REMARKABLE MURDER TRIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3018, 17 January 1912, Page 46

REMARKABLE MURDER TRIAL.

PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEM

In Springfield!, Massachusetts, an extraordinary murder trial is engaging attention, chiefly 'because of the remarkable' Jckyll and Hyde existence which is attributed to tbo accused, Bertram Spencer. The latter, it is alleged, was a quiet clerk by daytime, a youn,g man of model habits, teetotaller, non-smoker, Seritpure-rcader, 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 Spencer, who was charged with shooting o-nd killing Miss Blackstone. a school-teacher, and the vountr clerk, who had been admired and respected as a hard worker, dutiful husband, and fond father, stood revealed by his own confession as a most startling contradiction of character and occupation in real life. Alienists from many cities are watching the case, and apparently insanity will be the defence. During counsel's address for the prosecution, the prisoner, a mild-man-nered, thin, nervous-looking young man. wept hysterically and occasionally as some particularly horrible detail was recited, shouted: "No, no; that couldn't be true; I wouldn't do a thing like that." Mrs Dow and her daughters, Harriet and Lucy, described tbo invasion of their home by a masked burglar, whom they identified as Spencer, the killing of their visitor, Miss Blackfttone, and the wounding of Miss Harriet, Dow. During the testimony of t'no women Spencer wept and cried out: "No, no; T didn't." They told how Miss Blackstone was slain, when she screamed and tried 1 to escape, and Miss Dow was wounded after she had thrown a chai:- at the burglar as he trained his revolver on tier motlier. A big revolver and leather holster were handed' to the witnesses; they said the weapon looked like the one used by the burglar, so did a black silk mask. These articles were taken from Spencer's home after his arrest. "The man poked a revolver at me. and, just before he fired, said, 'lf you want to die, why. die!'" said Miss Harriet Dow. At this Spencer sobbed aloud, and tremulously cried: "No, no; I didn't. Oh! you wicked, wicked girl." In court the prisoner's attitutc entirely changed. All excitement, disappeared, arid he was apparently the least concerned and most apathetic man in court. It is difficult so far to understand whether Spencer js a clever scoundrel and consummate actor, or a mere simpleton, with intervals of homicidal mania; it is agreed, however, unanimously, that the prisoner is by far the most interesting psychological "study with which an American court has beei; confronted for a very long time.