The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-10-06
[IG0 TEACHERS ASSASSIN
/ ADMITS OTHER MURDERS

lOuItScn huu LW0uIy muTuST6 dlISI
his capture last night. was routed out
Of his cell bunk after breakfast this
morning and led into room in de-
tective headquarters Surrounded by
Chief McWeeney, Captain Of Detec-
tives Halpin. Assistant States Attor-l
ney Sullivan and the detectives who
arrested him, he began calmly to re-
peat the story he told under severe
grilling last night.
"But what made you do 1t, MANI"
demanded Captain Halpin. Good God,
hadn't you any soul?"
The prisoner dropped his attitude
Of calm repose and hunched up in
his chair. He began talking more
rapidly and in excited tones.
Some one brought me into this
world he said, his voice pitching
higher. Some one didn't know and
haven't ever seen. She threw me
into the Home for the Friendless.
Then woman adopted me, and turn
ed me into the street. Made me sell
papers for a living. Call that teacn-
| ing you how to get a soul?"
| Without interruption, Spencer ran
! on. He told how he made his first
appearance at Joliet penitentiary, be-
cause he stole some clothes, how he
came out with a brain full OF burg
/ lars tricks and how he started a
criminal career that led him into a
/ dozen prisons.
But what made you kill these wom-
en?" insisted Halpin.
This was the question that brought
the trade from Spencer. What made
me kill emf" he screamed. why
shouldn't | have killed 'em. They
i played me for my money and play.
ed them for their diamonds. Every
time saw woman with diamond
III wanted to kill her on the spot."
4 Chief OF Police McWeeney, who
grilled Spencer for three hours and
4 then routed him out of his cell hunk
:, early this morning for another exam
nation, declared today that he be
Il 1ieved the opium fiend had committed
at least four Of the murders to which
he has confessed.
I'VE have the goods on him in tht
Rexroat case" said McWeeney. (
, questioned him particularly about tht
murder of Patrollmen Phelan and De
s vine who were killed while chasing
burglar eight years ago know tha
case very well and he gave me detail
that convinces me he was telling th
truth.
, II am certain that Spencer kille
:. Mrs. Frances Thompson, who wa
!, murdered In her rooming house. H
gave me details about that murde
. that never got into the newspaper
Some Of his other stories may be no
q yarns but am positive he is eithe
4 guilty or was implicated in these otf
er four crimes"
/. Spencer was sent to cell at 8 ]
!, M, last night, four hours after he ha
s been trapped as the slayer Of Mrs. A
q lison-Rexroat and slept like baby
Telegraphic information receive
q. by the pollce caused an aiInost toet
collapse of Spencer's story in so ia
as 1t concerned alleged victims
other cities. Authorities in most Il
stances were unable to find any re
j ords of the murders Spencer declare
IN he committed.
y Captain Halpin Of the detective d
r. partment, learned today that viii
:. Spencer was prisoner at Joliet
n Henry stancer, under sentence ft
I'd burglary, he spent several months
m the department of the criminally
s. sane. Upon his release he came
n Chicago and appearing at detecti'
,n headquarters in search of work, 10
ns Frank Schannessy, stenoSraphe
or that he had killed boy several yea
before and "had done lot OF otn
l q