The Calumet news., 1912-09-13
Murderer Spencer Is Fortified BY
Ms Absolute Faith In Chris
tian Science Doctrine
WILL BE EXECUTED NEXT WEEK
n Many Respects He Is a Re,
markable Criminal

Boston. Mass, Sept lS.-Fortified
by his absolute faith in the Christian
Science doctrine of the unreality of
pain and suffering. Bertram g. Spenr
Ger, convicted of the murder OF Miss
Martha II. Blackstone at Springfield,
Mass, March 81. 1919. is fearlessly
and almost cheerfully awaiting his
death IN the electric chair, which, un-
der the terms of the sentence pro
nounced In July, Is 10 take place dur.
ing the week beginning September Is.
Bertram !. spencer. now occupying
the death cell I'm the Charlestown pri-
son. where he is calmly awaiting the
end is i'm many respects one of the
most remarkable criminals known to
American criminology. Psychologists
and alienists are intensely interested
in his case and are inclined TO consid-
er Spencer one of the most perfect ex-
amples of dual personality.
Was Prominent Young Mar.
Spencer is a comparatively Young
man. TIe was born about thirty one
years ago and comes from a good
family, with a record which shows
no apparent. trace OF a criminal taint.
He received good common school
education in his boyhood never dis
played any evil tendencies and never,
so far as is known, associated with
criminals OF any kind. Having COM
pleted his school course, Spencer en-
tered upon a commercial career and
worked for various business concerns.
making the impression of a faithful.
honest and capable employe. His last
position was with the wholesale pro-
vision house in Springfield Mas,
where nc filled the position of ship
ping clerk. receiving fair salary
which enabled him to maintain his
young wife and his two year old son.
whom he idolized, in comfortable
style He lived on Porter Avenue,
West Springfield. had many social con-
nections and was generally respected.
Committed Many Bursiaries.
About four years ago Springfield and
vicinity became the scene of a number
of burslaries which created cUnsid-
cradle sensation owing to the personal
ity and unusual methods as well as the
apparent fearlessness of the man who
committed them. The burglar. accord
ing to the statements IF his victims,
seemed To be a man of education and,
In a manner gentlemanly in his de-
r,o o rtp,ant hfc Nfpffp1q appantQd the
situation with good grace and parted
with their money and other valuables
without protest, the burglar treated
them with great consideration, chat
ting pleasantly with them, while he
carefully selected his plumber. II they
were unruly. he made short shift, by
| gagging them and tying them TO bed
posts, wardropes, doors. etc. The
gentleman burglar" never manifested
feor OF being discovered at his work
| by the police. but he was evidently de-
termined not TO take any risk of being
caught one man. who tried to es-
cape to give an alarm, was shot down
| by the burglar before he had reached
| the door. No trace of the burglar was
found by the police, although he COM
mitted twenty-four burglaries ana
hold ups within a space of two years
| Shot a Young Woman.
on the evening of March 81 1910,
a burglar entered the house of Mrs
Dow in Springfield. through a window
and revolver I'm hand and his face
/ Intl. rod
at the door of a room where Mrs. Dow
her two daughters and their guest
| Miss Martha Il. Blackstone were en-
gagged In working over a picture puz-
| sle. The women screamed when they
saw the intruder and ran into the next
room, hut were halted by the command
of the burglar Miss blackstone. dis
regarding the command, ran scream
ingly toward the door, when the bur-
glar shot her through the heart, KILL
| Ing her instantly. One of the daugh-
ters Of Mrs. Dow. who also tried &c
escape. was severely wounded by an
other shot.
| A locket, containing the pictures OF
Nwo women, which was found on the
lawn of a house Visited by the sam,
burglar, was Identified as the property
Of Spencer and he was arrested on
suspicion. He made a full confession
| OF his numerous burglaries and OF hav.
ing killed Miss Blackstone. after :
great deal OF discriminating evidence
had been found I'm his house. He wa,
indicted for murder and pleaded insan'
ity The allenists appointed by thu
court reported Spencer insane and ~
was sent to the Hospital for the Grim
inal Insane ut Bridgewater, where HI
remained to the time Of his trial which
began at Springfield Nocember Is
1911. Spencer created wild scenes dur
ing the trial and was cnvicted of mur
der In the first degree on Novembel
l25, 1911. Appeals proved without avai