Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 February 1905 — WOMAN NOT TO HUNG [ARTICLE]

WOMAN NOT TO HUNG

Vsrmont’s Gov irnor Grants Four Month’s Respits to a Fiend in Fair Form. MERCY ENTIRELY UNEXPECTED Condemned Woman Had Given Up AH dope, but bhe w eem« Unaffected by the Tidings. Windsor, Vt., Feb. 3.—A few hours after receiving the last rites of the Roman Cutliolic church and bearing her father confessor read the prayers for the dying Mrs. Mary Mabel Rogers, who was sentenced to die upon the gallows this afternoon for the most diabolical murder of her husband, listened to the announcement of High Sheriff Henry 11. Peck that Governor Charles J. Bell had granted her a reprieve of four months. 'The news from Montpelier that the governor had consented to defer the execution of Mrs. Rogers (tine as a surprise not only to the condemned woman, but also to all the officials, as it had been generally accepted that the governor would refuse to Interfere. Everything Ready for Her Death. Preparations for the execution had been perfected. The gallows had been erected, and when the news of Governor Bell’s action was carried to the prison the officials hesitated to believe the announcement until Governor Bell called up E. W. Oakes, the prison superintendent, by long distance telephone and formally notified him that Mrs. Rogers had been granted a reprieve that her allegation that she had not had a fair trial might be passed upon by the supreme court Thought It Wu Her Death Warrant. Sheriff Peck carried the news of the reprieve to the prisoner. Apparently supposing that the sheriff had come to read the death warrant she arose and moved tow ard the door. Sheriff Peck had never seen Mrs. Rogers before that moment. He told her the news—that the governor had granted her a reprieve until June 2 —she remained like a statue, as though unable to comprehend the meaning of the words. Without a sign of emotion jshe gazed at the sheriff a moment and then said: “I had given up ail hope, but I atn glad that the governor has granted me more time. He Is a good man.” Mrs. Rogers seemed unaffected by the tidingn and as the sheriff moved away from the door of the death cell she returned to the table and resumed writing a letter to her mother, -The reprieve was obtained by tremendous pressure put on the governor because the criminal was a woman.

DEED THAT THE WOMAN DID How She Deluded Her Husband to Death by Binding Him. The crime for which Mrs. Rogers was sentenced to death was the murder of her husband, Marcus Rogers, on Aug. 12, 1902, at Bennington. He held u life insurance policy for SSOO, and they bad separated, she having another man in view who would have nothing to do with her while her husband was living. In order to carry out her plan she pretended to desire a reconciliation with her husband, and he went home to her. Shortly afterward she proposed a walk to the river bank near where they lived; heagreedonthewalk; they took with, them lycon Perham. a favorite of the woman, and also Estella Pates. As they sat talking on the river bank the woman brought the conversation around to Rogers’ physical strength and wondered if she could tie him so that he could not break loose. lie agreed to let her try and she tied his hands behind his back. When satisfied that he could not get loose she had him lie down. Then Perham held Rogers’ feet while she applied chloroform to his mouth with her handkerchief. He struggled frantically, but the fumes finally overcame him. The body was thrown into the river, with a note fastened to his clothes, written by the woman, stating that he had committed suicide. Perham was arrested and confessed. He was sent up for life. The Bates’ woman was set free, and Mrs. Rogers was convicted and sentenced to be hanged. Perham. in prison for life, safe from further punishment, has row told a story that Mrs, Rogers did not apply the chloroform, but that he (Perham) did. Nothing has been left undone to save her life because she is a woman, and thousands of persons have pleaded in petitions and othefwise for her. Senate and Hon** In Rrleb Washington, Feb. 3. The senate spent much time discussing the tributlon of and garden seeds by the agricultural department, the agricultural appropriation bill being under consideration, and the usual attack being made. The bill was pending at adjournment. The postofflee appropriation bill was still under consideration when the house adjourned. The provision for special rail facilities on trunk lines was retained in the bill. Coavlcted Men Want Pardon. Washington, Feb. 3.—Diller B. Gross, convicted of postal boodlery, has petitioned the president for pardon. This petition, together with one for the par don of Samuel A. Gross, has been referred to Justice Pritchard, who presided at Lbelr trial.