REMARKABLE MURDER TRIAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3416, 6 January 1912, Page 3

REMARKABLE MURDER TRIAL.

PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEM

In Springfield, Alaesaciiusseits, an extra ordinary murder trial is engaging attention, chiefly because of the remarkable Jekyll and Hyde existence which is attributed to the accused Bertram Spencer. The latter, it is alleged, was a quiet clerk by daytime, a young man of model habits, teetotaller, non-smoker. Scripture reader, a devoted husband and father, and with no more serious weakness than postage stamp collecting: and yet at* night, according to the evidence, he was a veritable human tiger, a robber, burglar, despoiler of women, and murderer. Two years of burglaries which had terrorised Springfield ended with the arrest of Silencer, who was charged with shooting and killing Miss Black stone, a school-teacher, and the young clei’k, who had lieen admired and respected as ti hard Avork-or. dutiful Trushand, and fond father, stood revealed by his own confesson as a most startling contradiction of- character and occupation m real life. Alienists from many cities are watching the case, and apparently insanity will lie the defence. During ootunsel’s address for the prosecution, tlie prisoner, a mild-mannered, thin, nervous-looking young man, wept hysterically and occasionally as some particularly horrible, detail was recited, shouted: “No, no; that, couldnrt be true; I wouldn’t do a thing like that. Airs Dow and her daughters, Harriet and Lucy, described the invasion ol their home by a masked burglar, whom they identified as Spencer, the killing of their visitor Miss Blakstone, and the wounding Af Miss Harriet Dow. During the testimony of the women Spencer wept and cried out: “No, no, I didn’t.” They told how Miss Blackstone was slain, when she screamed and tried to escape and Miss Dow was wounded after she had tin-own a chair at the burglar as he/trained Ins revolver on her mother. A big revolver and leatliei bolster were banded to the witnesses, they said the weapon* looked like the one* used bv the burglar, so did a black silk mask. These articles were taken from Spencer's home after his aries*. “The man poked a revolver at me, and just, before lie fired, said, ‘lf yoti want to die, why, die!”’ said Miss Harriet Dow. At this Spencer Bobbed aloud, and tremulously cried, No, no; I didn’t. Oh! you wicked, wicked gn I. Til Court* t-lie prisoner s attitude* ontirclv changed. All excitement disappeared, and he was apparently the least concerned and most, apathetic man in Court- It is difficult so far to understand whether Spencer is a clever scoundrel and consummate actor or a mere simpleton, with! intervals of tomiciclal mania; it is agreed, however unanimously, that the prisoner is. by far 'the most interesting study with which an American Court has been confronted for a long time-