Mexico weekly ledger., 1889-08-29
RODGERS DECLARED INSANE.
The Jury, After Three Hours De
Liberation, Pronounces John
Rodgers Insane.

ASASSAS
The jury in the Rodgers insanity
case last Saturday evening returned
a verdict, after consultation for
more than three hours, that Rodg-
ers "was too insane to assist his
counsel in the case of his trial for
murder" The jury had some
difficulty at first in understanding
fully the instructions of the Judge,
and about 6 o'clock asked for an ex-
PLANTATION. Judge Hughes render
ed the necessary assistance and a
verdict as above stated was reached.
Rodgers will be taken to Mont
gomery county, whence he will be
sent to an insane asylum. If, at
any time, Rodgers should recover
his reason, he can be tried for the
murder, AS the indictment will hold
good. In all probability the matter
will never again come up in the
courts. The State has to pay the
costs of the insanity trial. Fully
SIC, 600 have been expended on the
case since the deed was committed,
and now that Rodgers is to be con-
fined in an insane asylum Mont
gomery county will be put to no
end of expense for keeping him
there.
On the 9th day of April, 1887,
there was a school district meeting
held in Montgomery county, about
half way between Wellsv1lle and
Middletown. There were two fac
tions-the Woods crowd and the
Mcnamara faction. The vote of
Rodgers was challenged and a row
began between John and Aleck
Woods and John Rodgers, in which
Rodgers was severely beaten.
During the fight Mcnamara pulled
a pistol and George Woods, anoth-
er brother, a young man ofscarcely
81, grabbed him from behind and
threw him. Before falling Nc
Namara fred his pistol over his
shoulder and the ball went through
Geo. Woods ear and cap. In the
meantime John and Alex. Woods
had been taken off of Rodgers and
the latter had gone outside of the
school house. He returned IN a
short time with pistol in hand and
approaching George Woods told
him he and his brothers we're cow
ards. Woods had scarcely time to
turn toward HIM when Rodgers
fired. Woods walked out doors and
died in a few minutes.
Rodgers took a change of venue to
this county and the case came up
for trial at the January term OF
Court, 1888, before the following
jury: J. D. Sims, Charles House.
holder, H. Mundy, Frank Pierce,
VIM. Groves, VIM. Frazier, R.. A
Herring, J. T. Crews, j. w.
Gregory, R. A. jolly, J. B. Meyers
and F. R. Dudley. The instruction:
of the Judge were for murder il
both the first and second degree. The
jury found Rodgers guilty of muir
der In the second degree ant
assessed his punishment at thirty
years in the penitentiary. Rodgers
was granted a new trial or
the ground that the sheriff hat
permitted the jury to read news
= papers while the case was in theil
hands. Afterward the plea of in
sanity was set up. It is our I'm
derstandrng Rodgers counsel ant
friends did not claim he was Graz,
when the murder was committed
/ but that if he were again tried 70
murder he could render no assist
ance to his attorneys, from the fac
n that he nas saaes bscorae insane
The issue at the insanity trial va
els the defendant rendered lneon
e petent to defend against the indie
ment by reason of insanity
!. previously stated, the jury foun
he was.
y