In the end, Mrs. Sparling went free. But Dr. Robert A. McGregor was convicted of murdering Cyril Sparling. She had received insurance payments after the deaths of her husband and two older sons. In 1914, after charges were dropped against her for playing a role in the murder of Cyril, Carrie Sparling submitted a claim for an insurance payment on a policy she had taken out on is life.
***
FULL
TEXT (Article 1 of 5): Ubly, Mich., Nov. 22.— Dr. R. A. McGregor, the family
physician and Margaret Gibbs, a professional nurse, who has been staying at the
Sparling home since the death of Cyril Sparling last August, were arrested and
taken to jail, following the coroner's inquest, over the body of Albert
Sparling today.
The
verdict given out by the coroner's jury was that all three brothers, Peter,
Albert and Cyril, met death by arsenic poisoning. Mrs. Carrie Boddy [sic]
Sparling the mother, was not detained.
Sparling
was the third of a family of four men who died within two years, under
circumstances startlingly similar to the deaths of the relatives of Louise Vermilya, the Chicago poison suspect. He died last May.
The
first death was that of John W. Sparling, husband and father, who died in July,
1909. Peter, the oldest boy, died just one year later. Then came Albert's
death, and last August Cyril, the youngest son, died.
In
each case, the disease of which the men died, it is alleged, baffled physicians
in attendance, but the symptoms were similar in each instance. The suspicions
of the authorities were aroused by the fourth death the mysterious chain of
fatalities.
Mrs.
Carrie Sparling, mother and wife, realized $4,000 from the four deaths it is
said. The police claim this was motive for the crime.
[“Physician
And Nurse Held Four Deaths,” The Day Book (Chicago, Il.), Nov. 22, 1911, p. 32]
***
FULL TEXT (Article 2 of 5): Bad Axe, Mich., Dec. 15 – The
mother of Cyril Sparling, for whose death by poison Dr. Robert A. McGregor of
Ubly, was held today to the circuit court on a charge of murder, will be served
with a warrant tomorrow charging her with poisoning her son, it was announced
by Sheriff Donald McAuley of Huron. A nurse charged with being an accessory
after the fact was held at the conclusion of a preliminary examination made
sensational by the testimony of Sheriff McAuley, the last witness for the
prosecution.
McAuley, said that the inquest to determine the cause of
Cyril Sparling’s death, Dr. McGregor asked him if the authorities were going to
exhume the bodies of the other Sparlings. Four members of the family, three
sons and the father, died of a suspicious element.
”’If you do,’ said Dr. McGregor to me,” continued Sheriff
McAuley, “I know you will find poison. If you fellows will take up Albert
Sparling and find arsenic in him. I know of a man who can make Mrs. Sparling
confess.’
”McGregor answered I would have to look in the glass to find
him.’”
Further Sheriff McAuley testified that McGregor said.
“Mrs. Sparling sent me word that you fellows were there and
for me to stick to the same story that she told Professor Boomhower. That was
the first time in my life I ever lost confidence in Mrs. Sparling.”
At the conclusion of the sheriff’s testimony, Dr. McGregor's attorney said:
“I ask to have Dr. McGregor bound over to the circuit where
he can have a full and complete vindication before a jury.”
The circuit court for Huron county convenes her January 16.
[“Did Mrs. Sparling Poison Husband and Three Sons.” The
Lewiston Daily Sun (Me.), Dec. 1911, p. 1]
***
FULL
TEXT (Article 3 of 5): Mich., Jan. 31.-- A coroner's jury today conducting
inquests to the cause of death of Wesley Sparling, Sr.. and his son, Peter
Sparling, decided that both men came to their death from poisoning Dean Vaughn
of the University of Michigan reported be found traces of arsenic in both
stomachs.
Some
time ago University of Michigan chemists, who examined the viscera of Cyril and
Albert Sparling, the other two sons, reported they found arsenic.
Mrs.
John Wesley Sparling, Sr., the mother and Dr. Robert A. MacGregor at Ubly, the
family physician, are now waiting trial in circuit court on charges of first
degree murder.
Miss
Margaret Glbbs, a nurse, who attended the Sparlings, was bound over for trial
on a charge of being accessory after the fact. The Sparling home is at Ubly.
The
little village of Ubly, Mich., with scarcely 500 population, has a poison case
which bids fair to take its place among the sensational mysteries of recent
times.
Four members of one family John Wesley Sparling, the father, and three sons within a period of two years died under peculiar circumstances, and it has been shown by examinations made by experts that the deaths were due to arsenic poisoning.
Four members of one family John Wesley Sparling, the father, and three sons within a period of two years died under peculiar circumstances, and it has been shown by examinations made by experts that the deaths were due to arsenic poisoning.
Dr.
Robert A MacGregor is now in jail it at the county seat at Bad Ave, while the
nurse is out on bail.
