The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1913-10-09
CONFESSES He
MURDERED SCORE
Henry Spencer Slew Tango
Dancer and Others.
MADE $1,000 THIS YEAR
Fiend Arrested In Chicago az He Was
Plotting to KIN Landlady-Wom-
an Teacher Dies In New
Mystery.

Chicago, Oct. line confessed
murderer of Mrs. Mildred Allison Rex
roat was captured Sunday night. He
admitted killing the dancing teacher
ten days ago at Wayne, and then I'M
der questioning told of the murder OF
score of other persons during the last
ten years. The mans name is James
Burke, alias Harry Spencer. He Is
thirty-twc years old and has spent six
teen years OF his life in penitentiaries.
Under many aliases he has served
time for highway robberies and burg
laries During the last week he has
posed as a photographer and attended
religious services at lmmanuel Bap-
t.st church. Two weeks ago he SAID
he attended the wedding Of Miss
Martha Myers. the daughter Rev.
Johnston Myers, pastor Of the church
The list of his victims as he recalls
1t follows;
Mrs Rexroat
Patrolman Pencil, Chicago.
Patrolman Deyine, Chicago.
Fannie Thompson, Chicago.
Woman whose body was found near
County hospital.
Broker whose body was found IN
Jackson park.
Woman found in room in Sangamon
street, Chicago.
Woman found in canal Chicago.
Two girls al Delayan Lake, WIS.
Two girls at Paw Paw, Mich.
One girl at Belle Isle, Detroit.
One woman found back of stock
yards, Chicago.
One girl at Fort Montgomery, New
York.
One man in alleyway in Van Buren,
street, near Morgan, Chicago.
One man and one woman five years
ago in rooming house, Chicago.
Spencer had $3.50 in his possession
when caught and states that he has
gained about $1,000 from murders and
robberies during the last year.
When asked how he killed his vic
tins, replied:
IF | could get them coming upstairs
! found a hammer handy. II ! was
alongside them used gun and some
times if the girl was not strong
would tie her up and choke her so as
to have the least trouble. | cannot say
how many persons have killed"
Among his other crimes Spencer ad-
mitted being the burglar who tied two
women and a man to their beds over
CT rarnntlv and
setting fire to the house after shooting
one OF them, The fremen just sue
ceeded In rescuing the prisoners.
Il have been married four times and
killed two OF my wives, ! got all their
money without having to kill them
Spencer was arrested at 2215 Michi
gan avenue, where he called to visit
woman.
Il had found that my landlady had
some money, and If had not been
caught would have killed her" said
Spencer.
In telling OF the Rexroat crime
Spencer said
Il first met her about two months
ago at a South side park. She tried to
play me for a farmer and | let her
think was one | took some lessons
from her.
"On Wednesday made an appoint.
ment with her TO meet me at the Fifth
avenue station Of the Aurora & Elgin
line, and we were going to Wayne to
see about starting a school there.
1T was about Z 45 when we arrived
at Wayne. | took Aer arm and walked
her along wagon road until we came
to the railroad yiaduct Then ! Just
drew my revolver and shot her in the
head. She did not scream or make
any trouble laid her body across the
track and after taking her ring walked
back TO the railroad station. A train
came along about eight o'clock and !
came back to the city"
Discovery near Argo, H., OF
the body of woman bruised by the
fingers OF the murderer who had
choked her to death and stripped Of
almost all its clothing presented for
solution mystery remarkable in it's
similarity to the now solved Rexruat
case and even more battling. All that
was established definitely was that the
victim was Ida 6. Lcegson. artist and
school teacher, former student at the
University of Chicago and pupil OF Lo-
RADIO Taft A clue to the identity of
the slayer or slayers Of the woman
was obtained from a Belt Line nagrlan
Il.