COUNTRYSIDE YARNS
The Sparling Murders, Part 3
by Janis Stein

The scene is set in rural Ubly in the early 1900s. A father of five, John Wesley Sparling found himself in the family plot in the Tyre cemetery. He wasn’t lonely for long though – his eldest son, Peter, was quick to join him. And he, followed by son Albert. And now, it seems young Scyrel has taken to his bed. Perhaps the good Dr. MacGregor will soon get to the bottom of things in Ubly…

After Dr. Conboy and Mr. Boomhower conferred, the pair, in turn, traveled together to Ubly to see Dr. MacGregor, where they learned from the physician Scyrel’s condition had grown worse. Just what was going on out at the Sparling farm?

Xen specifically told Dr. MacGregor to notify him upon Scyrel’s death, for he wanted to order an autopsy. Drs. Conboy and Herrington would assist with the post-mortem. As an afterthought, Dr. MacGregor added folks shouldn’t be surprised if the autopsy did show signs of arsenic, for the Sparling boys consumed patent tonics, which contained the very same. Manufacturers did not have to adhere to any government regulations, and these “medicines” promised cures for everything from scarlet fever to gout.

Dr. MacGregor then suggested they hire a nurse from the Port Huron Agency to keep an eye on Scyrel. Dr. MacGregor wasted no time and hired Miss Marguerite Gibbs the following day. Tall and attractive, the blonde-haired, blue-eyed nurse met the good doctor’s approval; she would be responsible for tending to Scyrel, administering his medicines, monitoring all of his food and drink and, in her spare time, she would search the Sparling home for poison.

Two days later, the nurse discretely showed Dr. MacGregor a cardboard box in the Sparling kitchen filled with arsenic. Dr. MacGregor dutifully delivered the box of arsenic to the desk of Xen Boomhower, the implications of Carrie Sparling’s involvement in the deaths of her husband and two sons lay within the flimsy walls of the cardboard box.

After Dr. MacGregor’s departure, Xen Boomhower contacted the local sheriff, Donald McAuley, and requested he look into additional arsenic sources. Sheriff McAuley, a tall bear of a man in his 40s, began to canvass the countryside, and he learned a good deal more than what he had expected, hearing from the Sparling neighbors about an alleged affair between Dr. MacGregor and Mrs. Carrie Sparling. Nor could the sheriff ignore the ravings of Uncle John; despite his 70-plus years, his knowledge and suspicions warranted Sheriff McAuley to dig a bit deeper.

Though it was beyond comprehension, perhaps in addition to Mrs. Sparling, a closer look needed to be taken at the good doctor. Upon further investigation at the bank, the sheriff learned each time Mrs. Sparling cashed an insurance check on the proceeds of her dead sons, Dr. MacGregor’s accounts profited quite nicely. Had Dr. MacGregor purposely thrown suspicion upon Carrie Sparling in attempt to divert the sheriff and the prosecutor?

On August 10, Dr. Conboy - at the request of the prosecutor - paid a surprise visit to the Sparling home. Mrs. MacGregor assisted the nurse in bathing Scyrel, who drifted in and out of consciousness. Dr. MacGregor comforted Carrie. Painfully obvious, Scyrel wouldn’t last long.

On August 14, Dr. MacGregor called his physician comrades back to Scyrel’s bedside. Drs. Conboy and Herrington arrived, as did Dr. Eugene Holdship. Jay S. Corcoran came as well. Only Dr. Conboy knew the complexity of the case, for he had been familiarizing himself with the side effects of poison late into the night for the past 10 days. All present agreed Scyrel Sparling would die before dawn. The doctors departed, save Drs. MacGregor and Holdship. Dr. Conboy called out a reminder to summon him and Dr. Herrington in regards to the autopsy.

A few hours later, Scyrel breathed his last.

Always a man of action, Dr. MacGregor made the suggestion to Dr. Holdship they should perform an autopsy immediately. Dr. Holdship was unaware that Prosecutor Xen Boomhower had his own ideas of just who should do the honors.

Outside, Ubly’s undertaker, Mr. Hector McKay lounged on the Sparling hammock as he grieved yet another Sparling boy’s death. Dr. MacGregor approached Hector, asking him for his knife. Dr. MacGregor promptly handed the blade to his acquaintance, informing Dr. Holdship he would make the cuts.

