The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-04-19
WITH SLOW POISON.
A Reputable Woman Charged
With Killing Her Husband.
The Alleged Murieress Now the VINE
or Doctor. Who Is said to Have
Been Her Accomplish.

New York. A prii iS-Mrs- Flora Adams
Darling, writer of war letters. and one
or the founders OF the Daughters or she
Revolution. is seeking the indictment or
DR.. Francis Xavier Spranger ana MS
wife, who was formerly her oaux
law. Mrs. Edward /. Darling. by the grs no
jury of New York county. The case Is IN
the hands of Assistant District Attorney
Battle and is now in such shape that Il
will probably be presented 10 the grand
jury the coming week.
Mrs Dariing's son. Edward 1. Darling,
died February ;. 1894, at Mount Clemens.
Mich. from what she claims TO nave ceeh
and poet Of some renown. Shortly AFTER
his marriage TO Beatrice May kiingle, In
Washington City In 1885, he met with an
accident. falling out OF WINDOW ana
breaking several bones or MS oooy' Dr.
Spranger, then a recent graduate OF a
Western college, was called IN 10 attend
him. Fer many weeks the unfortunate
man lay In plaster of paris cast, and II
Is now alleged that during this time the
doctor fell in love with his patients wife.
On July 4. 1899, the younger Mrs. Darling
received news of the death OF her father
In Washington City. This left her an es-
tate of more than 100000 Mr.. and Mrs.
Darling went TO Washington City 10 at
tend the funeral. and stopped at the Eb-
young man became violently i'll after
drinking a glass of milk Mrs. Darling.
the mother. now claims that the milk con-
tanned poison. After the funeral or Mr.
klingie. Mr.. and Mrs. Darling returned
TO Detroit. and from that time on. II Is
said. the husband became an invalid. Ac-
cording to the story told by the mother.
DR. Spranger was in constant attendance
upon her son. When DR.. Spranger vas
questioned as to the cause OF the illness.
he said Darling was suffering from
Bright's disease.
On November Is. 1893 while In bad
condition physically. Mr.. Darling came
TO this city and visited his aunt. Mrs.
Duval. While stopping with her his
health continued TO improve. and he
gained twenty-five pounds. Mrs. Darling
Joined her husband in New York on Janu-
airy 4. 1898. and, IL Is said, brought with
her medicines prescribed by DR.. Spranger.
After short time the son began to grow
Ill again-according TO the story of the
mother-and when his wife returned home
on March he was again in a precarious
condition. Darling returned to Michigan
on June OF that year, to live with his
mother at Mount Clemens. There he was
attended by DR.. Richard Lochner, who
said the young man had been under the
influence of violent drugs. which had
destroyed the tissues Of the body. and
time. The patient dSed February 2, 1894,
but on the day previous TO his death
he made statement that his wife and
DR.. Spranger had systematically poisoned
him, and that he would die from the eff
fects OF the drugs given him. The body
was cremated without post-mortem ex-
animation at the request Of the patient.
who maintained that he did not want his
body to fall into the hands of his wife
Mrs. Darling, the mother, had realized
as she claims. that her son had been muir
dered, and took the matter before Dis
trict Attorney Frazer. of Detroit who
said that the suspicious. while perhaps
well founded. were not strong enough to
warrant the arrest of the doctor and her
daughter-in-Iaw
The motive. according TO the dead mans
mother. has now been established through
the public marriage of DR.. Spranger to
Mrs. Darling In Baltimore, in March OF
this year. DIR. Spranger and his wife are
now In Southern California enjoying their
honeymoon. AS soon as their marriage
was announced John Quincy Adams. a
brother Of the dead mans mother resid-
ing In this city. took the case before Dis
trict Attorney Fellows. He submitted
proof. as he claims that poison was ad-
ministered to the son by his wife while
they were stopping in this city In the ear
ly part OF 1893. District Attorney Fellows
assigned the case 70 Assistant Dlsfrfct
Attorney George c. Battle, who is MAX
ing a thorough examination of all the
circumstances surrounding the death of
young Darling.
Detroit. Mich. April is.-Inquiry has
been made among few well-known citi-
gems OF DetroN, who are friends OF the
parties mentioned I'm the New York dis
patch. regarding the truth of Mrs.
Darling's allegations. Mr.. Walter b.
Campbell. president OF the Detroit &
Windsor Ferry Company. states that
Mrs. Spranger is lady above reproach:
that she had contemplated divorce pro-
ceedings long before Mr.. Darling died
on account Of his alleged Incorporate
habits. Or. Spranger has several rela-
tlves here who are physicians, and the
family Is an eminently respected one.
Mrs. Darling's charges are discredited
Mere.