The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1912-09-12
MODERN JEkYLL AND
HYDE FACING DEATH
Bold Criminal Cheerfully Awaits
Ordeal, Though He Collapsed
When Convicted.

Springfield, Mass, Sept. 10.-Wher
Bertram G. Spencer. the story of whose
career is one of the most remarkable
ever written in the criminal annals OF
Massachusetts,, goes to the electric
chair during the week of September Is,
Christian Science will be put to a
new and startling test. Spencer has
embraced the Christian Science faith,
and is convinced that his experience in
the death house will be attended by
neither physical 0 mental 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 q
verdict for murder in the first regree
he gasped-then collapsed.
Now, with only a few more days tc
live, Spencer's demeanor has changed
completely. He believes that in dying
p~ainlessly he will circumvent the law
and the thought gives him so much
satisfaction that his long maintained
morose bearing has given way to
positive cheerfulness.
Another "JekylI and Hyde.
opciSeI has Deel CndTaCIGTlIeu ny
criminologists as the living prototype
of the strange character which Stew
enson gave to fiction in DIR. Jekyll
II Mr.. Hyde" A faithful shipping
clerk by day, at night he became a
murderous burglar. With a com!
Portable 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
l~awbreakers 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 plar
of operations which was unusual. He
seldom committed a burglary after II
p. m. In this way he averted sus.
piclon. He new personally many
police officers, with whom he dis
cussed with surprising frankness-
b~urglarious expedition-the %probabili-
ties of the gentleman burglar un,
doing himself. During social call
with his wife, he entered with zesi
into discussion of the strange burglar
and his methods. His theories were
invariably rejected as preposterous
Whereupon Spencer would laugh good
naturedly-and sometimes immoder.
ately.
In the burglary preceding the one
in which Miss Blackstone was muir.
dered Spencer dropped a locket bear.
ing his initials and containing like.
nesses of his mother and sister
was not heard from for nearly sis
months, and the police had begun tt
believe that he had sought othe,
fields. During this time Spencer, wht
remained steadily employed as a ship.
ping clerk, was not suspected.
His Last Crime.
On the evening of March 81, 1910
Spencer entered the home of Mrs
Lucy j.. Dow on Round Hill. Mrs
Dow. her daughters, Misses Harrie,
and Lucy Dow, n their guest, Miss
Martha b. Blackstone, Were seated
at a table engrossed in a picture puz.
zle. Spencer entered the room.
up your hands, he shouted
Miss Blackstone screamed. Spencer
fired two shots, either of Which would
have been fatal. Miss Blackstone dice
instantly. Mrs. Dow protested. Spen.
Ger turned savageiy upon her. Witt
appraised chair, Miss Harriet Dow
seeking to save hcr mother, lunged al
the murderer. Spencer. white with
rage, with a: oath, fired upon Miss
Dow, who fell to the floor. Spencer
fled. The alarm vas quickly given. bu,
again tangible clues were lacking.
At this juncture the locket which
Spencer had lost and which had beer
found by h owner of the house he
had attempted to enter, was turned
over to the police. Spencer was ar,
rested within 36 hours. III Spencer's
home the police found loot from the
Dow home and from other burglaries
Miss Lucy Dow positively identified
Spencer. Only a little grilling was re-
CURED to induce Spencer to tell all he
| knew