Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-10-07

Chicago, Oct. 6.-The police toda!
began their investigation of the almos,
UNPARALLELED confession last night o.
Henry Spencer that he is the murderer
of twenty persons. Possessing evi
dence to support. his admission thai
he killed Mrs. Mildred Allison -Rexoat
the dancing instructor on September
< 25, the authorities are convinced tna'
they will in a short time confirm
Spencer's guilt as to many II not all
the crimes of his, crimson career.
After his arrest last night for the
Rexroat murder, which was made al
the home of a woman who had inform
ed the police of his coming, detectives
went to- Spencer's room where they
found the rattan suit case which the
tango teacher. had taken with her
on her fatal trip to Wayne, III. She
was lured there on the pretense that
she was. to instruct a class Ia the new
j dance, Ii. the suit case was part of
her clothing. and III the room was the
revolver with which Spencer ended
her life. sss' !. f..'s Isl saFsy
1 u N Admjts HIS Guilt.
En- route to the detective bureau
Spencer admitted, 10 chief OF detectives
J.. Halpin, that. you've got. the goods
on me; 4 know I'll swing for this.
Then began his}extraordinary recital
of the murders he committed, the list
Of VICTIMS growing longer as the cues
tioulng continued through the night.
ByymorninR Spencer had asserted-that
he had sent the following to their
graves and told repeatedly the manner
Sof their going:
One Of two farmers. shot near Zion
City, Ills. in the spring Of 1908. Peter
Widermeier, one Of the car barn band
its who afterwards was hanged. killed
the other, he said. Obtained $3.50.
Policeman Timothy Devine and
Charles Pennell, shot In August, 1902.
when they surprised Spencer and .
man named Murphy breaking into q
house. Murphy Is now dead.
Fannie Thompson, body found Jan.
8uary /, 1908, gagged and bound in bed
in a Michigan avenue rooming house.
Robbed OF diamonds worth $1,000.
Former wife, at Walkerville, Ont.
Beaten to death and body burned She
was New York widow, name forgot
ten.
Former wife, near Fort Montgomery,
N. Y Beaten to death in woods.
Robbed of 5000 and diamonds worth
$500. Former maid to Helen Gould.
Aged man in Washington park last
spring. Shot and body thrown in the
lagoon, Got 5000 in cash.
Two women at Delavan Lake. Wis,
in June. Killed with hammer and
bodies thrown in lake.
Woman in house near Cook county
hospital. Used hammer and burned
clothes. Got $40 and rings.
Woman in house at Fulton and Hal
sted streets about eight months ago.
Used hammer and burned clothing.
Robbed house.
Saloon keeper on Van Buren, street
near Aberdeen Shot man and wound
ed wife while robbing saloon.
Unknown man and wife killed at
For Lake, Ill, in September, 1911, and
bodies thrown in lake.
Unknown man who brushed against
him at Forty-second street and Indiana
avenue last spring. Shot, body drag
ged into alley and robbed
Saloonkeeper in Park Row killed
about two months ago and robbed.
Man shot and killed in alley under
south side elevated about year ago.
Mrs Mildred Allison Rexroat, shot
near Wayne. Sept. Is, and body placed
on railroad tracks.
Ida Oliver. killed with hammer Nov.
q, 1912. Body thrown into drainage
canal and recovered May 20, 1913.
Has Prison Record.
The man who claims this almost un-
believable record is Chicago product.
He does not know his real name and
the first he remembers he was in the
Home of the Friendless, located within
a block Of the scene Of his arrest last
right. He has spent half of his thirty
two years in the state penitentiary at
Joliet. He was sentenced twice for
robberies and was returned twice fol-
lowing violation of paroles.
He is short. weighs about 145
pounds, wears glasses and has the ap-
pearance Of clerk, whose life has
known little excitement. He has been
q worshipper at the prayer meetings
OF the Emmanuel Baptist church and
attended tho 77edding Of its pastors