Norwich bulletin., 1911-11-18


 Although Bertram G. Spencer, on trial at Springfield, charged with the murder of Miss Martha. D. Blackstone, showed nervousness at times in the course of Fridays session at his trial and at one time Wept and sobbed, he appeared to have better control over himself than on previous days It waE when a witness testified that Spencer had spoken of the kindness oi his mother that the defendant covered his face with his hands and sobbed for a moment
 Father Net Called.
 It had been anticipated that the tes- tfncny of the prisoners mother on Thursday regarding the severe punish ment given him by his father would on the stand Friday but he was not called. Relatives of Spencer and per- rcrE who had worked with him were the principal witnesses. They relat- sd many tales of Spencer's seemingly pmEovcrnable temper and of threats he had made to do bodily harm to various perscns-
 Wanted to Drown Grandfather.
 The defendants sister and her hus- band told of one occasion when Spen- cer became angry at his wife's grand father and threatened to throW him into the Connecticut river, but was restrained by others. The grandfather eorrobsrated this testimony
 Threatened Death.
 AF~K- Bessie Walters of Springfield testified that while Spencer roomed at her house he was hard to get along wfth and often melancholy and had a wild look One morning she heard him call her She went to his room and found him trying to make his room m7tes Willard L. Wyman. get out of take Wynnsn by the throat. She told him to stop and he drew back. saying, It was fortunate you came just then, or I would have killed that man."
 Reached for Hstehet.
 Horace M Clement. who worked with Spencer at c Springfield store, said that one dsv when he called Spencer's attention to 6 mistake he had made. Spencer reached for a hatchet but did not pick II up Spencer then went into the larS1 refrigerator in the store ana remained in it some time. Cross rrnrnAned- vffness said that ordinarily Spszesr seemed fairly normal"
 H- L. Hensy. Jr., son of the propri- etcT Of ras store, corroborated Glenn ent with regard to the refrigerator into the refrigerator and found him In q corner, crying and sobbins-
 Told of Fathers III Treatment.
 William Hunter ana Frank T. Bed worth who worked with Spencer in a Hartford store. corrohorated testimony given by earlier witnesses as to Spen- cer chasing a boy with a hammer. MT. Eunter said Spencer had told him of III treatment by his father.
 Drew a Revolver.
 Spencer once drew a revolver and I threatened to shoot Robert E. Miles of Florence. so Miles testified. The trouble arose when they were work inE on q railroad and Spencer tried 10 occupy Niles seat fireman in . locomotive cab. The engineer quiet ed Spencer Miles seid he knew Spen- cer was a good shot and had seen him shoot woodehDci<s from the train.
 Conduct in Jail
 The defendants conduct while in jail was described by William Mc- duty at the Jail in September and Oc- tober of this year, and guarded Spen- cer rom 10 D. ru- to : a. nl-, each night He said Spencer lad frequent headaches and asked for wet towels to put on h5z head
 Hated Guard
 The prisoner often would ask Mo Cart if anyone was speaking when no one had said anything. Spencer show cd q peculiar hatred for one of the guards and would become excited and scream wheZ- this guard came near , the cell He was often gloomy and melarcholy. What was your occupation at the 1aly asked the district attorney in cross sxanainSs tfon-
 Locked Aftsr Spencer. After some hesitation, McCart ex- plzfnsd that he had been sent down there for thirty days and that part of kts work IS a prisoner was to look nhesr Bpencer. McCRrt was the last witness of the l day.
 Sister First Witness. The lawyers for the defense decided l TO put on several relatives and other perSens who had known Spencer, be- l fcre calling the defendants father i The first to take the stand Friday was i Spcrcer'S sister, Mrs Norman Pultz 1 of Springfield She told of several 1 times when she had seen her brother i in e rage. Once when she and her 1 husband were with Spencer and his l wife at Spencer's home, Spencer asked l his wife's grandfather Mr. Krailing, l vho owned the house. for the key to l