The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-12
Murders a Good, but Invalided
Wife to Commit Adultery.
Rs Mabes an UEsOphisticaled "Help' Part
ner ii the Assassination.
CONFESSION AT THE GALLONS.



committed IN WEBSTER county duly avenged. The
victim IN This instance was Mrs. Sarah Spann.
wife OF a farmer named Enoch Ferdinand Spann. For
some years previous to the murder 1t appears that
Mrs. Spann mad been an invalid having had leg
amputated shortly after her marriage, but her
husband, with all the tenderness and affection OF
Baptist deacon and Christian 10 general attended to
al ner wants and personally nursed ana provided
for her during the earlier years Of her afiiction.
Eventually however, he found that nursing his sick
vile took up SO much OF his time that ne deter
mined to nave an assistant, and in December 1871,
engaged the simple and unsophisticated daughter
OF neghbor, named Susan Eberhart to attend 10
Mii. Spann. Gradually the young woman grew
into favor, the wife was looked upon with GOODNESS
ana neglect owing TO passion conceived for Miss
Susan, and very soon the canting wretch, Spann,
had her 80 far in his power to induce her to say
she would marry him in case his wife should die.
MRS. sPANN TO BE MURDERED.
Delighted with his new love, he declared that he
| would "put his wife out Of the way,' thus remov-
ing the only obstacle to the new union. He
forthwith set about accomplishing this The
first attempt to drown the unfortunate
| cripple frustrated by susan Eber-
hart, VINO pulled her ont OF seven feet
OF water into which she had designedy been cap
sized by her christian" husband. The next
method was to drown her in barrel OF water by
thrusting her into it head foremost which was also
frustrated by the young girl Susan. Finally
| Spann's intimacy with his assistant had pro-
ceeded SO far that he had but little dniculty in per-
suading her to assent to her mistresss death by
choking with rope.
THE CHOKING PROCESS.
This operation, it was avowed by the "Chrlstian"
could be performed SO perfectly that no mark OF
violence would remain anu that he would simply
| inform the neighbors after her murder that she
! had died from an attack Of asthma, q story
they would be compelled to believe in the alb
sence OF proof to the contrary. Saturday evening"
May 4, 1872 was deliberately agreed upon as the
time for carrying this plan into effect. plough line
was prepared, and, after the departure Of some
lady friends who had been to visit the sick woman
having ascertaning that the patient was quietly
sleeping, he slipped the moose over the head OF his
wife and forthwith commenced choking her. She
screamed out "Oh my, - but Miss Susan stood ready
with handkerchief which the "Christian" husband
forced into her mouth with one hand while he
frightened the rope with the other. In about half
aChristan'' betook himself to the couch of Miss
Susan, according to previous arrangement.
EVIDENCE OF VIOLENCE ON THE VICTIM
Removing the fatal moose they were Mortified to
find terrible witness of their guilt in the shape
Warm water was applied with the hope OF removing
the mark, but the effort was OF course, unsuccess
|
long similar ring might encircle his own precious
! neck and at once gave orders to the girl 70 pre-
following day susans father called and found the
| house closed.
THEY FLY-THE DISCOVERY OF THE CRIME.
Neghbors were called and consulted. Every
| thing was still and mysterious. The door was
broken open eventually and the murdered woman
discovered entirely covered up beneath the bed
/ clothing. The cause of her death was at once APP
parent the telltae ring had achieved all that the
! 'Christian" murderer had foreseen and his arrest
| for the crime was the first thought OF the autnor
| ties. The plough line was picked up by a boy De-
having some OF tie victims hair still clingng to it,
! The bloody handkerchief was next discovered be-
meath the pillow, on which the head OF the dead
/ woman was resting A clew as to the direction
taken by the fugitives being obtained party OF
men At once started in pursuit.
| ARREST AND CONFESSION.
The fugitives had succeeded in reaching Coffee
| county. Alabama, after many vicissitudes and
/ great anxiety, where they were 0vertaken and
\ made prisoners. Spanns first statement was that
he did not hang his wife, but merely 'choked her
Tossing to the deed. His next endeavor was to
persuade his captors that he had duly married
| Alabama, and begged not to be separated from
her. She also endeavored to create the impression
@ was wt hs yeM Of tSe but r
the murder was committed, confessed she had told
! lie.
! No sooner had an investigation been ordered
than the chief actor in the tragedy came to the
i conclusion that the bloodred circle would soon,
alas be seen around his own "Chrstain" neck.
! He repeatedly sent for the Judge Of the Superior
Court ana begged that the trial might be brief and
the day OF execution named as soon as possible.
The Judge visited him according to request and
promised t to proceed with the trial at once
engage counsel, matter the Court had
taken in hand for them spann repudiated the
gratuitous counsel, would give them no information
to expedite matters: Miss Susan exhibited
proven. Counsel at once proclaimed that no sane
| persons would thus commit themselves to the gal
fore the highest Court in the State. The verdict
was sustained by the latter, ana spann was SEN
| to meet similar fate on May 2 1873.
THE DAY or EXECUTION.
To-day Spann was executed in the presence OF
three or four thousand persons, mostly negroes.
4 The day was beautiful; all was quiet, there being
no disturbance whatever. "Wednesday last spann
| requested gentleman to write for him state
\ ment to be read at the gallows. Yesterday he had
1t read over to him before several different persons
at the jail. He, was satisfied with it. For some
time past he has avoided saying much, even to
/ special friends, about his WIFE, the murdered wo-
man, or Miss Eberhart; said he loved the
to meet his wife in heaven; II would do
ne good to say anything against her. However, he
| told two friends that he was young and foolish
| when he married, and was dragged into 1t, which
was the beginning, and caused all his troubles.
/ He intimated that his wife was high tempered to
/ him, and all his married life was misery. Yester-
| day, at his own request, he was furnished with a
/ salads-such he most reIished. lie said TINS would
| be his last dinner on EARTH
/ lHlt MOTHlHH, ~ tcH OCiOCk, Tue SnCrlu formed
| guard and marched to the jail He placed lad
der down through the trap door into his cell.
| Spann walked up with firm step and composed
| micn, took the preachers by the hand and wept.
| He seemed deeply moves when he
BABE MISS EBERHART GOODBY.
| He gave her small cake Of toilet ssap wrapped
in brown paper. He nlen walked by the side OF
the Sheriff with nrm step. he was dressed in
| new black sack coat, light, new, neatitting linen
pants clean, nice shirt, no vest and had on soft
black hat and new shoes He presented fine
physical appearance fine head, COED features: but
eye lacking expression the base OF the back skull
| being unusually full. They stopped in the public
square, when wagon was driven up containing
q coffin, made by cousin, william H. Spann. II
was very neat and covered with bIack velvet,