The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1912-09-19
CHRISTIAN SCIENTISTS FAITH.
Burglar and Murderer,
Has No Fear of Electric Chair.

Boston, Sept 13.-Fortified by
his absolute faith in the Christian
Science doctrine of the unrealty Of
pain and suffering, Bertram G. Spen-
Ger, convicted of the murder of Miss
Martha B. Blackstone at Springfield,
Mass. March 81, 1910, 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 to take place dur
ing the week beginning September
Is.
Bertram G. Spencer, now occupy
ing 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 chronology. Psycholo-
gists and alienists are intensely inter-
ested in his case and are inclined to
consider Spencer one of the most per-
feet samples of dual personality.
Spencer is comparatively young
man. He was born about 81 years
ago and comes from good family,
with a record which shows no ap-
parent trace of criminal taint. He
received a good common school edu-
cation, in his boyhood, never display
ed 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 con-
Germs, making the impression of a
faithful, honest and capable employe.
| His last position was with whole
sale provision house in Springfield,
Mass, where he filled the position
Of shipping clerk, receiving fair SAL
| ary, which enabled him to maintain
his young wife and his two-year-old
son, whom he idolizes, in comfort
able style. He lived on Porter ave-
nue., West Springfield, had many So
cial connections and was generally
respected.
Gentleman Burglar.
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 a man
of education and, in manner gen.
tlemanly in his department. If his
victims accepted the situation with
good grace and parted with their
money and other valuables without
| protest, the burglar treated them
with great consideration, chatting
pleasantly with them while he care
fully selected his plunder. If they
were unruly, he made short shrift by
gaging them and tying them to the
bedposts, wardrobes, doors, etc. The
gentleman burglar" never manifest
ed fear of being discovered in his
work by the police, but he was evil
dently 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 po-
lice, although he committed "A burg
laries and hold-ups within space Of
two years.
On the evening of March 81, 1910,
burglar entered the house of Mrs.
Dow in Springfield through d win
dow and, revolver in hand and his
face hidden behind black cloth,
appeared at the door of room where
Mrs. Dow, her two daughters and
thei~ guest, Miss Martha B. Black
stone, were engaged in working over
a picture puzzle. The women scream
ed when they saw the intruder and
ran into the next room, but were
halted by the command of the burg
lar. Miss Blackstone, disregarding
the command, ran screamingingly to-
ward the door, when the burglar shot
her through the heart, killing her in
stantly. One of the daughters of Mrs.
Dow, who also tried to escape, was
severly wounded by another shot.
Locket the Clue.
A locket, containing the picture Of
two women, which was found on the
lawn of house visited by the same
burglar, was identified as the prop
erty of Spencer and he was arrested
on suspicion. He made a full con-
fession of his numerous burglaries
| and of having killed Miss Blackstone