The herald., 1896-04-09
Sensational SUIT FILED
HEIRS OF AMBROSE SPENCER ARE AFTER
THE ESTATE
Serious Allegations Against the Widow, to
Whom Everything Was Decided Before
spencer's Death - Sensational Story
Brought Out In q Contest for Q chiId

The papers in sensational suit were
filed with the county clerk yesterday.
The title of the case is Isabel Spencer
VS.. Anna p. Spencer. and property to
the amount of over 100000 is involved
The defendant is the widow of the late
Ambrose Fl. Spencer, who died intestate
on June 3, 1895. In the complaint it is
set forth that the defendant was the
second wife of Ambrose Spencer, and
that he left surviving him two children
by former wife. Eva J. Spencer and
James G. Spencer. The complaint then
alleges that at and prior to the marriage
of said Spencer with the defendant, the
defendant conceived a plan to deprive
him of all his money and property and
to secure possession thereof unjustly
and fraudulently for her own use and
benefit. The defendant is described as
"at all times prior to and during the said
marriage a woman of great strength
of mind and force of character, and of
great energy and determination, and
youthful, robust and passionate
while Spencer Is alleged to have been
"a man of timid and yielding disposi-
ton, old and untitled for business, and
not of sufficient strength of character
or firmness Of mind to Withstand the
arts. demands and opportunities of the
defendant" 1t is further alleged that
In pursuance of her plan to get possess
ion of the property of Spencer, the de-
fendant induced him to use morphine
until he habitually became addicted to
the said drug, as result of which he
became unable to exercise his own will
or volition, and became completely sub
ject to the defendants control. 1t is
further alleged that while in this con-
dition the defendant. for the purpose of
depriving Spencer of his property and
to prevent him from making any dis
position of it after his death, compelled
the said Spencer to deliver to her all
his personal property and convey to
her all his real estate.
The real property so conveyed is then
set forth in detail. and judgment is
asked against the defendant for an ac-
counting, that it be adjudged that the
property is only held in trust, that all
the gifts and conveyances be decreed
null and void. that the said real estate
be transferred to this plaintiff, and that
the defendant be enjoined from convey
ing any of the property during the PEN
dency of this action.
The plaintiff in the case is the sister
of the deceased. to whom the children
conveyed their interests.
This complaint will revive interest in
a case which caused much talk at the
time. Spencer was found dead in his
room one morning with the gas turned
on. His wife was absent from home at
the time, having spent the night with
SOtIlt oIl ftudllS StIetl IL WdS q
question as to whether it was case of
accidental death or suicide. and there
was some sub rosa talk about foul play.
Spencer and his wife occupied different
apartments in the house. although their
public relations were friendly. Moth
ing ever came of the talk. and the mat
ter dropped out of sight moth & having
been heard of it for some months until
the filing of the complaint. The case
promises to be hotly cont 2sted.