Norwich bulletin., 1911-11-22
SPENCER NOT LEGALLY INSANE
Testimony of Dr. Alfred Elliott in Murder Tral-Ac-
 cused Made Scene Which Held Up Court For Fifty Minutes

A declaration that Bertram G. Spen- cer, who is on trial for his life, charg- ed with the murder of Miss Martha Blackstone, was insane at the time the young Schoolteacher was shot and killed, was made late Tuesday by Dr. Edward B. Lane of Jamaica Plain an alienist in the employ of the defense Dr. Lane testified that he examined October IA, 1911. Taking into con- sideration the testimony as to the condition of the defendants family the defendants education, his violent out breaks and delfnquencieS, and SubSe- quent confessIons." Dr. Lane was ask ed his opinion of the mental condi- tion of Spencer at the time of the shooting. He-replied that in his opin- by reason of insanity, he was unable to refrain from committing murder. He said Spencer lacked sufficient con- trol.
 Dr. Lane was under cross examina- ton when the court adjourned.
 Rev. Eugene B. Smith of Lebanon. Conn.,, pastor of the church attended by the Spencer family, took the stand for the defense Tuesday. His testi- mony had to do with visits he paid to Spencer while confined at the state insane asylum at Bridgewater. He said that during one of these visits he had a conversation with Dr. Alfred Elliott, medical director of the asy- Ium, and that he considered at that time that Spencer had a form of par anoia. MT. Smith testified: '"I re- marked that I supposed this was in curable and Dr. Elliott replied 'Ab- soluteIy.s'
 The witness said Dr. Elliott declared he would regret very much to have to send Spencer back to Springfield for trial.
 Elliott had no recollection of such a conversation with the Lebanon clergy man. Dr. Elliott, who is a witness for the government, testified in reply to a question from the defendants s counsel that he did not consider Spen- cer legally insane. He believed that Spencer knew right from wrong and knew that there was a penalty for wrongdoing but that he had faulty req
 During the examination of Dr. Ell ott, the prisoner gave way to his emo tions and fairly screamed at the wit ness from the cage, calling his test- mony a lie. Court officers had diff culty in overpowering Spencer, but he was finally removed from the court room while a recess. was taken Tn the ante-room Spencer cont1nued his raV- ing and an hour passed before he was nuieted During the remainder of the session he appeared, nevertheless, crying softly and muttering to him. self. He paid no attention, appar- eutly, to the witnesses.
 Suspended Session 50 Minutes.
 Denouncino Dr. Alfred Elliott, med icaI director of the Bridgewater state hospital for the criminal insane, Spen- cer made scene in the courtroom which probably has had no duplicate in New England criminal history, and perhaps in the country. So violent were his words and so excited did he appear that it took three deputy sher- ifs to control the murderer, and Judge John c. Crosby was forced to suspend the sitting 50 minutes before Snercer recovered enough self-control to re- turn to the courtroom and occupy his seat in the cage.
 Dr. Elliott was the first witness call ed by Attorney Richard J. Stapleton in the morning, and when he took the stand a marked change in the attitude of the prisoner was noticed by those near him. He glared steadily at Dr. Elliott, and as the physician testified regarding where Spencer had been con- fined and why he had been placed in certain wards, the prisoner glared and muttered under his breath. His wife, who sat beside the cage, kept anxious eyes on Spencer, who held his face in his hands and watched the witness with a steadfast gaze. It was when Dr. Elliott was testifying that