The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-05-13
HIS STORY.
Composer Darling Asserted
He Was Poisoned.
Doctor and Wife the CuIprits-Promi.
nent Persons Concerned.

NEW YORK, May l3.-The dying declara-
tion of Edward Irving Darling, musical
composer, has been filed with other docu-
ments In the district attorneys Office in
the case in which Mrs. Flora Adams Dar-
ling, mother of the composer, accuses DIR.
Sprangcr of having poisoned her son.
Soon after the death Of Darling, DIR.
Sprangor married his widow. They are
VOW In California.
The affidavit made by Edward i. Darl-
fng was written partly by himself In the
presence of witnesses a few hours before
his death. In the statement he tells how
in December, 1890, he met with an acci-
dent when attempting TO save property for
. firm he was with In Detroit. He re-
covered rapidly and retirned to business
ON March /, 1891.
DIR. Oleetz was the surgeon and DIR.
Spranger the physician who attended him.
He declared that the intimacy between
DR.. Spranger and Mrs. Darling, his wife,
began during his sickness.
Darling said that his wife's peculiar ac-
tions began in the spring Of 1892, when
she became acquainted with DIR. Spranger,
and up to that time his health was per-
feet. Early in March he had a severe at
tack of what was called cholera morbus.
He did not seem TO recover, but kept at
tending 10 business.
DR.. Spranger, he said, frequently gave
him medicines which seemed TO afford
temporary relief, but ultimately left him
in worse condition. In few weeks his
weight from lac pounds went down to %
pounds. He was sick without being able
90 find out what was the matter.
The statement continues: "June I, 1922,
Miss Clayton came to my house to write
"The Viking" We continued at tho
work until July 4, when my wife came
into absolute possession OF an estate yield
ing about $4,000 annually. We left for
Washington july 8; went to the Ebbitt
House. The day after our arrival had
most violent attack, nearly dying. We
returned to Detroit July ls
Athanxe of Character.
During the timo we were in Washing
ton Mrs. Darling developed an entirely
new phase Of character. She did not wish
TO see any OF our friends" Darling de-
olared that his wife continued TO grow vim
dictively abusive without the slightest prov
ocation. This treatment continued after
their return TO Detroit, where he grew
worse, DR. Spranger attending him. The
statement continues as follows:
"The variety and quantity OF drugs he
CDR Spranger) poured into me were suffi-
cient 10 justify chasing me as an annex to
his laboratory. He gave no prescriptions
only medicines. / failed rapidly. My
mother and aunts came to me. They were
not welcomed or desired by Mrs. Darling
pr. Spranger told them that had bright's
disease Of the kidneys They did not ac-
cept his opinion. DR.. Spranger called in
two Of his frends-Dr. Oleetz and Dr.
Long. They at the time did not concur
with him.
'Dr. Spranger told me TO continue TAX
ing whisky. / had some of the whisky
that was given me at that time analyzed
and 1t was found TO contain antimony.
NY mother Is a witness that she saw my
wife pour the contents of small vial OF
yellow powder into the deosntcr used by
me at my bedside"
Completely overpowercd.
Darling said that he fought against sick
ness and tried to keep up, but IL was inn
possible. Sept. IL, DR.. Spranger gave him
two pellets, which he was told by the
doctor were Of nitro-glyoerine. A few
minutes afterward he fell TO tho sidewalk
unconscious.
The statement continues with the asser-
ton that Darling found his wife had
private letter box. He also discovered that
his wife and DR.. Spran ger were circulating
q report that he was drinking himself TO
death. II dawned on him that he was not
being properly treated, and he refused to
take any more medicine. He then began
TO recover. In November he left for New
York. Concluding the statement, Darling
declared:
'In November was improved, and Mrs.
Darling decided to close the house. My
mother went to Mt. Clemens. l left
for New York. She, with the children,
were to go to Washington. She did not
90. Soon as 1 left, Dec. S, she filed bill
for absolute divorce for drunkenness, non
support, cruelty and desertion, which she
expected to obtain with money through
default.
"On June 26 she joined me in New
York, came to my rooms of her own voli-
ton, and lived with me asa devoted wife
until March 1. / was at work on "The
Viking" The day she left / was taken
seriously sick, and have failed slowly, but
surely. am dying, without hope or
hurry"
Mrs. Flora Adams Darling has filed q
document with the district attorney.
nE a hE - ~