Norwich bulletin., 1911-11-20

istered to his son to make him an obe- dient child and to have him suffer | for his misdeeds, Wilbur l.. l.. Spen- cer of Lebanon, Conn. father of Ser tram c. Spencer, now on trial for his 1 life for the murder of Miss Martha E. Blackstone in Springfield, March 5l, 1910, went on the witness stand in the Hampden county superior court in Springfield Saturday morning to do what he could to show the tempera- ment and conduct of the prisoner dur- ing his entire life.
 From the time the boy was year old until he grew to manhood. the father reviewed events in his life, tell ing of pasiosnate outbursts, dur1ns which the boy swore and made at temuts to assault him and other peI- sons, and of peculiar attacks of frenzy which he seemed to suffer. The fath- CT was under direct examination about an hour, and the district attorney used only a few minus in cross -exarniua- tionl
 The prisoner made only one out break, and that not violent one, Sat urday morning. It came when Joseph Sted1nan of Brattleboro was testifying was a boy.
 Dr. ouinnby Called.
 Court came in at 9.35 o'clock and Attorney R. P. Stapleton called as the first witness Dr. Hosea A. Quimby, su- perintendent of the Worcester state hospital. He testified to the mental condition of Mrs. Helen A. Tiffany, relative of Spencer on his mothers side, who died in the asylum. Attor- ney General Swift cross examined wit- ness as to the length ef the confine nlent of Mrs. Tiffany. Attorney Sta pleton asked if the condition of the woman at the clT-iacteric period would be on of the predisposing causes of in- sanity, and witness said it would. Mrs. Tiffany wa sa half sister of Spencer's mother.
 Joe stednan Testifies.
 Joe Stedman of Brattleboro Vt, was the second witness called. He formerly lived in Lebanon, Conn, where he said he knew Spencer as a boy in school. He remembered many things in Spencer's early life and act ions that were peculiar and unusual
 District Attornv Callahan objected to-a any descriptions as to Spencer's mental condition. At one time witness saw Spencer throw a heavy weight at one of his fathers clerks in the elder Spencers store At that time he look ed white, wild and uncontrollable.
 The district attorney objected to any conclusions that Spencer was un- controllab1e. Witness saw him hav- ing such spells" many times-as many as 20. when 8 boy.
 -IIow would you compare his ap- pearance those times with that of a man ill ordinary anger?" asked MT. Staple ton. The witness replied that
 
 ent from that of ordinary man in anger.
 In cross examination by the district attorney, MT. Stedamn asid he had lived in many different places. Had lived in Lebanon. Conn, finally leav- ing there about 1885 to live elsewhere He had known Spencer a long time, as a child, but not so well in manhood Witness had watched Spencer very closely and many times had seen an expression of ferocity on Spencer's face and a wild look in his eyes
 The witness had often seen Spencer playing on the schoolhouse grounds.
 "So as a matter of fact this frolic- some boy whom you describe was not less than nor more than years old at the time?'' asked the district at torney.
 NO. replied the witness
 You left Lebanon as a permanent resident in 1884 or 1885, and then this boy was not years old,' said the dis trict attorney in closing his cross -ex-
 Prisoner Struggles
 At this point the prisoner in the cage struggled violently and TurnlSe.r Wade had to hold him down. He makes me so mad" muttered Spencer, torney. When his wife put her hands through the bars he nuttered, in a snappish undertone: Let me alone"
 Harry O. Watts. a brakeman on tho bOSlOn ana MaJnc Td11rOaQ, Was the next witness. He testified he had aG argument on money with Spencer, with whom he was working. The subject was as to the merits of the two morn ing papers published in Springfield Watts defended one and Spencer he other, after which the relations be- tween them were strained. This hap pened in 1908. as was brought out in the cross examination.
 Did you reply to the remark by SD6ncPr ment?'' asked MT. Stapleton.
 Watts replied that he did not re- 
 Didn't you tell a young man sent to you that you made no ausWer?" asked MT. Stap1eton.
 "No." said the witness.
 Would you be willing to swear to that2' was the next question
 District Attorney Callahan here made a protest to the court on the ground that the defense was trying to impeach it's own witness and the ex- animation of Mir Watts was conclud- ed, the court ruling that the counsel for the defense could not attempt to impeach his own witness.
 Father Tells of Punishments
 Then came a stir in the court room as Spencers father, Wilbur l.. l.. Spencer entered.
 Do you remer Der punishing your son at the age of l year for reaching toward some radishes?" was MT Sta- pleton's first question.
 .'I do remember something of that kind" said the witness, but he could not remember whether he slapped his hands with his hand or something else. and in answer to a question as to his memory said it was not very good.
 He remembered punishing Spence.- When he was 5 years old. also that he punished the boy later for failure to remember a prayer, using a curtain