The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1913-10-09
A OF TANGO
TEACHER SAYS HE
KILLED 10 OTHERS

Chicago, Oct. 7.-NVhile the police
are satisfied that Harry Spencer IL
guilty of many murders besides that
OF Mrs. Mildred Allison Rexroat. they
were forced to the conclusion today
that his statement that he murdered
20 persons is an exaggeration.
Spencer is addicted to the opium
habit, a symptom Of which is a weird
and grotesque imagination. Some
years ago the police had occasion to
investigate his conduct and learned
that while In prison at Joliet on a
charge OF larceny, the prison authori-
ties had regarded him as mentally de-
7fective and from time to time con-
fined him In the infirmary. He told
fellow prisoners of having committed
several murders.
After he was released from the PEN
itentiary he came to Chicago and vis-
tied detective headquarters. where he
said he wanted to live square" and
asked to be assisted to employment.
He told Frank Shennessy, secretary to
Chief of Detectives Halpin, that he
had committed several murders. Shen.
messy identified him today and said
that at the time OF S~pencer's visit In
search OF employment, ne considered
the man mentally unsound.
Dispatches from Detroit, Delavan
AELhEpRfN AStr altd 9NlOSiiClls GANs Ly OhI
further shook official faith In the con-
fessions. Investigations at these
points, while not absolutely disprov-
ing Spencer's statements. indicated
there was little likelihood that they
were true.
fictiont,' said Captain HaIpin today,
but on the whole. Iebelieve he Is ali
most as great a criminal as he claims
to- bet'
The woman Spencer said he MUIR
adered near the county hospital was
shown by police records today to have
been Mrs. Annabel Wright, who was
beaten on the head last December.
robbed Of $50 and two diamond rings
and who succumbed to her injuries
June 10 last.
After his arrest last night for the
Rexroat murder, which was. made at
the home OF a woman who had noti-
fled the police OF. his coming, detectives
went to Spencer's room, where they
found the rattan suitcase, which the
tango teacher had taken with her on
her fatal trip to Wayne, Ill. She was
lured there on the pretext that she was
to instruct a class In the new dance. In
the suitcase vas part OF her clothing,
and In the room was the revolver with
which Spencer ended her life.
Enroute to the detective bureau
aDpGAlICII duII1llIGIGa 10 NIle rOI# IGItCl-
Ives John HaIpins that, You've got the
goods on mel know III swing for
this '"4 49, - . 4
List OF His Victims.
Then began his extraordinary recital
of the murders he committed, the list
of victims growing larger as the ques-
tioning continued through the night.
BY morning Spencer had asserted that
he had sent the following to their
graves and told repeatedly the mannet
of their going. @%...
One of two farmers shot near
Zion City, Ill. In the spring OF 1903.
Peter Widermeler, one OF the car
barn bandits. VINO afterwards was
hanged. killed the other he said.
Policemen Timothy Deyine and
Charles Penneli. shot In August,
1902 when they surprised Spencer
and a man named Murphy breaking
INTO a house. Murphy now dead.
Fannie Thompson. body found .
August ], 1908 gagged and bound in 3
house. Robbed Of diamonds worth RI
1900. @ .".' .
Beaten to death and body burned.
She was a New York widow. name
forgotten.
Former wife. near Fort Montgom-
%t cry. ~, " Beaten to death In
woods. Robbed of $500 and dia-
monds worth ssN. Former maid to
Helen Gould a-
, Aged man In Washington Park,
last spring. Shot and body thrown
In lagoon. Got $500 in cash.
Two women at Delavan Lake,
sy WIS, in June. Killed with hammer
AMI bodies thrown into lake.
Woman In house near Cook conn-
+ ty hospital, Uaed hammer and
burned clothes. Got $50 and rings.
Woman In, hoese at Fulton and
S Halstead Streets about eight
| months 3 Tied hammer and
burned clothing. RobbSd house.
SaloonkeeDer On Van Buren, street
near Aberdeen Shot man and
wounded wife while robbing saloon.
Man. shot ard killed In alley under
south side eleveted about a year
q s~- st.~s E. -
Mrs. Mildred Allison. Rexroat. d
shot near Wayne, ILL.,, September %
and BODY placed on railroad tracks.
G a Oliver, killed with hammer
November 8, 19i2.s Body thrown
into drainage canal and recovered
May 20, 1913.
Mrs. Connors, killed at St. Joseph, ~
Mich, nd robbed of jewelry. VII
Unknown man and wife killed at
Fox Lake, Ill, September, 1911, and -
bodies thrown In lake. ~
Unknown nan who brushed -
against him at Forty-second street
and Indiana avenu last spring.
Shot, body dragged into alley and
robbed. ~ --
SaIoonkeeper In Park Row killed
about two months ago ard robbed T.