The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-04-07
CONFESSION OF
 SPENCER SHOWS
 CRIMINAL RECORD
Police Say no Third Degree Necessary to Get Story of
 His Life.
Especial from United Press.)


 Springfield, Mass, April 7.-A1though the police claim to have a full confess sion from Bertram G. Spencer, incIud- ing his connection with the murder of Miss Martha B. Blackstone, the Smith College graduate, on Round Hill a week ago, they are today submitting the prisoner to a further examina- tion. with a view to securing more de- tails
 Spencer told the police this morning that it was he who held up Conductor Michael Gi1hooley, Jr.. of the Spring field Street Railway Co.,, at the end of the King Street line, during the early part of August, 1903, robbing shooting him in the leg.
 This was one of the most daring and sensational of the many desperate exploits that have thrilled Springfield with horror during the past two years. For this spectacular hold-up an inno- cent man was arrested the same even ing. and because he had a dark hand kerchief in his pocket and was about the same size as the man described as the highwayman, he was held sev- eral days in jail.
 Miss Bessie c. Niles, stenograp pher, was called to police headquarters this morning and in an ante-room in the Chiefs quarters, took down Spencer's full confession. Spencer had almost
 
 ,fession could be heard only with great difficulty. While the consultation was in progress there suddenly came wild cries from the private office of the Chief of Police, the hurried tread of many feet, loud shouts and general confusion, followed immediately by thick clouds of smoke. With Chief Dagget of the fire department in the van, the fire fighters came pouring in and the fire extinguished.
 A continuous parade of would-be siderable time in passing the desk on which was the layout of stolen goods taken from Spencer's room. Much of the stuff was identified by into. 5f Hst aMI
 A man who knows Spencer told of an incident that took place when the bloodhounds first arrived here. Spen- street and watched the animals pass him. Spencer was interested but not disturbed by the near proximity of the hounds.
 Last night District Attorney Taft permitted Captain Boyle to give out Spencer's confession up to the Round Hill tragedy. Although Captain Boyle was not permitted to talk of the B1ackst one murder confession. it is known that Spencer's confession made to the police contains full admissions in this case.
 Captain Boyle was asked: After reading Spencer's confession you did not find it necessary to change the charge against him, did you ?'s s1fNo, the charge is still murder" he replied. No third degree methods were ne- cessary to secure Spencer's statement. He expressed a desire to talk with ] Captain Boyle alone and the two were closeted in the detention room. Spen- cer started at his ninth year and told l the story of, his life. He had been 1 warned that what he said would be l used against him but he talked freely. When he was g years old, he received I B beating from his father, he said, 1 during which he received an injury 1 to his head. The confession includes detailed ac- counts of all robberies committed by | Spencer in Springfield since 1908. At | the conclusion of the confession Spen- i ger said to Captain Boyle:
 ftI feel better now. If your consci- | ence had troubled you as much as mine troubled me since I have been | in the lookup, it would do you good | 10 get the story off your Inind.''
 Following partial publication of the | confession of Spencer, details of the | young mans criminal action in other New England towns are fast coming 70 light In Lebanon, Conn.,, Spencer's birthplace, information has reached l he police that as a boy he engaged n several hoidups of women and at Y he was before a Norwich court as ncorrigible. Brockton, Mass, has .ecord of Spencer's arrest there as a |