[“Poison Mystery Deepens - Wife, Doctor, Nurse Held - Four
men of Sparling family believed to have been poisoned and the doctor and two
women who are in custody on charges of murder. - Four Deaths are Found to Have Resulted From
Use of Arsenic.” The Salt Lake Tribune (Ut.), Feb. 1, 1912, p. 1]
***
FULL
TEXT (Article 4 of 5): Bad Axe, Mich., March 21 – The Sparling poisoning case
is to come up at the circuit court session starting here next Monday, and it is
scarcely an exaggeration to say that every person in Huron County, and many
beyond the county borders and even across the Canadian line, is awaiting the
developments of the trial with eager interest. The case is regarded ns one of
the most complex that has over come before the criminal courts in Michigan.
The
defendants in the case are Mrs. Carrie Bodie Sparling, the wife and mother of
the alleged victims of a wholesale poisoning plot, and Dr. Robert Macgregor,
the Sparling family physician. Dr. Macgregor formerly lived in London, Ont.,
but for several years has resided in the village of Ubly, a short distance
south of this city, and the home of the Sparling family.
John
Wesley Sparling, head of the family, was the first one to die. He was stricken
in July, 1908. Two years later the eldest son, Peter Sparling, was similarly
stricken. Albert Sparling was the next to die, and the last was Cyril Sparling,
20 years old, who died last August. In two of the cases a verdict of arsenic
poisoning was, returned by the coroner’s jury.
Each
of the victims was attended by Dr. Macgregor and later removed for treatment to a hospital in London, Ont., where the
deaths occurred. In this hospital Miss Marguerite Gibbs, said to be a friend of
Dr. Macgregor, was employed as a nurse. Following the coroner's verdict in the
case of Albert Sparling, Miss Gibbs was arrested and bound over on a charge of
accessory after the fact in the cases of Mrs. Sparling and Dr. Macgregor
Indictments charging first degree murder were returned.
It is
understood that Mrs. Sparling and Dr. Macgregor are to be tried first for the
alleged murder of Cyril Sparling, the fourth and last of the family to die
under mysterious circumstances. Little has been made public concerning the
evidence upon which the indictments were based. Even the probable motive that
may have resulted in the alleged slaying or the father and three sons can only
be guessed at by outsiders, though there is a general disposition to connect it
with the fact that the victim carried life insurance and the policies were
written by the father of Dr. Macgregor, a retired life insurance agent living
in London, Ont.
Attorney
Boomhower has secured, the services of a prominent criminal lawyer to assist
him in unraveling the mystery. He declare he has unearthed additional facts in
the case which, when presented at the trial, will greatly strengthen the
prosecution.
Nearly
one hundred witnesses already have been subpoenaed to testify at the trial.
[“Wholesale
- Case To Come Up In Circuit Court,” The Democratic Banner (Mt. Vernon, Oh.),
Mar. 22, 1912, p. 8]
***
FULL TEXT (Article 5 of 5): Feb. 19. – Another feature of the Sparling murder mystery, for which Dr. MacGregor is now serving a life sentence at Jackson prison, have developed in connection with the proposed suit which is to be instituted by Paul Woodworth of Bad Axe, attorney for Mrs. Carrie Sparling, against the Gleaner organization.
Suit
is to be brought, it is said to collect the $1,000 insurance policy on the life
of Cyril Sparling. It was for the murder of young Sparling by poison that Dr.
MacGregor was sent to prison for life. Mrs. Carrie Sparling, mother of the dead
boy, is named as the beneficiary in the policy. It is alleged that a demand was
made on the Gleaners for the amount that payment was refused because of the
circumstances under which young Sparling died and because Mrs. Sparling was
charged with complicity. A short time ago the charge against Mrs. Sparling was
dismissed.
At
the recent biennial meeting of the
Gleaners at Toledo, the Sparling claim was turned down. It is understood that a
petition is being circulated among the members of the Gleaners’ lodgers at Ulby
and Bad Axe to have the order pay the claim. The papers in the suit have been
drawn up. Mrs. Sparling is visiting friends at Ulby.
Mrs. Sparling says the young man requires constant care to keep him from collapsing and dying as his brothers did.
[“Want Pay For Sparling‘s Life,” Escanaba Morning Press (Mi.), Feb. 20, 1914, p. 5]
Mrs. Sparling says the young man requires constant care to keep him from collapsing and dying as his brothers did.
[“Want Pay For Sparling‘s Life,” Escanaba Morning Press (Mi.), Feb. 20, 1914, p. 5]
***
DEATHS
John Wesley Sparling, husband – Jul. 1909 (“1908”) (in
London, Ontario)
Peter Sparling, eldest son – Jul. 1910
Albert Sparling, second son – May 1911
Cyril Sparling, son, 20 – Aug. 1911
SUSPECTS
Margueret Gibbs, nurse
Dr. Robert A. MacGregor
Mrs. Carrie Bodie Sparling
[4306-1/3/21]
***
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