The Detroit times., 1912-10-03
DOUBT SUSPECT KILLED
LITTLE MATILDA REFS
lcentInasa frem Pass onel.

Spengler made two contradictory
statements as to the knife with which
he said he had mutilated the child
declaring at one time that his broth
er. Gus, who has since been arrested
for Investigator, sharpened the knife
for him. and washed IL after the
crime Then he said that he had
thrown the knife under hole in the
fence near the crime. Search for IL,
after the first confession. when
Spengler was taken To the scene OF
the crime, TO his own home, and over
the alleged route of the slayer, by de-
tectives, failed TO reveal the knife.
Also, Spengler stated that his un-
derwear had been bloodstained, and
b that he had hung it in the garret OF
his home TO dry. IL was not found,
and Spengler then stated that he had
not changed his underw ear for a
week, and was still wearing the same
garments that he wore on the night
OF the Refs girls death. ,.
But evidence to show his confes-
sion in the light OF truth is contained
in his statement that he took the
mysterious two-wheeled cart from the
blacksmith shop. which he described.
to the spot in the alley where the
girls body was found. He also gave
4 correct description of the parcels
which the little Refs girl carried. say
ing that she had a bottle of milk, a
bag of salt. and a bag of -four.
He also said that he had arranged
the packages near her in perfect or.
der" which was a feature OF the
crime. which was regarded as inn
nxvfA he mi hnttla
stood upright near the body, the -four
and salt were neatly placed beside
the corpse, indicating that the girl
was not dragged into the alley but
went willingly, apparently with some
friend
Tells Of Helen Brown Case.
In discussing the Helen Brown slay-
ing, to which he confessed, the half
witted prisoner said that he had
killed little girl in place where
there were lot Of wagons" A stray
dog found at the scene of the crime,
was an element regarded as a clue
at that time. In response TO a ques-
tion, Spengler saio that he had had
dog with him at the time OF the
crime, but had never seen the dog
since
He implicated himself in the Krell
crime by stating that he had climbed
Through a window and attacked a
little girl In bed" the police say. That
was the way in which it was figured
at the time that the prowler had en-
tered the little girls room.
So strong is the belief OF the police
that Spengler is telling the truth, not
only about the Refs crime. but the
other attacks on little girls, that all
of the other suspects held will be re-
leased. Capt. Palmer says.
Included in these is one Bert San
facon, who has been identified by sew.
eral witnesses as the mysterious
stranger who bought pie. ate it on
the cart which later figured prom
inently in the homicide case. He was
also identified by Albert Rennon,
clerk In the Deiss grocery. as the maa
who accosted Matilda Refs in front
OF the grocery, shortly before she was
found dying.
Capt Palmer says that he is salts
fed that Spengler did the killing, and
that there is nothing against Sanfacon
except that he ate a piece of pie.
In his confession. Spengler sd:s
that he was mud-stained after the
crime. and met man near the alley,
borrowed 20 cents from him TO go To
picture show, and also asked the
man to brush him off, as he had fallen
in the mud.
The police say that this statement
clinches Spengler's confession by
placing him at the scene OF the crime.
as they claim that Thomas Copeland,
an automobile man, has reported
meeting a man near the scene of the
crime. giving him a quarter, aud
brushing him OF. Copeland will take
a look at Spengler some time Thurs
day.
Spengler In Tears.
During his confession, which caused
the hardened police officers to shiver
with horror, Spengler repeatedly
burst into tears, and at times buried
his face in his hands and acted like
4 man on the brink of collapse. A.
other times he smiled in a vacuous
manner while relating some extreme
~ gruesome details Of his alleged
crime
The police say that his confession
VAS complete. taking up his every
efep from the time he left work AZ
(,eorge Mylls dry kiln, Guoin and
Dubois-sts., until he was arrested by
Dtfectives Hgh and Good as he slept
Al his home at No. 537 Elmwood-ave.,
At 2 O'clock, Wednesday morning.
Norman Erks Is acquainted with
&Dengier, ard after the man had been
Ieff alone and unquestioned in his
cell. all OF Wednesday, Erke started
10 chat with him at S:45 o'clock, an,
his questions about the arrest finally
led Spengler to blurt out: Il knoy!
what you want. You want TO knot
ali about Tillie." Then he broke
Gown and told Erke that he had 10
kin her because she started tc
ecream."
Erke Immediately dashed mp to the
flntective bureau with his startling ir
formation, and Detective Downey, il
charge, summoned Chief Palmer and
the others who later heard Spengler':
story. ....
II loved that little girl. | love he
now. But ] had to kill her or So,
would have screamed" he said, start
ing to cry.
II never did such thing before.
never killed girl in my whole life,
he sobbed. 3 repeated Interpolation
that he made, even while confessin
that he had killed the little Brow
rfrl and had attacked the other