The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1913-10-08
persons, Including The
RexrOat Woman.
ROBBERY ALWAYS HIS MOTIVE
Modern B.uebeard Recites
Story of Horror Con-
corning His Killings.
< HAMMER HIS DEADLY WEAPON

Chicago. " Oct. Mrs. Mildred
Allison Rexroat, dancing teacher.
who was shot to death at Wheaton,
ILL.,. a week ago, was the victim of
modern Bluebeard, who, according
to his own confession, had killed
thirteen others in as many years.
Henry Spencer, arrested in a room
near the South Side Levee district,
tonight confessed that he not only
killed Mrs. ReXroat, but that he had
slain fourteen persons. He was
positively identified as the mystic
rious Mr. Spencer. with whom Mrs
Rexroat left Chicago on the night
she was killed.
Mrs. Retreats boodstained rat
tan suit case was found in his room.
as was the revolver with which he
said he had killed her.
The police. while in doubt as to
the full truth of Spencer's story, are
confident they have found whole
sale murderer and that he Will be
proved to have killed at least several
/ of those whose deaths he described
in long confession tonight.
Spencer's confession was so start
ling it probably would have received
no credence had not the bloody suit
case and the revolver confirmed at
least part of bis statement.
The following is the list Of kill
ings Spencer related. to the police:
Prior to September -, 1912:
Patrolmen Timothy Devine and
Charles Pencil, shot at Ashland
avenue and Congress- street, where
they surprised Spencer and man
named Murphy in the act OF fore
ing the door of a house. Murphy
/, died in the penitentiary, Spencer
said.
Fannie Thompson, murdered in a
rooming house at Twelfth street and
Michigan avenue; robbed of dia-
monds worth $1,000. Luman Mann.
son of a wealthy Chicagoan. narrow
ly escaped conviction on circumstan-
tial evidence for this crime.
September IL. 1912, to Septem-
Der %, 1913:
Two girls at Pawpaw. Mich. in
May or June. Beat them on the
head with a hammer and threw
their bodies into the lake
Girl at Delvin Lake. Wis, in
June, killed with hammer and body
thrown into water.
Aged man in Jackson Park last
spring Met the man at the Illinois
Central Station and went with him
to Washington Park There Spen-
Ger shot him and threw the body
into the swan pond. This was about
fslx months ago. Robbed body of
5000.
Woman in house at Fulton and
Halsted streets about eight months
ago Killed her with hammer
Burned her clothing and robbed the
house.
Woman in a house about two
blocks from the county hospital
Again used a hammer and burned
the clothing. Got $40 and some
rings.
Woman in Belle Isle Park. De-
troit. Mich Met the woman in New
York. Came with her TO Chicago
and then both went to Detroit. He
beat her 10 death and took her
money, burning her clothes and
body. Did not know her name
They all lie TO YOU" he said,
His first wife at Montgomery. N.
y. Beat her TO death and took $500
In money and diamonds worth $500.
English immigrant woman. Killed
her near Western avenue and threw
her body into drainage canal. Body
was recovered. but identity never
established.
Saloonkeeper on Van Dnren
street near Aberdeen street. Shot
man and wounded is wife while
robbing saloon.
Mrs. Mildred Allison Rexroat.
murdered at Wayne. H.. September
2e
All OF his murders, except two. he
declared. had been for the purpose
ef robbery. The two, Policemen
Eennell and Devine. shot TO death