Norwich bulletin., 1912-09-12
NO ACTION BY COUNCIL
 IN SPENCER CASE
Condemned Mans Mother Visited the
 State House at Boston.

No action was taken Wednesday by the executive council in MassRchu- setts on the cases of Bertram G. Spencer, who is sentenced to die dur ing the week beginning September 15 for the murder of Miss Martha Black stone, a Springfield school teacher. It was reported at the state house that Governor Foss had decided not to re- fer Spencer's petition for commuta- tion of the death sentence to the council. The governor, however, re- fused to make statement.
 Mrs. Kate F. Spencer, the mother of the condemned man. visited the state house. She was accompanied by Spen- cer's attorney. Richard P. Stapleton, who was given an audience by Gov ernor Foss. MT. Stapleton presented l four affidavits which stated that Spen- cer had acted abnormally since his ar- rest and conviction.
 Governor Foss and the executive council left about noon for two days trip through the western part of the state. It was not known whether Spencer's counsel would request a spe-
 cial session of the executive council next Saturday.
 Mir. Suspicion presented the .affidav- it's of George Carpenter and Frank
 Allen, guards at the Springfield jail
 who have had Spencer in their imme- diate custody since the trial. These
 afiidavits allege that Spencer Is labor. | ing under naaniacai outburts without any apparent cause; that at times hs ! is as simple as child and appears tc
 be unsusceptible to any form of req
 son; that he talks incoherently and acts at times like man without his | senses.
 ] MT. Stapleton also presented the af- l fidavit of Edward Jackson of Bristol Conn, who saw Spencer while in thu
 throes of an insane outburst when I boy. Jackson is a witness discovered since the date of the trial.
 1 The affidavit of Walter Henry liar. low of Irisburg, Vt. who knew Spen.
 cer when he was in the infirmary a | Mt Hermon, was also presented. H, alleges in his affidavit that Spencel had nervous breakdown and had sev eral insane outbreaks. Harlow is { trained nurse who specializes in tn, care of insane patients. He is alsI
 a witness discovered since the date O l the trial.
 MT Stapleton in his interview witt | the governor said that Spencer was ; | victim of circumstances and probabl! l would never have been transferred from the insane hospital except for tn disclosures which were brought abou by means of conditions existing there MT. Stapleton stated to the reporter that he did not expect that the gov
 ernor would refer the matter to tn
 council formally, but he did expec that the matter would be discussed in formally at its meeting.
 The council was in session but
 short time, and, according to Council
 Tor Goetting, no mention whatsoeye
 was made of the Spencer case. Tn
 governor, when seen at the end of tn
 session, stated that there was noth
 ing new in regard to the case. H
 would not answer specifically whethe
 he intended to take up the matte
 later.
 After the close of the session MI
 Stapleton was presented with a spe cial delivery letter from prominen business man of New Haven, who doe not want his name disclosed. He wa classmate of Spencer in privat high school in New Haven. He write that he has had occasion to notic signs of insanity on frequent occasion He also gave the names of classmate of Spencer who are ready to disclos testimony to that effect. ' MT. Stapleton hastened to secuI the affidavts of these men and wi present them to the governor at tn earliest possible date.s Mrs. Spence when informed of the governors act ion, bore up well and did not. brea | down.