Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-10-11
IS FROM HERE
Revelation. Concerning the Con-
Wet IS Made Public.
BORN AND LIVED IN THIS CITY
identified BY One Who Knew Him 10 Early
0ays- Anorther Surprise Expected.


Ivicted Of theft at Frederick. Md. IN
der the name Of John Doe, and SEN
fenced to serve term of Is years in
the Maryland Penitentiary, Is truly q
man OF mystery, but some Of his -.
crets are being brought to light, aud
today there is every reason Of a climax
that will prove a revelation TO those
who believe Spenser an innocent and
much abused man.
f. The American was placed III a posi-
ton Wednesday to have Sponsors story
of his life discredited in many instan-
ces and today it has planned for an
other revelation that may be brought
about through the instrumentalitv of
| his wife
If this revelations comes to pass. all
will symDahize with Mrs Sprnser.
the noble little wife. who has M TO
this time. stuck to her husband through
all of his troubles. Mrs. Spenser was
at The American Office Wednesday in
consultation with those in charge Of
1.-THE local department. and reviewed a
lot of allegations taat will either be
proven today ms fact or theory.
lsPENSER,S STORY DIsCREDITED.
The discredit thrown on Sponsors
story that he was born in Australian
was brouglitabout Wednesday by well
known physician whose name is
withheld for the present. The doctor
unfolded an interesting story 70 The
American. and yesterday afternoon,
in company with member of the 10.
al staff, went % the Maryland Peni-
] tentiary, and later identified Spenser
Martinsburg. w Va. many years ago.
Before going into details as to what
TRANSFERRED at the Penitentiarv. it will
be interesting TO relate just how this
nhysician became involved in the case
/ He had read in The American If the
ial and conviction at Frederick of
the mysterious man known as John
Doe and had, naturally. become
very much interested in the case
When the convict was brought to the
city from Frederick on his way TO the
Penitentiary the physician CHANGED to
be in the neighborhood of Camden Sta
tion when Spenser arrived. He MOTTO
ed an unusual commotiop. and upon
making inquiry was told that the ex-
element was occasioned by the arrival
# the mysterious John Doe.
4 RECOGNIZED THE CONVICT.
4 Crossing the street the Doctor recog-
ni1ed, TO his great surprise. the Ar
thar Spenser he knew many years ago.
He said nothing of the affair until the
convict made a statement to Warden
Weyler, published i'll The American
on Tuesday. in which Spenser claimed
to have been famous trainer of wild
animals and au author of many news
paper stories relating to the capture
and treatment of such animals, and
dissertations of many thrilling adven-
IL es.
AAt ol0o SittlCh tiiHt NV w 0S DO4B III
Melbourne. Australia. and had run
away from home. enlisting in the
British Navy at the age OF 10 years,
from which he deserted few months
latetin Cape Town, South Africa In
that city he claimed to have ma dc
the acquaintance Of a representative of
Hagenback, the villa animal collector,
WHO gave him his first il structions in
the artof tanC ling wild teasts. He
J then returned to his home in Mel
bourne, he said, and was sent TO Ea-
ton and Oxford College. in England
from which institution he graduated
Then visit WIS made t. Cape Town
and he began his career in the show
business. After several years on the
Eastern Hemisphere he arrived. he
claimed for the first time in This
country i'll 1879. but only remained a
feM months. lie again visited this
co. ntly in 1882, according to his mar
rafive, and was employed by several
shows which toured the country. In
lS9 he claimed 70 have been engaged
at several parks throughout the coun-
t.y, and even TO havs made applica-
tinl Tor the position OF keepe at our
i loon in Druid Hill Park.
4 TIE DOCTORS REvEI ALTON.
1t WAS after reading this statement
that the Doctor Informed Tie Ameri-
can that some parts O. Spenser's story
were untrue. He SAID he knew the
convict and saw him almost daily from
1872 to 1877 He further stated that
Spenser lived as a boy with his moth
er in the rear of his own fathers home
at Queen and John streets, in Martins
burg. W. Va. and that Spenser's moth
er was well known character. known
as Lucy to almost everv old resident
of that town.