The morning call., 1891-02-18
A COWARDLY PLOT.
Abortive Attempt to Disgrace an
Aged Couple.
A Reward Arouses Servants cupidity-she
Accuses Her Employers of Arson.
A Conspirator's Confession.

81 we'll remember my first criminal case"
said prominent attorney at the City Hall
Yesterday, land in my quarter of century
of practice have known no more bitter dis
appointment, nor experienced such righteous
indignation than that proved to be the
source OF.
when pursuing my vocation in San Jose
had frequently heard of family living in
the suburbs named Rogers. Their residence
was q handsome one, and, as far as |
ever ascertained, the people were very
well off.
zone night when all of the family. in
Guiding the servant, were out, a fire broke
out in very mysterious manner, and before
any assistance could be procured to stay
the progress of the flames, the entire
structure was consumed. The property had
been insured by local company for $1,000,
and in few days Rogers presented his
claim for the indemnity.
A REWARD OFFERED.
mo objection was made by the company
to its payment, but the circumstances of the
fire had aroused universal suspicion, and a
reward of $1,000 was offered for the arrest
and conviction of the supposed incendiary.
A few days elapsed and then the President
Of the company retained me to prosecute
rogers anu Ills vic lUI dlSQu. II SttiHtu
that the servant had applied for the reward
and stated that she, together with her
brother and sister, had seen the act commit
ted. She stated that they were returning
about midnight from a party and had
assembled the front steps of the house when
through the glass panel of the door they
saw a light moving about. Immediately
thereafter the confederation burst out and
Rogers was seen stealing away III the dark
ness.
A PLAUSIBLE STORY.
This seemed plausible enough, and |
saw and examined all of the parties receiv-
Ing stories similar in every detail from each.
The first step taken was to secure the in
dicIment of Rogers and his wife, and when
the fact that they stood accused of the
crime became public, the utm' st excitement
prevailed.
'As / said, the old man was we'll off, and
the insurance was TO him mere drop in the
bucket. His friends and acqlantances
were numerous, and they one and all de-
cla"ed the charge preposterous.
well, l worked up the case to my salts
faction, and on the morning Of the opening
Of the trial sat In NV Office reviewing my
notes in the case. The chain Of circum-
stances seemed complete. and il was not
without satisfaction. although | greatly
pitied the old couple, that l looked forward
to an almost certain victory in my first Grim
inal case.
POPULAR OPINION AROUSED.
My position WAS not an enviabe one,
however fer on every side | heard Iemon-
strances against the proceedings, and some
of my best friends exhibited II GOODNESS
toward me when | refused to drop my coz
nectiOn with tile case. / realized the diff
Guilty | would experience in procuring an
impartial jury. and knew that the court
room would be crowded with the friends
and sympatllizers of the accused, surround
ings which are always favorable to them.
LAS | said, | was sitting in my office,
awaiting the hour TO proceed to court, when
my oftice-boy announced a caller. The par
ties upon whose testimony 4 relied we're, as
l have stated, the girl resid ing with the
X gers, her sister, living in the neig hb0r-
hood, ana brother who had but lately re-
turned from SEA. 1t was the second named
who made her appearance, and | WAS str
prised to see her pale and somewhat bystcr-
ical
THE PLOT EXPOSED.
Sitting down she made the astounding
statement that the accusation against the
Rogers was an Infamous plot, cOncOcted by
her sister and connived at by herself and
brother, TO secure the $1,000 reward. In
credulouS, | made her relterate her state
ment, aud, taking il down. demanded her
signature to the writing, which sac un-
hesitat!ngly gave
:" 1t is needless to say that the trial did
not begin that morning. but was continued.
Thoroughly disguSted 1 threw up the case,
when, to my amaZenent, this apparently
abandoned liar announced that her confess
sion to me was false. aud that her former
assertions as to having witnessed the crime
were true.
Again the interest in the case revived,
and the insurance company, although they
appealed in vain for my services, demanded
That the prosecution should proceed.
THE CASE OPENED.
1.-The trial came on, but so Thoroughly I'M
trustworthy had the girl proved herself that
conviction was despaired Of. On the stand
she was Tightly and constantly contrelicted
herself. But public opinion was becoming
too strong to further allow this seeming per-
SecutiOn. and the case was finally drUpped,
never having gone TO the jury.
That sickened me Of criminal law" said
the attorney, ''lor my practice since then
has been, with few exceptions, exclusively
with civil matters"