AMI SACRA FAMES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1873, 21 June 1888, Page 3

AMI SACRA FAMES

The Melbourne correspondent of a contemporary says : — Ttie coroner's jury haa brought m a singular verdict of murder. Mrs Spann, who kept a restaurant m Boarke street, secured Mr Gillett as a lodger. Ho waa sober only three times In perhaps six weeks, and each time he was sober he made a, will. Two of these wills were m Mrs Spann's favor, and he left her all he had, which waa about £3000. Tho first was made on a paper bag, but Mrs Spann as quickly as poßslble got him Bober again, interviewed a solicitor, and came away triumphantly with a legal document. Naturally she took great o*re of Mr Gillett, and saw that he wanted for nothing, not even for the liquor (or which he h&d a oonsnmlng thirst. In any case poor Gillett would have died of drink ere long, but one evening m the du«k Mtb Spann banded him a dose of glftthl acetic acid when he asked for a sleeping draught. He was soon asleep to wake -no more, and now Mrs Spann has been found guilty by five to two of purposely giving him the sold to kill him off bo that she might realise on the will. Sha did not know of the third will, on which, even if she had left him to die m his own good time, there would have been a lawsuit. But it la bard to think she murdered the man, The handing him the aoetio acid was possibly a mistake. But there will not be much pity at the verdict, for she resorted to all kinds of strategy to keep, him m her power ; though, indeed, hfq relatives behaved nearly aa badly. Jt was a hard fjght between Mrs Spann and his relatives who should seoare him for the sake of his money,