Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1886-10-08
DEIRoIr'sGREAr SENSATION
The Mablcy-SpIers TrInl-S150, 900
SQuandorcd In n year ORa
Young Hubby.
DErnorr. M1cn. Orl. 1 isSa.

DETROIT, MrcH, Oct. I. 1886.
One of 'he most intsresting aid sensa-
tional cNtos ever brought before court in
this section Of the country was the Mabley
SPHERE cs'e, which was dsposed Of In
the Probate Court In this city las S,iur-
dSy, after \ trial Of nearly lSrce weeks.
The case was one in which Mrs. George
Granger mud Miss K,1e Mahley, the two
eldest children of the late G.. II. Mabp.a
Sled a petition for the removal 0f ther
mother, Mrs. Msbley-Spicrs, as guardian
OF the estate aud person u tire minor c;l-
drcn.
Mr.. MNblcy died ntter nkort lilncsf,
about July |, 1885, aud sometime in Jan
uary, 1886, his widow who was nearly so
years Of age was married TO Young
preacher named Spiers, aged 81. since
,l,Rt time the "young" couple have been
living in grand stvle In New York City,
and il is nsserted that slnco her husbands
death Mrs. Mabley-Srers has made
away with the sum Of $150000. 1t was
with view TO suTe the share of the estate
that the minor children were entitled to,
that led 10 the 6liug OF the petition.
The case came to an end last Saturday
afternoon by the decision OF the Probate
Judge, who removed Mrs. Msbley-Spiers
as guardian of the estate OF her minor
children, but not Of their person, thus
leaving her the responsibility OF their
proper bringing up, 1t is tho opinion OF
some here that there will be an attempt
made TO appeal from tho decision OF the
court,
The following is only small part Of
the very sensational testimony presented
throughout the triol, and alter reading, ore
will not wonder TINT the court room was
crowded nearly 10 suffocation during the
trial.
Following are extracts from Mrs. Grang.
er's testimony;
20. What kind OF temper has Mrs
Spiers? A. 1t is very high, easily aroused,
and when aroused very dangerous.
Q. What has been her habit as TO using
weapons on the children when 20 aroused
A. She uses weapons upon them.
O. What weapons? A. Any that are at
hand. She is very frantic"
Subsequently the witness gave instance
OF the breaking OF two hair brushes and
looking glass by Mrs. Spiers upon the
children, and the use in punishment oil
atovewood, a riding whip and water
pitcher.
90. When haze YOU seen Mrs. Spiers in
such fits of temper A. There has been
very little of my lifetime when she has not
been in n temper. From my first recollec-
ton to the day OF my leaving home, there
was not day when ] was not scolded or
wlipped for irines. Until left home the
first sound before breakfast every morning
was the crying Of some one Uf the children
under punishment"
The following is part oil the testimony
of Miss Kate Mabley, the eldest child.
"When we were living IN Pontiac and !
was four years old and sitting at her ieet, l
asked her question about death and when
che answered cried. She then kicked me
repeatedly in the stomach hnd abdomen.
Christmas night, 1864, | became alarmed
al the loud talking in mothers room aud
began 10 cry. She pushed me out IN the
cold hall in my night clothes and stayed
there NIL night. i was four years old.
When was almost too young TO read she
beat me severely because II mistake occur
red in poem she wrote and which 1 took
TO the newspaper Office for publication.
| Once l asked lady where the marriage
bell custom originated. After the lady had
n l., LII G.Nsa tn
my room, dragged me out OF bed and
repeatedly struck my head on the hoor,
holding me by the hair. She said i was
trying to expose her ignorance. Once
little Ray went out anu got his ieet wei.
My father spoke of it. After father went
Mrs Spiers scolded Ray. lie cried, and
she took him by the collar and pounded
his head against the wainscoling. One
day, when driving with her, / recognized
Mr.. Hudson. She kicked me severely,
This was hree years ago.
| Q. How about the Phillips girl? A,
Mother took Filth by the hair and pound
ell her head on the floor for playing with II
little girl named Phillips.
@. What about DR.. Hastings? A,
Mother assaulted me with handmirror Oi
solid glass, breaking the glass on my bare
shoulder, because / told the doctor l could
nor procure Ray nourishing food
Q. Remember your mother locking you
in the bathroom and subjecing yon to the
fumes of burning sulphnr2 A. She called
me to the bathroom, threw some sulphur
on a pan OF burning Goals and closed the
door. called repeatedly and WAS nearly
sufocated before got out, She had tried
to induce me 10 fumigute my cnlarrh ant
was endeavoring to do il for herself"
The serious fleets Of this treatment were
described.
Mrs. Spiers cried during her daughter
testimony. OSCAR.