The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-10-07
ROBBERY MOTIVE
FOR MOST OF THEM
Spencer's Latest Alleged
Victim Was Mrs. Mildred
Rexroat, for Whose Al
legged Murder He Was
Arrested-Police Unable
to Trip Him in Any of the
Statements.
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS.


Chicago, Oct. 6.-While the police
were satisfied that Harry Spencer was
guilty of many murders beside that of
Mrs. Mildred Allison Rexroat, they
were forced to conclude today that
this statement OF numbering twenty
persons was an exaggeration.
Spencer Is addicted to the opium
habit, symptom of which is gro
tesque imagination. Several years
ago, the police learned that while he
was in prison at Joliet on a charge
of larceny the authorities regarded
him as mentally defective. He told
fellow prisoners of having committed
several murders.
Associated Press dispatches from
Detroit, Delevan Lake, Wis, and
Goshen, N. Y, further shook official
faith in the confessions. Investiga-
tions at these points, while. not abso-
indicated there was little likelihood
that they were true.
Some OF MS stories probably are
hctfon said Police Captain Halpin to-
day, but on the whole / believe he is
almost as great a criminal as he
claims to be-
The woman whom Spencer said he
near the county hospital
was shown by police records today to
have been Mrs. Annabel Wright, who
was beaten on the head last Decem-
Der, robbed of $50 and two diamond
rings.
Police today began their grewsome
of the confession Of
Henry Spencer that he had slain six
teen persons. Possessing evidence to
Spencer's admission that he
killed Mrs. Mildred Allison Rexroat, a
dancing instructor on September 25
the authorities are convinced they will
soon confirm the mans guilt of many
if not all the crimes Of his career.
After his arrest last night for the
Rexroat murder, which was made at
the home of a woman who had noti-
fed the police of his coming, detec-
tives went to Spencer's room where
they found the suitcase which Mrs.
Rexroat had taken with her on her
fatal trip to Wayne. She was lured
there on the pretext that she was to
instruct a dancing class. In it was
part of her clothing and not far away
the revolver with which Spencer had
killed her.
Spencer admitted to Chief of De-
tectives Halpin that you've got the
this" Then began his extraordinary
recital of the murders he had COM
mitted, the list growing longer as
the questioning continued. This morn
ing Spencer asserted that he had sent
the following to their graves and told
the manner Of their going:
LONG CRIME RECORD.
One Of the two farmers, shot near
Zion City, Ill, in the spring Of 1908.
Peter Niedermeier, one os the car
bandits, who afterwards was hanged, |
killed the other, he said. Obtained |
$3.50.
Policemen Timothy E. Devine, and |
Charles Pennell, shot in August, 1902, |
when they surprised Spencer and a |
nan named Murphy breaking into a |
house. Murphy now dead.
Fanny Thompson, body found jan
1ary 1, 1908, gagged and bound in bed |
IN a Michigan avenue rooming house |
Robbed of diamonds worth $1,000.
Former wife at Belle Isle, Mich.
Beaten to death and body buried
Former New York widow, name for
-otten.
Former wife near Fort Montgom-
ry, N. 7. Beaten to death in woods
Robbed of $500 and diamonds worth !
800. Former maid to Helen Gould
Aged man in Washington Park last
pring. Shot and body thrown in la
.oon.
Two girls at Paw Paw Lake Michi-
,an, in May or June. Bodies thrown
n water.
Girl at Delaven Lake, Wis, in June
killed with hammer and body thrown
n lake.
Woman in house near cc unity hos
%of he L,r,y Il ! 9
.ot $50 and rings.
Woman in house at Fulton and
Ialsted streets. about eight months
go. Used hammer and burned cloth
ng Robbed house
Saloon keeper on Van Buren, street,
ear Aberdeen. Shot man and wound
d wife while robbing saloon
Man shot and killed in alley under