The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-10-06
COnfesses to Killing Her and
10 Other Persons.
HIS MOTIVE WAS ROBBERY
Dead WOman'S Suitcase Found
in His Room.
Gave Diamond Ring to Woman
of the Street.


gan their grewsome investigation of the
almost unparalleled confession last
night of Henry Spencer that he is the
murderer of 20 persons. Possessing evil
dence to support his admission that ne
KILLED Mrs. Mildred Allison Rexroat,
the dancing instructor, on September
%. the authorities are convinced that
they will in a short time confirm spen-
GERS guilt of many, if not all of tn
crimes named in the confession. Fol
lowing his arrest for the Rexroat muir
der which was made at the home OF a
woman who had notified the police or
his coming. detectives went to Spen-
GERS room where they found the rat
tan suitcase which the tango teacher
had taken with her on the fatal trip
TO Wayne. She was lured there on tne
pretext that she was to instruct a Grass
in the new dance. In it was part OF her
clothing and not far away the reVolEer
with which Spencer ended her ire Eu
route to the detective bureau, Spencer
admitted to Chief of Detective John j.
Halpin that you've got the gooos oh
me. [ know I'll swing for this"
Then began his extraordinary recltal
of the murders he has committed, the
list of victims growing longer as the
questioning continued on through th0
night By morning Spencer nao aa-
to their graves and told repeatedly the
manner of their going:
List of Victims.
One of two farmers shot near ZION
City. ILL.,, in the spring of 1913 Peter
Niedermeier, one of the car oaII
bandits who afterwards was hangeo'
killed the other he said Obtained Sooo.
Policemen Timothy Devine and Chas'
Pennell. shot in August, 1902, When
they surprised Spencer and man
named Murphy breaking into house'
Murphy now dead.
Fannie Thompson, body found Janu-
arv / 1908. gagged and bound in bed
in a Michigan avenue rooming house.
Robbed of diamonds worth $1,2OO;
Former wife, at WaIkerv1lte' S'nl-'
beaten to death and body burned
Former wife, near Fort Montgom-
erv N. v. beaten to death in woods
Robbed of $500 and diamonds worth
Aged man in washington park, last
spring. Shot and body thrown in
lagoon. Got $500 in cash.
Two women at Delavan Lake, WIS
consin, in June. Killed with manner
and bodies thrown in lake
Woman in house near county hos
pitaI Used hammer and burned
clothes. Got S140 and rings.
Woman in house at Fulton and Hal
sted streets about eight months ago
Used hammer and burned clothing
Robbed house.
near Aberdeen. Shot man ana
wounded wife while robbing saloon.
Man shot and killed in alley under
south side elevated about a year ago:
Mrs Mildred Allison Rexroat, shot
near Wayne, in September, and BODY
placed on railroad tracks.
Ida oliver, killed with hammer
November 9, 1912. Body thrown INTO
Unknown man and wife Killed at
Fox Lake, Illinois, in September, 1911,
and bodies thrown in lake.
Unknown man who brushed against
him at Forty-second street and Indi-
ana avenue last spring. Shot, body
dragged into alley and robbed.
Saloonkeeper in Park Row, killed
about two months ago and robbed.
Mrs. Connors, killed at St Joseph,
Mich, and robbed of jewelry.
Product of Chicago.
The man who claims this almost
unbelievable record is a Chlcago prod
net. He doesn't know his real name
and the first he remembers he was in
the home for the friendless, located
within a block of the scene of his ar
rest. He has spent half his 80 years
in the state penitentiary at Joliet. He
was sentenced twice for wholesale
robberies and was returned twice fol-
lowing violation of paroles
He is short, weighs about 145
pounds, wears glasses and has the
appearance of a clerk whose life has
known little excitement. He has
been a devout worshipper at the
PRAYER meetings of the Immanuel
Baptist church and attended the we'd
ding of its pastors daughter three
nights before he accompanied Mrs
Rexroat down a lonely stretch of rail-
road track near Wayne, grasped her
by the neck and placed a revolver to
her head.
In manner as unconcerned as
though he We're repeating the number
of dances he had attended, Spencer
sat with detectives and newspaper
men in the office of Captain Halpin
and told of the lives he had taken.
Details as to names and date he
could not always supply, but as to
whether he beat 'em in the head with
a hammer or ''shot 'em to death,
his memory was better.
He also remembered approximately
how much money or jewels he got
from his victims. He said he did not
drink nor smoke-eXcept opium. He
repeatedly asserted that he had not
touched a pill'' for two days and a
physician who examined him de-
clared the prisoner was not under the
influence of the drug.
Knows He Will Be Hanged.
my head is as clear as a bell.'
Spencer said. you have got me dead
to rights on the ReXroat murder and
1 know that / shall be hanged in
couple of months. That is why |
want TO tell everything else and get 1t
out of the way. / want to tell all ana
then be treated decently until they
pull the rope"
After hours of questioning Spencer
Il have been in and out of prisons
since 1 was a boy" he replied Il
have been hunted and bounded all my
life. ] am sore on the world. Ny