Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-04-07
SPENCER CONEESSES,

his crimes to love OF excitement and Il
mania for stealing caused by an in
jury to his head in boyhood Bertram
Gage Spencer, the young clerk arrest
ed yesterday, today broke down under
a 24hourS mercileSS grilliEg and con-
fessed that he was the masked burglar
who terrorized Springfield for two
years, reaching the climax of his wild
career by numbering Miss Martha b.
Blackstone last Thursday evening.
Spencer barred his whole criminal ca
reer to the police, the latter say. He
admitted having committed Il or more
burglaries in Springfield three in
Greenfield and one in Brattleboro. VT.
The details of his greatest crime-that
of last week-the police withhold for
use at his trial.
Spencer'S admissions make it APP
parent that for cool daring and audac-
itv he has had few equals. His robber
les were never specifically planned.
Walking along a street he would reach
house whose inmates attention was
momentarly distracted by an outside
event, an accident of a small ire, and
would enter and secret himself later
appearing with drawn revolver and de-
handing money OR he would hide him
self under a bed in a woman's room,
watch her take off her jewelry for the
night and the boldly demand it.
While on the street. Spencer usually
wore an overcoat and q derby. which
before entering q house he would secret
near the structure, meanwhile looming
a mask and SLOUGH hat. that he bore iii
his overcoat pockets. His robbery com :
mitted, he would replace mask and soft
hat in his pockets, don his derby ana
overcoat and calmly walk away.
One of his most daring exploits was
in the summer of 1908, when. walking
along the street. he was attracted by
brilliant lights and the hum Of con-
vorsation through the open windows of
q house where a card party was in
progress. Leaning on the WlndoW Sill
he thrust his revolver into the room
and. demanded forced contributions.
The confession as given out by the po-
lice begins with the Luddmston ROBBERY
in which Spencer hid under bed saw
a woman while dsrobng take off two
diamond rings and hide them, and later
crawled out and forced her to hand them
over to him. While living on Seventh
street, Springfield. he entered the house
of DR.. r. p NJ. Ames. across the street
and stole some silverware and iewelry.
In March 1909, he was attracted by "A
crowd in front of the house of n. r. Hos
lev. ~ Brookline street and seized the
opportunity to hide himself in the house.
In another instance, to intmiidate a
woman whose apartments lie had entered
nod hon
she threatened to attack him. Another
time. in the house of A. III. Rogers, -
Temple street, he hid in a closet until the
inmates had retired, then confronted the
daughter of the house, Miss Del Rog-
ers, tied her and made her accompany
him to the kitchen. Then as he left with
S. and some silverware, he released her.
In the home of l.. j. Power, Pearl
street, he made way softly to the top
floor, where he found two maids, who
amid tears assured him that every body
else was out He returned to the lower
floor and robbed the master of the house.
who had Just entered. and started to go
out Finding himself unable to open the
door he returned to an upper story,
whittier Mr.. Power had retreated and
forced his unhappy host to come down
and let him out.
Entering the apartment of Miss Eva
Tessier on Salem street he had to earn
$60-the biggest haul he made in Spring
field-by conquering the woman after a
hard struggle. In this case, as in MANY
others he hid in the house ana later
made a sudden and dramatic appearancc
with drawn pistol.
Another burglary netted him % cents.
This was the house Of w. w. Tapley.
where were staying Mr. and Mrs. H. l..
Ripping. These he robbed of $275, but on
learning that the $3.50 gold piece that
made up part of this loot was a souvenir
he politely returned it to Mrs. Ripping.
When he dropped a Iocket which he
wore, while robbing the home of A. f.
Blair on Union street, last year. the end
OF MS career came in sight. While en-
gagged In this burglary he was nearly
caught and descended a ladder hastily.
His locket caught in projection on the
ladder and was torn off He did not
wait to find it and thus left the only clue
that came into the hands of the police.
IL was through this locket that he was
discovered. Spencer in his confession told
the police that he had an inordinate love
for jewelry and other luxuries. This.
with his love of excitement and desire
for newspaper notoriety, made a trio of
motives that urged him on to crime after
crime.
Despite his large number Of robberies
his plumber in the aggregate amounted to
Continued On Page Two.)