Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-09-13
mo FEAR OF
Death CHAIR
Young Murderer SeemsCheer.
fully Awaiting His Doomi In
..r Electric Chair
During onfinemeDtinjai| Has
Has Become Interested IN
Christian Science
Special to The Tribune

SpeClHl ~ LILO 1TlOUuo b
EOSTON, MASS, Sept. 13.-Forti-
fled by his absolute faith in the
Christian Science doctrine of the un-
reality of pain and suffering, Bertram
G. Spencer, convicted OF the murder
of Miss Martha B. Blackstone at
Springfield, Mass, March 81, 1910, is
fearless!y and almost cheerfully
awaiting his death in the electric
chair, which, under the terms of the
sentence pronounced in July, is to
take place during the week beginning
September Is.
Betram G.. Spencer, now occupying
the death cell in the Charlestown
prison, where he is calmly awaiting
the end, is in many respects one OF
the most remarkable criminals known
to American criminology. Psycholog-
lists and alienists are intensely in
terested in his case and are inclined
to consider Spencer n of the most
perfect examples of dual personality.
Spencer is a comparatively young
man. He was born about thirty-one
years ago and comes from a good
family, with a record which shows no
apparent trace of a criminal faint.
He received a 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 a wholesale pro.
vision house in Springfield, Mass,
where he filled the position of ship
ping clerk, receiving a 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
connections and was generally re-
spected. sss E
About four years ago Springfield
and vicinity became the scene Of a
number of burglaries which created
considerable sensation owing to the
personality and unusual methods as
we'll as the apparent fearlessness Of
the man who committed them. The
burglar, according to the statements
of his victims, seemed to be q man
Of education and, in a manner gen.
tlemanly in his department. If his
victims accepted the situation with
good grace and parted with their
money and other valuaDles without
protest, the burglar treated them with
great consideration, chatting pleas.
only with them, while he carefully
selected his plumber. If they were
unruly, he made short shift, by gag.
ging them and tying them to bed.
posts, w%ardrobes, doors, etc. The
Observation-Disclosures" never manifested
fear Of being discovered in his work
BY the police, but he was evidently
determined not to take any risk Of
being caught. One man, who tried
to escape 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, al;
though he committed twenty.four
'burglaries and hold-ups within 4.
space of two years.
On the evening OF March 81, 1910,
q burglar entered the houses Of Mrs
Dow in Springfield through q window
and. revolver in hand and his face
hidden behind q black cloth, appear;
ed at the door Of a room where Mrs
Dow, her two daughters; and their
guest, Miss Martha B. Blackstone,
were engaged in working over q pic.
ture puzzle. The women screamed
when they saw the. intruder and ran
into the next room, but we're: halted.
~ the command Of the burglar. Miss
Blackstone, sdisregarding the com.
mand, ran screamingly toward the
door. when the burglar shot her
through the heart, killing her Ia.
stantly. One 81 ne daughters o. Mrs.
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