The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-11-15
In Trial of Betram G. Spencer,
For Murder To-day
1T TOLD OF THE SHOOTING
Statement Read by Captain Boyle of the
Springfield Police Told of Spencer's
Belief That He Was Surrounded and
Had to Shoot His Way Out.

Springfield, Nov. l5.-With the expee-
tation of hearing the alleged confession
of Bertram G.. Spencer that he muir
dered Martha b. Blackstone, an immense
crowd was at court to-day, where Spen-
Ger is being tried for his life. II is ex-
pected that the state will conclude its
direct testimony to-day. Then the open
ing address for the defense will be made,
with sketch of the life of Spencer to
show that be was insane at the time
OF the murder
The alleged confession was read by
Capt. Boyle of the Springfield police de-
partment. 1t told of Spencer going to
the Dow home, his entry through an
unlocked window and the shooting of
the woman when he believed he was
surrounded on all sides and thought
that the only way TO get out was to
shoot his way. In the alleged confes
sion Spencer said he was struck on
the head by his father when boy
and since that time had had a tendency
for stealing.
AT yesterdays session the prisoner
was completely unnerved while District
Attorney g. T. Callahan was describing
the shooting of the school teacher on
the night Of March 81, 1910, at the home
OF Mrs. Sarah j. Dow, the accused man
broke down and wept. and exclaimed
"No! Oh. my God No!" no, / never
said that II seemed impossible for
Spencer to keep still. His legs trem-
bled continuously and he covered his
eyes with his hands.
What was apparently the first effort
on the part of the defense to show that
Spencer was insane at the time of the
tragedy, was made late in the day. Mrs
Sarah j. Dow was cross examined by At
torney Stapleton, chief counsel for the
accused man. Mr.. Stapleton inquired
particularly if the eyes Of the man who
entered her residence looked wild.
''You might call it So | suppose" the
witness replied. Later Miss Lucy Dow,
a 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 affirmative
The stories of the tragedy told by
Mrs. Dow and her daughters, Miss Lucy
]. Dow and Miss Harriet Dow were
practically the same. None of the wom-
en- could identify the accused man as
the person who entered their home and
killed Miss Blackstone, saying that the
lower part of the murderer's face was
covered by handkerchief. They did,
however, identify beaded belt and a
pearl brooch, said to have been found
In tho nnaaasaion Of Gnounnr "a tha TINA
OF his arrest, as their property.
In reviewing the events of the night
of the shooting the witnesses testified
that Miss Blackstone visited the Dow
home in the afternoon and remained aft
err supper. The four women We're in the
back parlor about eight o'clock when a
noise was heard, and a man wearing
a slouch hat, and with the lower part
of his face covered with black hand
kerchief, appeared in the doorway.
The women gathered in the center Of
the room. Then Miss Lucy Dow moved
towards telephone to call for assist
ance, and as she took down the receiv-
er the man levelled his revolver and
shouted "Give me your money" That
was the first time he had spoken.
Miss Blackstone at this point, rushed
towards the door to leave the room,
and the intruder shot her through the
heart. Miss Harriet Dow began NOV
ing chair towards the man who said
"If you want to die, you will die then"
Thereupon he fired at the young wom-
an, infiicting scalp wound that proved
not to be serious. He then opened an
outside door and disappeared.