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Story
October 8, 1912
The Dakota Chief
Gann Valley, Buffalo County, South Dakota
What is this article about?
In Detroit, 30-year-old laborer George Brown Spengler confessed to the murders of 12-year-old Matilda Reis and 11-year-old Helen Brown in 1909, plus attacks on two other girls, solving mysteries that puzzled police for nearly three years.
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CONFESSIONS CLEAR UP MANY MYSTERIES
Detroit Fiend Admits Attacking Several Young Girls--One Murdered
Detroit, Mich., Oct. 4.--If the story which George Brown Spengler told last night proves to be true the mystery of a crime which has puzzled Detroit police and detectives for nearly three years has been cleared up.
Spengler, a laborer 30 years old, was arrested in connection with the murder of 12-year-old Matilda Reis, whose mutilated body was found in an alley near her home Tuesday night. He confessed not only to having killed and mistreated the child, but told the police he also mistreated and murdered Helen Brown, 11 years old, whose body was found in a coal yard on December 12, 1909.
Four other girls have been attacked in Detroit in the last 13 months, one of them being permanently injured and the others less seriously hurt. Spengler admits responsibility for two of these offenses. In each case the child was attacked as she lay asleep in her parents' home.
For more than a year a succession of attacks on women and girls has mystified local police officials. Women have been knocked down and dragged into dark alleys. With Spengler's confession it was at first thought the mysterious "prowler" had been discovered, but early today city detectives stated their belief that Spengler was not the perpetrator of these outrages.
Detroit Fiend Admits Attacking Several Young Girls--One Murdered
Detroit, Mich., Oct. 4.--If the story which George Brown Spengler told last night proves to be true the mystery of a crime which has puzzled Detroit police and detectives for nearly three years has been cleared up.
Spengler, a laborer 30 years old, was arrested in connection with the murder of 12-year-old Matilda Reis, whose mutilated body was found in an alley near her home Tuesday night. He confessed not only to having killed and mistreated the child, but told the police he also mistreated and murdered Helen Brown, 11 years old, whose body was found in a coal yard on December 12, 1909.
Four other girls have been attacked in Detroit in the last 13 months, one of them being permanently injured and the others less seriously hurt. Spengler admits responsibility for two of these offenses. In each case the child was attacked as she lay asleep in her parents' home.
For more than a year a succession of attacks on women and girls has mystified local police officials. Women have been knocked down and dragged into dark alleys. With Spengler's confession it was at first thought the mysterious "prowler" had been discovered, but early today city detectives stated their belief that Spengler was not the perpetrator of these outrages.
What sub-type of article is it?
Crime Story
Mystery
What themes does it cover?
Crime Punishment
Tragedy
What keywords are associated?
Detroit Murders
Child Attacks
Confession
Serial Assaults
Prowler Mystery
What entities or persons were involved?
George Brown Spengler
Matilda Reis
Helen Brown
Where did it happen?
Detroit, Mich.
Story Details
Key Persons
George Brown Spengler
Matilda Reis
Helen Brown
Location
Detroit, Mich.
Event Date
December 12, 1909, And Recent As Of October 4
Story Details
George Brown Spengler confessed to murdering and mistreating 12-year-old Matilda Reis and 11-year-old Helen Brown, and to attacking two other girls in their homes while they slept.