The Washington times., 1902-10-25

fObt, duu UlueT nc SotN
he married ten years ago
Warden Weyler expressed implicit
faith in the tale. Mr.. Glenn H. Worth
ington. States attorney OF Frederick
not SO easily convinced, and he de-
nounced the story as wholly tissue Of
falsehood." On the stand Spencer had
said he married two months ago. not
ten years ago; and his story Of how he
stole SIS from Mrs. Newcomer was alb
solutely at variance with the known
facts, and the evidence adduced at the
trial. He had declared that watch
found in his possession was the gift of
his wealthy father. 1t was proved to
have been stolen.
On October Spencer's wife arrived
from Cincinnati and went to the peni-
tentiary, where there was most affec-
tionate scene, she falling into his arms
and weeping pathetically, he telling her
to have courage and continue to love
him. 1t was very affecting, Warden
Weyler said.
Son of Octoroon.
The next day 1t became definitely
known that instead OF being the son Of
wealthy Australian parents, Spencer
was raised in Martinsburg, W. Va, the
son of Lucy F. Piper, an octoroon
known as "Nigger Lucy" and John
Spencer, white man, of Harper's Ferry,
w. Va. This Identification was posi-
lively made by DR.. John E. Muse, who
had known Spencer from boyhood and
had played with him when he was a
little fellow with pockmarks on his
face" But Spencer strenuously denied
the charge Of being the son OF an oc-
toroon and also denied that he had ever
met DR.. Muse, until the doctor faced
him, when he broke down and begged
him not to disclose his secret.
Another playmate Of Spencer. Charles
A. Thumel, on the following day cor
roborated DR.. MUSES. story. Then
Spencer requested that none but his wife
be permitted to see him in the future.
He had had enough Of old playmates.
But Identification after Identification
followed, and finally Mrs. Spencer col
lapsed completely and acknowledged
that she had been the victim OF one of
the most remarkable and deliberate de-
ceptions in the history Of Maryland
crimes. She returned heartbroken to
Cincinnati, where her mother resides.
After the interview Spencer was told
that his wife. convinced of the decep-
tion he had practiced upon her, had re-
turned to her home. Spencer immedi-
ately tainted, or slammed fainting. He
had proved himself to be such master
Of diplomacy" on his peculiar level that
the faint could hardly be attested as
genuine.
Professed Love.
Less than four weeks previous to Oc-
tober 13, with the wife he professed to
love so we'll Wa iting for him away up in
Cincinnati, Spencer, it is said, asked
Miss Mary Jackson, daughter of Mr..
and Mrs Victor Jackson. of Havre de
Grace. to marry him. He had met her
two years before at her home, when he
was travelling with an animal show. He
went to New York. She corresponded
with him and exchanged photographs.
On last Christmas Day Miss Jackson
found a newspaper in which she read
of his marriage, in Cleveland. Ohio.
On September 19 he appeared at the
Jackson home and was congratulated
on his marriage. He denied having been
married, and said it Was all reporters
joke. Miss Jackson believed him.
Spencer told her his father had died
and left him an estate of $1.000.00O in
Australia, and he wanted to marry hei
aud take the whole family to live on his
estate. He left, promising to return in
January with proof that he was not
married The next Miss Jackson knew
he was in the Maryland penitentiary.
talking about his dear wife in Washing
ton. who was really in Cincinnati and
totally ignorant of both his estate and
his intended wife from Havre de Grace.
Spencer was partly educated In
colored school in West Virginia, but
left early to follow his natural bent. He
was keeper OF animals in Wade Park,
Cleveland, Ohio. and had been employed
at the Bronx Zoo, New York; also with
few circuses. He married his wife while
employed In Cleveland last winter. He
did write animal stories, It is said. for
newspaper edited by colored friend.