Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-09-11

Springfield, Mass. Sept. 11.-When
Bertram G. Spencer, the story of
whose career is one of the most re-
markable ever written in the criminal
annals of Massachusetts, goes to the
electric chair during the week of
Sept IS, Christian Science will be put
TO a new and startling test. Spencer
has embraced the Christian Science
faith and is convinced that his expert
ence in the death house will be at
tended by neither physical nor men
tai suffering.
At his trial last July, when he was
found guilty of the murder of Miss
Martha b. Blackstone, a member OF
one OF Springfield's oldest families,
Spencer became pale at the mention
OF electrocution. When the attorney
general closed the argument for the
state with a ringing demand for a
verdict for murder in the first degree
he gasped-then collapsed.
Now, with only a few more days to
live, Spencer's dcmeanor has changed
completely. He believes that in dy-
ing painlessly he will circumvent the
law, and the thought gives him SO
much satisfaction that his lOngmain-
tanned, morose bearing has given way
ID positive cheertulness.
Spencer has been characterized by
cTiminologists as the living prototype
Of the strange character which Stew
ensOn gave TO fiction in "Dr. Jekyll
and Mr. Hyde" A faithful shipping
clerk by day, at night he became a
murderous burglar. With q comfort
able home and a wife and baby whom
he idolized, he went out to steal and
to kill and in two years committed "a
burglaries and holdups. At 81 he was
one of the most desperate lawbreak-
ers in Massachusetts. Prior to the
murder Of Miss Blackstone only one
person had the temerity TO resist him.
| Spencer unhesitatingly shot him.
Spencer, who by reason Of his af-
liability early gained the name of the
gentleman burglar" followed a plan
OF operation which was unusual. He
/ seldom committed a burglary after 10
u. IN. In this way he averted sus'
picion. lie knew personally many po-
lice officers, with whom he discussed
with surprising frankness -sometImes
while returning from a burglarious eX
pedition-the probabilities of the gen
tleman burglar" undoing himself. Dur
ing social calls with his wife, he en-
tered with zest into discussion of the
strange burglar and his methods. His
theories we're invariably rejected as
preposterous, whereupon Spencer
would laugh good -natuTedly - and
sometimes immodeTately.
In Spencers confession, now in the
possession OF the attorney general
the prisoner gives a most interesting
account of his many burglaries. The
first was committed in 1905 when ht
entered the home of George A. Lud
dinEton. Mrs. Luddington, who wa:
alone. had retired. With features
masked and collar upturned, Spencer
clutching a revolver entered the Lud
dirgton apartment with some misgiy
ings. His own story is as follows:
As kOl 10 lut tOEc VI inc uCN DIV
rose up and screamed. l demanded
money and jewelry. While I was talk
ing with her she pulled of some ring'
and dropped them into the bed.
saw her and said: What did you do
You dropped something She said
NO, didn't | asked her TO move
over TO one side. She did and l pick
ed up the rings | asked her IL she
had any money and she said, A lit
tie told her l wanted II and she
gave me the money. ! think it was 81
She asked me for a drink of watel
and got her a drink OF water.
said: Well. I must be going Sh,
asked me which door wanted to q
out of. The back door l said. Sh'
unlocked the back door and said
Good night I said, Good night AM
that was all there was to it."
Spencer interrupted a card party il
the residence Of W. NJ. Swan in April