The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 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 whoss
caree 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 q
new and startling test. Spencer has
embraced the Christian Science faith,
and Is convinced that his experience in
the death house win be attended by
neither physical nor mental suffering
At his trial last July, when he was
found guilty Of the murder of Miss
Martha b. Blackstone, q member Oh
one Of Springield's oldest families
Spencer became pale at the mention
general closed the argument for the
state with a ringing demand for .
verdict for murder In the first regret
he gasped-then collapsed.
Now, with only a few more days t.
live, Spencer's demeanor has changed
completely. He believes that in dyina
painlessly 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 "JekyIi and Hyde.
Spencer has been characterized by
criminologists as the living prototype
Of the strange character which Stew
enson gave to fiction in "Dr. Jekyli
and Mr.. Hyde" A faithful shipping
clerk by day, at night he became o
Portable home and a wife and baby
whom he idolized, he went out to
steal and to kill and in two years
committed "a ourglaries and holdups.
At 81 he was one Of the most desperate
la~wbreakers in Massachusetts. Prior to
the murder of Miss Blackstone only one
person had the temerity to resist him.
Spencer u~nhesitatingly shot him.
Spencer, who by reason Of his af-
liability early gained the name of 1.-THE
gentleman burglar folloWed a plan
of operations which was Unusual. He
seldom committed a burglary after 10
p. m. In this way he averted sus-
piclon. He knew personally many
police officers, with whom he dis
cussed with surprising frankness-
sometimes while returning from q
burglarious expedition-the p%robabili-
ties of the gentleman burglar" I'M
doing himself. During social calls
with his wife, be entered with zest
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.
Thereafter the gentleman burglar
was not heard from for nearly six
months, and the police had begun to
hnlfaNTn thof he haI N,,IA -
fields. During this time Spencer, who
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 Harriet
and Lucy Dow, and their guest, Miss
Martha b. Blackstone. were seated
at a able ~engrossed in a picture puz-
zle. Spencer entered the room.
Throw up your hands," he shouted.
Miss Blackstone screamed. Spencer
fired two shots, either Of which would
have been fata!. Miss Blackstone died
instantly. Mrs. Dow protested. Spen-
Ger turned saVagely upon her. With
appraised chair, Miss Harriet Dow
seeking to save her mother, lunged at
the murderer. Spencer, white with
LaSe' Win an Jail, HIeu upon MISS
Dow, who fell to the floor. Spencer
fled. The alarm was quickly given, put
again tangible clues were lacking.
At this juncture the locket which
Spencer had lost and which had been
found by the owner Of the house he
had attempted to enter, was turned
over to the police. Spencer was ar
rested within SO hours. In Spencer's
home the police found loot from the
Dow home and from other burRlaries
Miss Lucy Dow positively identified
Spencer. Only a little grilling was re-
CURED to induce Spencer to tell all he
knew