The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-07-31
GALLOWS
Await Henry Spencer For
Murder


Spencer, whom the police of Chicago
have declared to be one of the most
remarkable criminals with whom they
have ever had to deal, is awaiting
execution for the murder of Mrs.
Mildred Allison-Rexroat, tango
teacher whom he lured to a lonely
spot in this section last October and
then killed her for her money and
jewels. The execution of Spencer
will take place tomorrow morning,
unless the intervening hand of the
Supreme Court is stretched out again
at the eleventh hour to deny the
moose its victim.
Owing to the atrocity of the murder
and the sensational history of the
convicted man, who at the time Of his
arrest confessed not only to the muir
der of Mrs. Allison-Rexroat but
several other murders committed in
various parts of Illinois within recent
years, the case of Spencer has attract
ed countrywide attention.
The murder of Mrs. Allison-Rex-
roat was committed late in the even
ing at a lonely spot near the village
of Wayne. The victim was choked
and shot through the head and then
placed on the tracks of an interurban
railroad, where a train mangled her
body. The crime was discovered by
the motorman of the train which ran
over the body of the woman and he
promptly notified the authorities.
The body Of the victim was crushed
beyond recognition, but by means of
her bracelet and bag, containing
her card and some papers, the vic
tim was identified as Mrs. Allison
Rexroat, the divorced wife Of a far
mer living near Macomb, Ill. For
several years she had resided in
Chicago and was supposed to make
her living as a dancing teacher.
Not until several weeks after the
murder did the Chicago police find
the club that led to the arrest of
Spencer. From an acquaintance of
the murdered woman 1t was learned
that she had an appointment with
man named Spencer for the evening
oil which she met her death. She was
to accompany him to Wayne to teach
tango class which he said he had
formed there.
After his arrest in Chicago Spencer
made full confession of the murder
of Mrs. Allison-Rexroat, giving all the
details of the case and a graphic
description of the murder itself. He
also declared that he had committed
number of other murders and rob-
berries and created a tremendous SEN
alton by giving detailed accounts of
the numerous crimes which he
claimed to have committed. A care
full investigation by the police esta-
blished the fact that many of Spen-
GERS alleged confessions were mere
fiction, or the figments of a drug
crazed imagination.
When Spencer was arraigned in
court last November to be tried for
murder he was not represented by a
lawyer. He refused to plead not
guilty and demanded that he be tried
on the spot and sentenced to death.
The court declared itself ready to hear
the case then and there without a
jury if Spencer would plead guilty,
but this the prisoner refused to do,
saying that he fully understood the
motive of the court, which he believ-
ed to be to sentence the prisoner to
life imprisonment instead of pro-
nouncing the death sentence on him.
Later Spencer changed his mind
and engaged counsel to direct his de-
fense. A plea of insanity was made
and evidence introduced to show that
Spencer came from a family tainted
with insanity and had suffered SER
ious injury to his brain while child.
The confessed murderer was found
guilty, however, and sentenced to be
executed on December 19. An appeal
to the supreme court served as stay
of execution. The higher tribunal
upheld the verdict of the trial court
and the convicted man was again
brought face to face with the galloWS.
Several women's clubs and church
organizations made an unsuccessful
effort to have the Governor commute
the sentence to life imprisonment
The Governor declined to take such
action but allowed time for the
counsel of Spencer to again bring his
case to the attention of the supreme
court.
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"**The fourth annual reunion Of the
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