The Evening post. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1888-1889, 1888-11-12
A CRIMINAL MYSTERY.
A Missouri Tragedy which Parallels the
Whitechapel Horror


A Missouri Tragedy Which Parallels the
Whitechapel Horror.
The Whitechapel murder mysteries which
have appalled, the civilized world and bafiled
the London police and detectives have
brought out numerous recitals Of revolving
homicides in both the Old and New Worlds
Strange to say, one Of the most mysterious
and horrible wholesale murders in the history
OF crime, where the murderer has never been
apprehended, has dropped out Of sight, and
all efforts to ferret out the guilty party or par
ties long since ceased. The crime was the
butchery OF the Spencer family, near Luray,
In Clark County, Mo, ten years ago.
The Spencer family, consisting of father,
two daughters and a son, the father on the
shady side OF fifty, the daughters full-grown,
and the son sixteen years Of age, were classed
among the best people of the county. Old
man Spencer was frugal, and was supposed to
have considerable money at all times. lie
owned o valuable farm and some property In
the town OF Luray. The murder was dis
covered by neighbors, who noticed that the
house had not been opened, and as this had
never happened before II created suspicion,
and finally distant relative, accompanied by
his farm hand, broke into the unpretentious
little farm house, and found on the first floor,
In the rear room, the horribly mutilated re-
mains OF old man Spencer. The house was
story and a-half structure. The men pro
ceeded to the attic floor where the two girls
were found in bed dead, and also terribly mu-
ulated. The relative, who is still resident
OF Clark County, knew that tho son slept in
the barn, and the Mortified men continued
their investigation in that direction, where
young Spencer was found with his skull
crushed and pitchfork driven into his abdo-
men.
HUNTING FOR THE MURDERER.
The alarm was given, and never had such
excitement prevailed in that section of the
State. The relative was suspected of having
committed the murder in order TO secure con-
troll OF the property, and was promptly ar
rested for the crime. Detectives were i'm
ported, among them one Frank Lane, from
Louisville, KY, who, after a few days, an
nounced that the man under arrest was inno-
cent, and pointed out as the murderer one Bill
Young, who owned large farm in the neigh
borhood and who was regarded as dangerous
man, though never convicted OF any crime.
Young was arrested, and narrowly escaped
lynching, meanwhile protesting bis innocence
and claiming he could show his movements
and Whereabouts during the entire week of
the murder When his case came to trial one
Laura Sprouse, a dressmaker, testified that
she was in Young's company during the time
he was accused of having committed the
quadruplc murder, and brought in host of
witnesses to show her own whereabouts night
attracted wide attention. The jury brought
in verdict of ''not guilty" and Young was
released
The people were not pleased with the
result of the trial and made strong
threats OF taking justice into their own
hands. Laura Sprouse came IN for her
share OF censure and it was inumated that
she knew more about the murder than she
would tell. Two weeks after the trial Bill
Young married Laura Sprouse, and the couple
went to Keokuk, Iowa, on their bridal trip.
Young was widower and had several small
children. He had been defended in his trial
by Kentucky lawer named Coffman, who
fought for his client like tiger and did much
to save his neck, with the aid of the woman
Sprouse. Frank Lane, the Kentucky detec-
| tive, chagriued at the release Of Young, re-
| mained in Clark County, endcavoring to Sc
cure new evidence against the acquitted man,
| and finally succeeded in arousing the neighbors
of the murdered Spencers to frenzy and de-
sire to lynch Bill Young
FAITHFUL LAWYER.
| Cofrman, the attorney, telegraphed Young
while at Keokuk to remain away until the in
tense feeling had subsidized. Young, with his
bride, was at the dinner table in the Stanleigh
House, Keokuk, when he received the message
of warning. He laughed aloud, threw the
message on the floor, and, when asked what
course he would pursue, said:
lie was as good rs his word, and did return
to his farm in Clark County the following
! day.
| A mob Of over 200 men arrived at the Young
! farm few hours after its owners return.
! CofIman, the lawyer, beat the mob to the
! farm and we the ALARM and Young bar
I ricaded doors and windows, brought out a
/ rifle, double-barreled shotgun and two revol-
| vers and prepared to defend himself. When
the mob arrived they found the muzzles OF a
shotgun and rifle protruding from apertures
! in the house and halted at a safe distance.
A parley was held and it was decided to
surround the house. This was attempted,
but Young was on the alert and met his as
sailants at every turn, After several of the
mob had been wounded and Young had been
shot in the arm, the latter's ammunition gave
out, and the mob with rush battered in the
doors and poured into the house
Young was game and had mounted pair of
stairs where he stood, covered with blood, one
arm hanging by his side, and in his right hand
a rusty saber with which he held his blood
thirsty pursuers at bay for several minutes
He was finally oyerpowered and dragged from
the house, and, despite the pleadings of his
wife and chill dren, placed in his own wagon
which was run under the arched gateway
when the rope was quickly adjusted around
Young's neck, fastened TO the crosspiece
above and the wagon then hauled from under
Young's feet. He was game TO the end and
did not appeal for mercy.
A MYSTERY STILL.
After waiting long enough to be assured
that their work had been accomplished, thu
mob departed. leaving Young's body dang
ling from the gate. The victims wife, ne,
Laura Sprouse, cut the body down as quickl,
as possible, and efforts we're made to resusci
tate Young, but without avail. Coffman, tn
attorney, pale with terror, was found by mem
bers Of the mob in the corn-crib and given tel
minutes to leave the country, on pain o
, death. They shot his plug hat full of holes Il
emphasize the order.
Laura Sprouse- Young was notified that sh
could not remain in Clark County and sh
removed TO Keokuk, Iowa, where, about
year after the tragic events above narrated
She committed suicide by taking morphine
It was always believed that she knew NOR
about the Spencer murder than any one else
, and u newspaper correspondent worked III
, tiringly to CLEAN some information from hel
, but signally failed.
when am on my death bed" she woul
5 respond, ''come to me and will tell you all
know Not beforen
When the correspondent was informed b
; the city physician that Laura Sprouse, AS sh
/ was always called, was dying he hurried I
her bedside at midnight, but she was too "a
gone TO answer his eager inquiries, respondin
i once TO the query:
"Dld Bill Young kill the spencers"
~