The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-11-18
SPENCER
PECULIAR
Joseph Steadman Of BrattIeboro
TeStifieS
FATHER ON THE STAND TO-DAY
Relatives Of Alleged Murderer and Fell
low Employees the Principal Wit
nesses Yesterday in the Trial
at Springfield.

Springfield, Nov. .--To-day's session
Of the trial Of Bertram G, Spencer, for
the murder Of Miss Martha b. Black
stone lasted only two hours and half.
DIR. Quinby, superintendent of the Mas
sachusetts state insane hospital at Wor-
cester, told the jury to-day of the death
in the hospital last April of an aunt of
Spencer's mother. Joseph Steadman Of
Brattleboro, VT, who grew up with the
defendant, related number OF peculiar
tiles exhibited by Spencer during his
boyhood.
W. L. L. Spencer, father of the pris-
oner. testified that Bertram was always
getting to serapes. The witness said
he had much trouble with his son. Ber-
tram, he said was in the habit Of swear.
ing at his father, arousing the anger OF
the witness. Spencer said he never in
tended TO iniure his son physically. He
often punished him for disobedience and
wildness and for displaying ferocious
temper Spencer told Of the time Ber-
tram tried to brain him with a shovel.
Spencer showed nervousness at times
in the course Of Yesterdays session of
his trial and at one time wept, he ap-
peared to have better control over him
self than on previous days. 1t was
when witness testified that Spencer
had spoken Of the kindness of his moth
er that the defendant covered his face
with his hands and sohbed.
Relatives Of Spencer and persons who
had worked with him were the principal
witnesses. They related many tales Of
Spenoer's seemingly ungovernable tenn
per and of threats he had made To do
bodily harm TO various persons. The
defendants sister and her husband told
OF one occasion when Spencer became
angry at his wife's grandfather and
threatened to throw him into the Com
nectieut river, but was restrained hy
others. The grandfather eorrohorated
this testimony
Mrs. Bessie Walters Of Springfield tes-
titled that while Spencer roomed al her
house he was often melancholy and had
a wild look. One morning she heard him
call her. She went to his room and
found him trying 20 make his roommate.
William L. Wyman, get out OF bed
She said be was reaching to take wv
man by the throat She told him to
stop and he drew back, saying: ut was
fortunate You came just then or / would
have killed that man"
Horace NJ. Clement, who worked with
Spencer at a local store, said that one
day when he called Spencer's attention
to a mistake he had made, Spencer
reached for hatehet, but did not pick
it up. Spencer then went into the large
refrigerator in the store and remained
for some time.
III. Il. Handy, jr., son of the pr0pri-
etor of the store, corroborated Clement
with regard to the refrigerator Incl.
dent. He said he followed Spencer into
the refrigerator and found him in a cor
ner sobbing.
William Hunter and Frank T. Bed
worth, who worked with Spencer in
Hartford store, corroborated testimony
given by earlier witnesses as to Spen-
GERS chasing boy with hammer Mr..
Hunter said Spencer had told Of ill treat
ment by his father.
Spencer once drew revolver and
threatened to shoot Robert T.. Miles of
Florence, so Miles testified The trou-
bic arose when they were working on
railroad and Spencer tried to occupy
Miles seat as fireman in locomotive
cab. The engineer quieted Spencer
Miles said he knew Spencer was a good
shot.
The defendants conduct while in Jail
was described by William Mozart Of
Holyoke, who said he was on duty at
the Jail in September and October of
this year and guarded Spencer from
1000 p. m. to 700 a. m. each night
He said Spencer had frequent headaches
and asked for wet towels to put on his
head.
The prisoner often would ask McCart
ii any one was speaking when no one
had said anything. Spencer showed a
peculiar hatred for one Of the guards
and would become excited and scream
when this guard was near the cell He
was often gloomy and melancholy.
"What was your occupation at the
jail2" asked the district attorney in
cross examination.
After some hesitation. McCart ex-
planned that he "had been sent down
there for 30 days" and that part Of
his work as prisoner was to look after
Spencer.
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