New-York tribune., 1911-11-15
SHR|NKS At MURDER TALE |
Spencer. Accused OF Staying
Teacher, Co|Iapses in Court.
INSANITY TO BE HIS PLEA
Women Who Saw Friend Killed
Unable to Identify Prisoner
Positively as the Man.

Springfield, Mass. Nov. 14.-Bertram G..
Spencer the man who the police say. has
confessed that he spread terror among
residents OF Western Massachusetts for
two years by daring robberes. appeared
completely unnerved at to-day's session
of his trial on the charge Of numbering
Miss Martha b. Blackstone. While the
District Attorney G. r. Callahan, was de-
scribng the shooting of the school teach
er on the night of March 81. 1910. in the
home of Mrs. Sarah j. Dow. the accused
man broke down and wept. lie exclaimed:
NO! Oh. my God, no. No. l never
said that"
Spectators noticed that 1t seemed i'm
possible for Spencer to keep still His
legs trembled continuously and he COW
cred his eyes with his hands. But when
adjournment was taken. at dusk. Spencer
walked from the prisoners cage without
assistance and appeared to he more tran
gull
Attempt to Show Insanity.
What was apparently the first effort by
the defence to show that Spencer was in
sane at the time of the tragedy was made
late i'm tho afternoon. when Mrs. Sarah J.
Dow was cross-eXamined The chief
counsel for the accused man, Mr.. Staple
ton. inquired particularly If the eyes Of
the man who entered her home looked
wild
you might call It so, ! suppose" the
witness replied. Later Miss Lucy J. Dow
daughter of Mrs Dow. was asked
whether the robber had not overlooked
articles of value taking property Of less
consequence. Miss Dow replied in the af
1rmative
The stories of the tragedy told by Mrs
Dow and her daughter. Miss Lucy J.
Dow and Miss Harriet Dow. were prac-
tically the same None of the women
could identify the accused man as the
person who killed Miss Blackstone. each
saying that the lower part of the muir
derers face was covered by a handker
chief. They did, however identify n
beaded belt and a pearl brooch. said TO
have been found in the possession Of
Spencer at the time OF his arrest. as their
property
Tells Of Womans Murder.
In reviewing the events of the night o.
the shooting. the witnesses testified that
Miss Blackstone visited the Dow home on
the afternoon of March 81 and stayed after
supper. They went into the back paror
and amused themselves with a picture puz-
zle until about S o'clock, when Miss Black
stone suddenly remarked that she must
he going. At the same moment a noise
was heard, and man. wearing a slouch
hat and with the lower part Of his face
u-itb
peared i'm the doorway
The four women gathered in the centre
of the room. and Miss Harriet Dow. i'm her
excitement, fell over rug. She screamed
and her mother asked her to
be quiet Miss Lucy Dow moved toward a
telephone 10 call for assistance and as
she took down the receiver the man lev
elled his revolver and shouted Give me
your money" That was the first time he
had spoken
Bullet in Her Heart.
Miss Blackstone rushed toward the door
to leave the room. and the intruder fired a
bullet through her heart Miss Harriet
Dow began moving chair toward tn
man, who said: "If you want 10 die. you
will die then" Thereupon he fred a the
young woman, inhcting a scalp wound
that proved not TO be- serious. He then
opened an outside door and disappeared
The police who arrested Spencer and
searched his room also testified Seven
teen witnesses were heard at to-day's ses-
sion. and tonight IT was predicted that the
prosecution would end the direct testimony
to morrow