINED IN PARISH JAIL HERE Last week Sheriff H. G. Bowen removed Mrs. Gladys Sharbino from the Alexandria jail to the parish jail here in Colfax. She has been confined in the Alexandria city jail, since the latter part of May, in connection with the death of her husband, Frank Sharbino, a welfare worker, living near Montgomery, last May 26. Mrs. Sharbino and Mrs. Edith Phipps, age 26, are being kept in separate cells in order that they will have no opportunity to confer with each other. Mrs. Phipps who is a resident of Phoenixville, Pa., is also being held in connection with the death of Sharbino. According to evidence before the coroner's jury a short time after Sharbino's death and after the examination of several witnesses, the jury returned a verdict that Frank Sharbino came to his death from poisoning that Gladys Sharbino, his wife, and Edith Phipps, his niece, be held over to await the action of the Grant parish grand jury which will meet the third Monday in September. Colfax Chronicle October 20, 1939 MRS. GLADYS SHARBINO, MRS. EDITH PHIPPS FOUND GUILTY Grant Parish Poison Case Ends With Conviction of Manslaughter A verdict finding the accused guilty of manslaughter, ws rendered in the district court here shortly after midnight of Tuesday in the cs of Mrs. Gladys Charbino, 23, and Mrs. Edith Phipps, 26, in connection with the slaying o f the husband of the former woman, Frank Sharbino, at Montgomery last May 26. The trial was commenced Monday morning the jury completed late in the afternoon, after which the introduction of testimony for the prosecution was started and continued until the hour of adjournment. The introduction of testimony was resumed Tuesday morning and continued throughout the day. The verdict was rendered after the jury had deliberated for one and a half hours. The women were charged with causing the death of Sharbino by administering poison. Attorney S. R. Thomas of Natchitoches was the defense council. Judge Cass Moss presided on the bench, and the district Attorney was Harry Fuller, and the Assistant District Attorney was V>M> Mauser. The jury was composed of the following: W.H. (Bill) Fleming, Breezy Hill; George E. Futrell, Colfax; W.L. Baum, Pollock; Herbert Gentry, Colfax; Roy Dewitt, Dry Prong; Ralph Pender, Verda; Payne Harrison, Jr., Montgomery; Wiley Clinton, Pollock; W. C. Nettles, Dry Prong; O.B. Dean, WIlliana; J. M. Arrington, Dry Prong; R.J. Sermons, Williana. Colfax Chronicle Feb 9, 1940 GRANT PARISH WOMEN MUST SERVE SENTENCE SAYS SUPREME COURT Conviction and sentence of two young Grant Parish women for the poison slaying of a man who was the husband of one of them and the uncle of the other was upheld in New Orleans, Friday, February 5, by the State Supreme Court. The Court ruled that the Widow, Mrs. Gladys Sharbino, 23 and the niece, Edith Phipps, 26, formerly of Philadelphia, PA must serve their 6 to 18 years sentence they received in the Grant Parish Court last October for the death of Frank Sharbino, W.P.A. Worker of Montgomery. The two women have been connived in the parish jail here since the death of Sharbino last May. No report as to whether the cas would be appealed or if the accused women would be transferred to the State prison at Angola could be secured.