Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-11-23
A MISSOURI MURDER.
Recalling the W1itechapel Horrors-The
Crime Almost Forgotten.
rSt Touis Globe Democrat


[st. Louis Globe Democrat
The Whitechapel murder mysteries
which have appalled, the civilized world
and baffled the London police and detect
ives have brought out numerous recitals
Of revolving homicides in both the old
and new worlds. Strange to say, one of
the most mysterious ana horrible whole
sale murders in the history Of crime,
where the murderer has never been appre-
hended, has dropped out of sight, and oil
efforts to ferret out the guilty party or
parties long since ceased. That 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 son-the
father on the shady side Of so, the daugh-
of age-were classed among the best peo-
pie Of the county. Old man Spencer
was frugal, and was supposed to have
considerable money at all times. He
owned a valuable farm and some property
in the town Of Luray. The murder was
discovered by neighbors, who noticed that
the, house had not been opened, and as this
had never happened before it created sus-
picion, and finally distant relative, ac-
companied by his farm hand, broke into
the unpretentious little farmhouse, and
found on the first floor, in the rear room,
the horribly mutilated remains of old man
Spencer. The house was o story and o
half structure The men proceeded to the
attic floor, where the two girls were found
in bed dead, and also terribly mutilated.
The relative, who is still resident OF
Clark County, knew that the 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 a pitchfork driven into his
| abdomen.
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 control of the property and was
promptly arrested for the crime. Detec-
tives we're imported, among them one
Frank Lane from Louisville, KY, who
\ after few days announced that the man
under arrest was innocent, and pointed
out as the murderer one Bill Young, who
owned q large farm in the neighborhood,
! and who was regarded as a dangerous man,
though never convicted Of any crime:
Young was arrested and narrowly escaped
lynching, meanwhile protesting his inno-
cence and claiming he could show his
l movements and whereabouts during the
entire week Of the murder. When his
case came to trial one Laura Sprouse, q
| dressmaker, testified that she was in
Young's company during the time he
was accused Of having committed
the quadruple murder, and brought
in host of witnesses to show her own
whereabouts night and day. The trial
lasted several days, and attracted wide
attention. The jury brought in a verdict
of mot guilty" and Young was released.
The people were not pleased with the re-
suit of the trial, and made strong threats
of taking justice into their own hands
Laura Sprouse came in for her share o,
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 theil
bridal trip, Young was q widower and
had several small children. He had beer
defended in his trial by Kentucky lawye
named Coffman, who fought for his Glen
like tiger, and did muchto save his neck
with the aid of the woman Sprouse. Franz
Lane, the Kentucky detective, chagrinec
ut the release of Young, remained il
Clark County endeavoring to secure new
evidence against the acquitted man. ant
finally succeeded i'll arousing the neigh.
bors Of the murdered Spencers to frenzy
| Cotfman, the attorney, telegraphet
Young while at Keokuk to remain ava.
until the intense feeling had subsidized
Young, with his bride, was at the Dime
table at the Stanleigh House, Keokuk
when he received the message of warning
He laughed aloud, threw the message o.
the floor, and when asked what course b
would pursue, said:
Il shall return home at once"
He was as good as his word, and did re
turn to his farm in Clark County the fol
lowing day.
Young farm few hours after its owner
return. Colfman, the lawyer, beat tn
mob to the farm and gave the alarm, an
Young barricaded doors and windows
brought out rife, double barreled shot
gun and two revolvers, and prepared t
defend himself. When the mob arrive
they found the muzzles Of a shotgun an
rifle protruding from apertures in tn
house and halted at o SAFE distance.
| L, o11 .,,,J ,,oc 1oo;1n1 - .r~