Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-02-05
Outrageous Expedient to Extor,
Money.
ANOTHER JOHN ROGERS FAMILY IN THIS
CITY THE SUBJECT OF CRUEL HOAX.

CITY THE SUBJECT OF CRUEL HOAX.
A most wicked and fendish expedient to
extort money from family in this city, even
at the expense Of plunging the family into bit
ter grief and anguish, has recently been re-
sorted to. The transaction is one Of the most
heartless that has come under our notice.
The name Of John Rogers seems to cover
more base hearts than one; the John Rogers
OF brunswick took the property of others COM
mltted to the safety of bank vaults-the John
Rogers of the present notice robbed house
hold of comfort and joy.
On Friday, the goth ult., Capt. Henry B.
White of this city, received a telegram from
River Point, r. L., stating that his son, James
White, aged about 20 years, had just died in
fit, that coffin had been provided, and all
the bills were paid with the exception of $l5,
and that the body would be Immediately sent
to the parents in Augusta on the receipt of
that sum by express. The despatch was sign
ed ''John Rogers The family knew moth
ing Of this man, but supposed him to be a
friend of their son who had cared for him in
his last moments. and had kindly taken in
charge the dead body of his departed friend.
James was subject to fits, and that he had
died in one was not altogether unlikely. A
| short time previously his sister had gone to
River Point, where he was at work in fac
tory, to attend him while suffering from the
effects of one of these attacks. So the SIS
asked for was sent to John Rogers, River
Point, by express on the same day Of receiv-
ing the telegram.
The family, so suddenly called upon to
mourn, prepared the usual habiliments ex-
pressiye of grief, and awaited the arrival of
the body that the funeral ceremony might
take place. The body not arriving, on the
following Tuesday second despatch was re-
ceived from Rogers, to this effect: ''Money
not received-body not forwarded" son
of Capt. Whites from Illinois, was spending
few days with his parents here. He took
the matter in charge and Immediately replied
to the last despatch that he would take the
possible. Proceeding as far as Brunswick, a
third despatch awaited him there from Rog-
ers, reading, "Body on the way" He went
no further, but returned in the next train to
Augusta, expecting the body by the next ex-
press. The trains were watched, expecting
that the next would certainly bring the body ;
but no body or intelligence of its whereabouts
was received. Tired of waiting, and deter
mined to unravel the mystery if possible, the
elder son, on Thursday night, took the sleep
ing train for Rhode Island, arriving at River
Point at ten o'clock Friday morning.
He made diligent inquiries as to young
| man dying there by the name of White, but
could get no definite information, but the fact
| of the receival and transmission of the des-
patches relating to the subject had created
quite an excitement in the little town. He
was informed at the station that no dead body
had recently been put aboard of the train.
He went to the telegraph Office where the lady
operator produced the dispatches sent, and
said she should recognize this Rogers" if
she should again see him. On making still
further inquiries, he was told young man by
the name of White was said to be employed in
one of the Pautuckett mills. twas noon,
and the hands had left the mills for their
boarding places. He went to one of the
boarding houses, opened the door, and the
first person that he saw was his brother,
whose dead body he had come in quest of,
engaged in the usual additions preparatory to
going to dinner! We leave our readers to
Judge of the surprise at meeting. James had
just learned Of the anxiety in community
about young man of his name, but could
call to mind no such acquaintance as Rogers,
although man bearing that name had been
seen within few days about the place, but
had pulled up stakes before this.
The overseer of the factory said that the
health of the boy was poor; he was able
to work but portion Of the time, and advised
his brother to take him home. Neglecting
| to telegraph until too late before the depart
| ure of the train, the brothers took the next
train for home. When they arrived in Bos-
| ton it was too late to send private dispatches.
| They went to the journal office, told their
story briefly, and the proprietors of the paper
got despatch through to this city, which was
| the first intelligence the parents had that
| their son, whom they had supposed dead,
''was alive again" Proceeding on their
homeward way, the two young men arrived
here on Saturday morning, in the sleeping
| train.
The meanness of this base strategy to ex-
tort money, if ever so small sum, we trust
may never have a parallel. The affair has
caused quite an excitement in River Point
and Providence; the authorities of these
places are looking for this John Rogers, and
when found, if he does not suffer at the stake
like his ancient namesake, he should be
taught to realize to some extent the emo rmity
of his crime.
The papers have been trotting out their
mean men, giving publicity to Insignificant
souls who steal coppers from dead mems eyes,
pillow the dead head upon bundle of shaw
ings,- at midnight and dig up the posts Of
| tho hu yarI ropca ont down tho min.