New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-11-24
SPENCER SANE, SAY MANY
Witnesses for Prosecution Have
Day in Court.
JURY GETS CASE TO-DAY
Lawyers Agree to Allot Two
Hours to Each Side for
Argument.

Springfield, Mass. Nov 23.--It is the ex.
pectation Of attorneys for tho common
wealth and for the defence that the case
Of Bertram 6. Spencer, charged with the
murder Of Miss Martha Il. Blackstone. viii
be in the hands of the jury by tomorrow
night The commonwealth plans tomorrow
forenoon 70 complete its rebuttal testimony
with the calling Of two or three alienist'
and the defence will follow this with brief
testimony In surrebuttal. The lawyers have
agreed 20 allot two hours TO each side for
arguments and II there are no unexpected
delays or interruptions the jury VIII De
charged and given the case tomorrow
evening
When Or c. p. Hooker. County Phy-
slc.an. who examined Spencer in the Spring
field fail. took the stand this forenoon the
defendant glared at him. When the witness
testified that he had said 10 the prisoner;
Spencer you are taking Spencer rose 70
his feet and angrily denounced the witness.
declaring that Or. Hooker had tried TO
poison him at the Jail. After officers had
overpowered the prisoner he was quiet for
the remainder Of the day, and appeared TO
pay little further attention 10 the testimony.
Several witnesses for the STATE testified
to-day that at the time they knew Spencer
he appeared in normal mental condition.
convict from the state prison. Horace NJ.
St John. who was sent 10 the Bridegwater
State Hospital for sixteen months, after as
he testified. he had felgned insanity. was
put on the stand late to-day.
Says Spencer Faxed Insanity.
One day. according TO the witness, when
| Spencer was singing in a rehearsal for
play to he given by inmates, ST. John re-
marked TO him that one who could sing and
draw as we'll as Spencer did not seem 10 be
very insane. Spencer thereupon made vari-
Gus queer motions with his head and body
and told the witness that II he did not do
those things the doctors would think he was
| sane St John said he was convinced that
| Spencer was feignlng insanity.
/ The witness said he told Or. Elliott, su-
perintendent Of the insane department Of
the Bridgewater Hospital of what Spencer
. had said that he wrote to DR. Elliott last
| August and talked with him about It last
month. The witness was sent back 70
! Charlestown prison on october 81 last. One
of the witnesses said he asked Spencer why
he killed Miss Blackstone, why he did not
merely hit her and make his escape He
said Spencer replied Dead people tell no
tales"
Spencer said. witness testified. that he
feared that IL he did not kill Miss Black
stone she might later recognize him.
| Cross-examined st. john said that Will.
at the Bridgewater institution Spencer had
/ 80 Ia
| guards. but that in one case when Spencer
| had declared a guard had hit him Spencer
admitted to witness that he had struck
himself Asked why he feigned insanity.
witness said he thought he would like
! Bridgewater better than Charlestown.
The first alienist called by the state, Or.
Leonard A. Baker, first assistant physician
at the Bridgewater Hospital insane depart
ment. testified that he had observed Spen-
Ger almost daily while he was at Bridge
water. He declared Spencer mentally de-
fective TO a certain extent. but not insane.
He said he was present when the prisoner.
ST. John. told DR.. Elliott his opinion OF
Spencer
DIR. Hosea NJ Qunby. superintendent Of
the Worcester State Insane Hospital, was
examined at greater length. Attornty Gen
/
ton covering Spencers movements on the
night OF the murder and asked the witness
if these acts conceded with those OF
! sane man.
..,They are consistent with the actions OF
a sane man" replied DR.. Qulnby.
Asked another Hypothetical question In
Guiding most OF Spencer's confession OF
numerous robberies In addition 10 the muir
der. witness said that a person committing
such acts and describing them In this man
ner was able TO distinguish between right
and wrong and knew there was penalty
| for his acts
Assuming all this 10 be true wnat 90
Won think Of such a MANI" asked the At
torney General -
81 think he is not insane SAID Dr.
Quinby. .h
Witness said he examined Spencer tnfee
a,oos in 1910 and 1911. After the first two
examinations he was in doubt but inc
third convinced him that Spencer was sans
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