New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-07-29
EXCITEMENT At BENNlNG TON
POISONED HIS WIFE, Guild AND SERVANT.

Eyo1g The Times July ~
C,sst vehement exists at bennington, growing out
nj remarkable case developed there. which seems 10
involve probability of the murder, by iafmer ~
that town In good circumstances, named Nslnanel
Snsfgcyd OF his wife, and the dangerous poisoning OF
Ia child and q servent girl in bis employ Inc car
cuustsrIes, ss we have obtained record OF them,
are thee: CT, 1901. .. a., o,,,v bour
before lis wife bad been awakened, built fire and
Ard prepsred the coffee for breakfast 1t was sons
thing unusual for him to do this but when his we;
who had awakened meenghle, offered TO attend
10 the Coffee lie told ler not 70 mind, ms couo
make Il as we'll When bre lklsst was served, Spsiori
remsrked that he believed he would not dIck any
coffee, and rome was poured out for him. HIS wife
asked him the reason tor thls. lie answered thst
had been thinking that the beverage was hurtiul u
him TINT il destroy cd tho tone of his stomach and
weakened his nerves. ard therefore he had concuIea
to give il up. No suspicion of an evil design on ms
mart being entertained, this explain sOo was deemed
sstifactory. Mrs. Spafcrd, her Child, aud servant
prl employed in the family all partook OF the coiee
Very eoop after breakfast, Mrs. 5. began to expe-
rience burning pam Ia the stomach, ana SENSATION
of ullress which piecedes violent illness from sudden
inismmstory attacks. She remarked this to the SER
yspt girl and the latter replied tass she had been
similarly affected. Almost at the same tins tue child
co1pt is'ned Of being unwell. These premonitory
rym.torrs were almost immediately succeeded by
terrible vomiting, painful retching, and thropoing
pains ir tho head in each cafe neisnDor, ME-;
CHARLIE C!spp, wife OF an engineer on tne tIoy anu
Boston road. entering the house, Mrs. Spatort, re-
memberIg that her husband had drank none OF tue
coffee In the morning, and coupling with hls anxiety
to prepare it bimself exclaimed that she hsd poon
poioped oy the beverage. Mrs. CIspp isugneo ~
her fsar and asked for cup of the coffee, OF when
che drsr a email quantity. Soon after, sac aso "as
taken sick and precisely the same symptoms were
DootoIs Bruce and Ranrey of the villsge were
called upon 10 attend the csses They remarked at
once apparent indications of metallic poison. Extre ne
prosra.n and heavy pains IN the stomsca Io3w yea
The 6te Of vomiting and retching when marked tne
strange illness Ms Spsiford was the mort seriously
affected Of a-the child, which had drank but little
of the colee es.t so. The servant girl was very III
during tie day, bat towards evening her pans ap-
pesred TO be a,levisted some what, and apparently
through The night abe did not suer very much. Mrs.
Clspp did not drink enough OF the coffee TO be rem
dered dangerously SICK but enough TO experience tne
fits Of vomiting aud the burning pans OIL WHICH tne
others complained.
The facts thus presented were regarded as warrant
ing the arrest Of Spsfford. lie was taken IN oaarse
Yesterday afternoon by Officer Dyer. Justice Ioom6S,
Alter preliminary examination, committed him TO the
Bennington JAIL TO await the result Of the cases. lie
refuses 10 say much with regard TO the affair, bet
denies his guilt. After his examination, he declared
that he would drink cup of the coffee If 1t was fur
nished bin. He drank one or two swallows and act II
aside. Soon after, he too was taken sick, vomited,
and com planned OF the burning pain
This morning, the physicians having the patients ia
charge, pronounced th, servant girl and the child out
Of osnpcr. Mrs Spsford, however, it was thought
by thero, would die. She was sinking rapidly, and
the poison, whatever i, may have been, seemed 10
evening, A. p. Lyman, States Attorney, took her
ante morte deposition which was Inade by ner lhtui
views OF the probabilities of DEATH her physicians
hayii Informed her tina, sic was not likely To Ver
Theirs ia nothing in her statement which differs ms.e-
risllo frCm what we have stated. Her Impression
seemed TO be strong, judging fon bis conduct, ina.
her hubbard had poisoned her-but an impression, OF
course, does not become evidence until 1t has been
borne ont by feet.
The remaining portion Of the coffee made by Spaf-
ford bard Hhich-frcm what reason remains TO Do &C.
yeiope6- seeus to have bcen the cause OF TINS mys
terious sickness taken TO Albany for anslyzsuon
ills mortirg. DIR. CoIn apothecary Of the vllage
saws tha. short time since he sold Spaiiord quaint
ty Of corrosive sublima's, which no stated that ne
wanted FOR the purpose OF kiilog bed-Sugs lie nves
in rev touse, however, in which there are no bed
bugs sra his family are not of his having used
any Of tne poison agaisst the vermlp. The symptoms
ct eckSess all five Of the caees were precisely sucn
as woIli ensue fIcm tie administration OF Corrosive
pubEnAC--beIg even more rapid IN then appearance
and far violent than in cases even where arsenic
has been tsken into tie system. This Circumstance
teems 70 be il spscuarly complete and unbroken
chain Ct circunstantlal evidence.
SpsfioId is man Of about - yeare, OF lar repute
hitherto end 10 the enjoyment OF good circumstances
pecurisfiiy. He has been employed as manager oil
Wm. L. Hawkes. farm. With regard to the motive
he would have or itti0gt the teribis chine whlca
,uspicpr fssttns upon hm-lf he did commit lit l'
s.ed taAt be hss been Tor some time past paying al
teniiors young woman al Slai spnTyi tha' tn9se
ai;elors have been OF 90 equivocs character, ana
suspicion j. thus induced that he wanted 10 get MS
Vie c,t If he way. II he did, he certainly Wen. to
work In y6ry bu1glDg manner to DO II.
Tie family Of Spaaord were visited yesterday oy
large r,rters cf people, anxious 10 ascertain theiI
co,a;,;cr I'd PROSPECT Numbers called on Spsff Jrd
hnasqlf q Il jail bD. he Geclaed TO hold any CON
veisstrr on tie subj ot, Tsmsrkilg that the fAct'
would ell coue - IN course of tine. This morning.
tire sb,y that his y n, would die increased the
itteest n tie subject and the excitement became re-
naIi abe ior place oC the size Oh Bennington.
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