In the dark of night, Carrie Sparling held the lantern with as steady a hand as she could manage while Dr. Holdship sliced away, following the direction of Dr. MacGregor. Dr. Holdship removed a few vital organs; the liver, spleen, pancreas and part of the upper intestine, the liver appeared swollen and ruptured. Dr. MacGregor diagnosed his death as cancer of the liver, promptly asking Dr. Holdship if the organ appeared diseased. Dr. Holdship nodded his agreement. When Dr. Holdship inquired as to whether he should dissect the stomach, Dr. MacGregor indicated Scyrel’s stomach looked fine; there’d be no need to disturb it.

At first light, Dr. MacGregor hopped in his auto and drove to Bad Axe, the jars containing Scyrel’s organs clanking together in an eerie tune along the way. Mr. Boomhower, who had been preparing to leave for the Sparling farm so he could be present during the autopsy, was most surprised when Dr. MacGregor drove up. Dr. MacGregor handed the jars filled to the brim with Scyrel’s organs to Xen, who had previously indicated the contents would be shipped to the University of Michigan for analysis.

Dr. Charles B. Morden, the Huron County coroner, along with Sheriff McAuley and Drs. Herrington and Conboy stood in front of the courthouse, their mouths agape.

Why had Dr. MacGregor performed the autopsy, wondered Xen? The doctor was quick to explain it had been no trouble at all; he was happy to help.

The coroner inspected the jars, questioning the absence of the stomach, for pathologists at U of M would indeed be interested in its telling signs of arsenical poisoning: If arsenic had been present, the mucous membrane would show signs of irritation and inflammation. Dr. MacGregor explained there was no need for concern, for he opened up the stomach himself. The organ showed no indication of arsenic, insisted the good doctor.

As Dr. MacGregor raced away in his horseless carriage, the leading officials and prominent citizens who gathered in front of the courthouse scratched their heads in dismay. Burial of Scyrel’s body would proceed, and the organs sent to Ann Arbor immediately. Four dead Sparling’s in three year’s time warranted some answers.

University of Michigan pathologists, Dr. Vaughn and Professor Warthin provided those answers to Prosecutor Xenophon Boomhower: High levels of arsenic contaminated Scyrel’s major organs. Scyrel Sparling died, without question, from arsenical poisoning.

Ray Sparling now worked the farm alone. Without his brothers, though, his heart no longer yearned to spend time in the barn or in the fields. Mrs. Sparling decided to leave this farm, too, which was located two miles south and two and a half miles west of Ubly. The two remaining Sparling’s, Carrie and her son, Ray, decided once and for all to pull up stakes.

James R. Turnball auctioneered the sale held at 12 noon on Friday, November 10, 1911. Livestock for sale included one brood mare and colt; three horses; one yearling colt; six cows; two yearlings; four calves; one boar; and 20 sheep. Farm equipment consisted of one Sterling hay loader; one Kemp manure spreader; one Champion disc seed drill; one McCormick binder; one McCormick mover; one Champion hay rake; three harrows; two John Deering plows; one Kraus riding cultivator; and two hand cultivators.

Neighbors flocked to the Sparling farm, for the Sparling boys had had a stellar reputation for keeping their equipment in top-notch shape. Before the day was out new owners would walk away with two of the Sparling’s heavy sleighs. Also on the auction block were two sets of light sleighs; two lumber wagons; three buggies, one of which was advertised as nearly new; two cutters; and a spring cutter. Ray gathered the gardening tools, hay forks, multiple sets of harnesses, two incubators - one with a 100-egg capacity and the other 200 - and even the Empire cream separator from the barn.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Sparling worked inside gathering the household goods. Three heating stoves and four bedsteads made the sale bill as did three kitchen tables, six dining room chairs, one rocking chair, one dish cupboard and even the organ. Mrs. Sparling had had enough – it was time to move on.

Be sure to look for the continuation next month when Dr. MacGregor stands trial in Huron County for the murders of John Wesley Sparling, Peter Sparling, Albert Sparling and Scyrel Sparling. Will justice be served at last?

Have a yarn you’d like to share? We’d be happy to spin it. You may write to Janis in care of The Lakeshore Guardian, P.O. Box 6, Harbor Beach, MI 48441, or give us a call at 989-479-3448 to share your story.

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