Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-17
GRAPE ON THE DOOR
Breaks Sad News to Thomas
Rodgers or BOgges
UPON HIS RETURN HOME.
How He Eluded Arrest While in
Hamilton, Ontario.
JPON HIS RETURN HOME.
THE AFFLICTED MANS STORY

Thomas Rodgers, whose name in Hamil-
ton, Ontario, is said to be Bogges, the hus-
band of the woman who died under peculiar
circumstances at her home. corner Anderson
and Robinson streets, Allegheny, early Sat
urdav morning, arrived home yesterday
from Canada, where he had an adventure
with Canadian detectives. He will attempt
to ship the body of his wife to-day to Scran-
ton, Pa. There was a probability that the
Coroner would prevent this, but that official
says the partial post-mortem held had salts
fed him that Mrs. Rodgers, or Bogges, had
died from natural causes.
Rodgers yesterday placed his children in
an Allegheny asylum, but where they are
he refuses to say. He said his wife's rela-
tives, who have always given him trouble,
will make an attempt TO take the children
away from him. If they do he will fight the
matter.
A SAD COMING HOME.
Rodgers arrived in the city at s o'clock
yesterday morning, and proceeded to his
rooms. He claims that the first intimation
he had of his wife's death, was seeing the
piece of Grape hanging to the door bell.
When he saw the emblem of death he had
no thought of it being there for his wife.
He ascended the stairs and knocked at his
ROOM He expected his wife would respond
to his knock, but as she did not do SO, with
a feeling of dread he tried the door. He
found nobody in the rooms, and then ran
out into the hallway and called the other
inmates of the house. They gently told him
of his trouble, and he sank upon the floor
The women of the house had taken the
children from their mothers side, and pro-
vided for them. During the day Rodgers
took them to an asylum and left word that
nobody but himself should be allowed to take
them from the institution.
On Saturday Rodgers was in Hamilton.
When word was telegraphed to that place that
Mrs. Rodgers had been poisoned, her relatives
determined to put him under arrest. Five
months ago. he says, he left Canada after fail
ing in business and since that time has been on
the lookout for officers with capias from his
creditors.
HE GAVE THEM THE SLIP.
About o'clock Saturday afternoon he was
in his mothers house and saw three detectives
approaching. They went to the back of the
house, while he skipped out the front entrance.
Thinking they had capias for debt, and not
knowing anything about the charge OF poison
ing, Rodgers took the first train out
of Hamilton and came to this city.
dence by DISPATCH reporter last night, he
at first refused to say anything for publication.
After giving in substance what is stated above,
he asked that nothing more be said about the
matter on account of the publicity it would
have. He was afraid his wife's relatives wo i'd
give him trouble. He said he had been
maligned and ill treated by the Canadians, and
when asked to make denial of what his wifes
relatives had stated, he refused to do SO. He
keenly feels his loss and thinks too much pub
licity has been given tbs matter. He blames
the trouble on his wife's people, with whom he
says be could never get along. He also says he
is innocent of any wrongdoing, as far as his
business failure was concerned. He broke up
on account of trying to do too much. To the
reporter Mr.. Rodgers said:
THE MANS OWN STORY.
"As God stands before me, can solemnly
say, and with all honesty that 1 never gave my
wife a drop of poison, and everything told
about me has been lies. 1 am an honest man,
but the relatives of ny wife think have
money and want it have nothing except the
few little things have here. went home to
get few things from my mother, and barely
escaped being arrested. / didn't fail with the
intention of defrauding my creditors. left
England and came to this country with only 10
shillings in my pocket, at the age of 10 years.
/ had little education, and went to work. Year
by year l toiled along, and was building up
good business. l was ambitious, and in the
business oyerstepped myself. The crash came,
but deny that ran away. was not afraid to
meet my creditors, ana the cOnQltlOn OF my
business will show that there was no intention
to defraud.
TREATED HIS WIFE WELL.
II left Canada five months ago, not because
was afraid to face the music. but because 1
was persuaded to go. 1 did everything posi-
BILE to make my wife and children happy
When she was sick 1 nursed her tenderly for
four weeks, as no woman could do. The
women in the house know treated her as well
any husband could treat a wife, and why
they charge me with poisoning her / am at
loss to know. 1 am sure never gave them any
cause to think SO.
Il had my wife's body placed in a nice
casket and will take her to Scranton for burial
She has brother there in business, and Ter
fathers remains were inferred in Scranton. l
telegraphed her brother, and other relatives,
but as yet have had no word from them. If
do not hear anything by morning will take
the remains to Scranton. My children are safe
in an asylum, where my wife's relatives. nor
anyone else can get at them"
The people living in the house with Rodgers
corroborated everything he had stated in re-
gard to his treatment of his wife. He is afraid
of officers appearing, and trying to arrest him
for his business debts in Canada.