The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-09-09
STATEMENT BY MR.. sPICER.
He Explains His Interest In the Case
and the Defendant

Mr.. Spicer, whose name has been men
toned in connection with the tragedy as an
tI i of Mrs. Yarnell has lived in
the city seventeen years, has been successful
In business for twelve years and bears the
title OF professor of phrenology, He wears a
gold medal which was presented by the local
st. Paul society, and has delivered upwards
or lCO lectures, public and private, before the
local and other societies He made the fol-
lowing statement to The G ! b last night
Having been drawn into the case through
pure sympathy, 1t is only fair that I should
os set right in the matter that my patrons
may not wonder why l am so interested. I
never met Mrs, YarneIl outside of my own
store until last Tuesday morning. She has
always labored faithfully to maintain the
o pea I OF ner FAMILY name and so far as 1
can learn she is the victim Of unfortunate
circumstances. She has no property nor
money and it would be pitiful IL there was
not enough generosity IN the neighborhood to
come to the assistance of one in such need.
The officers Of the different departments
nave treated her In shameful manner and
to points of law and duty that is amazing.
Ohcers who try to build up a reputation by
linear Dulldoz1ng tactics, at some helpless
woman's expense of honor, cannot fan to
win contempt from decent citizens If for
no other reason. this one alone is sufficient
to impel me to see that she has proper de-
tense. The new and startling evidence
which seems to be the sole base for the ar
rest and alleged guilt is really not new, but
old ana worthless trash. The story of the
quarrel between the man and woman was
related to me by the same unreliable person,
and, knowing her to be in a very poor state
or health OF very nervous temperament
aid not even seriously consider it. Mrs
Wright Is poor and Woodworking, 1 admit
but she is also highly excitable and hysteri.
cal she has not told this story twice alike.
although she has repeated it ten times or
more first heard it Tuesday evening,
tWenty-four hours before the detective who
Is willing to stake his life on it. This
woman mind is in a morbid condition and
she IS mentally irresponsible. Even if the
matter could be considered seriously we can
easily show motive for her story.
The absurdity of it all is in the fact that
no one Will corrobOrate her statements, while
several others, including all the members OF
my own family, who were awake at the time
ana who live nearer to the walk than Mrs.
Wright, can testify that no such quarrel took
place. and that 1t could not have been posi-
Die, as our window open and we could
easily have heard anw ordinary conversation
II the county attorney any other of the
men or brains who are making such sensa-
tional discoveries had taken any care to in
qulre OF reputable persons they would have
known better than to have accepted the silly
yarn which they have allowed to be pub
llshed as their grounds for case.
The letter published in the D spatch
which was purported to be compromising
was not written by a man, as insinuated ;
out came from Mrs. Gallagher and although
careless not to say reckless, in language It
was wholly innocent of evil, full of nonsense
ana sQch as she often wrote to her sister
Mrs. Yarnell read the letter aloud In the
presence OF her daughter, May, Saturday
last, and they both remarked the lack Of
taste in choice Of words. That is the st of
1t all. Mrs. Gallagher came to St Paul Sat
urday, as stated in the letter and returned
as has been told before on the Ills train
Monday evening"