Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-10-19

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". s. Rogers, Who passed forged check
in this city last winter, was lodged in Ken
nebsc jail by Marshal Crawford Wednesday
morning. He was brought from Bridgeport
Ct. He came up for bearing We'd
nesiay forenoon and Plea led guilty He
vas put under $1,000 bonds to appear at the
December term Of the superior court. Not
furnishing bonds he was .emsnded to hi.
cell.
Last winter he was at the Cony house
where he introduced himself 70 Represenfa-
tive Leighton OF Columbis Falls. Leighton
knew Rogers parents and remembered
having seen him when boy. so be told
Landlord Randall of the house that he
thought il would be all right to cash check
for $50 on the Trademarks Bank Of New
York, which Rogers was anxious to get
csshed.
Mr. Randall after the hearing said that
be couli but pity the fellow he looked so
hopeless and sick.
/, 10 thought that Rogers has consump-
ton and he looks as if he was i'll. When
he pleaded guilty it was in low voice not
much above whisper.
There is nothing in his appearance to in
dictate the knave. He has somewhat red
di.h complexion and hair, grey eyes and
thin features. Indeed ne is about six feet
in height, though Of slight build. Hi. face
needed the attention Of barber but his
clothes were fairly good. He had not even
money enough TO pay for the postage stamp
he put on the letter he sent to his father
who lives in Brooklyn.
Later JOURNAL reporter called on
Rogers in his cell. He lay on thebei vita
= blanket pulled up to his chin. When
asked if he had anything to say he replied
he knew of nothing. He had pleaded guilty
and he hoped that mercy would be shown
him.
When talking he looks one squarely in the
face, is pleasant, speaks iiuently and in
diligently. In fact his appearance is cal
culsted to excite sympathy. While one
meeting him feels that the man is weak in
some respects, he neyerths less is bearing
up bravely but not with spirit of brayado
and is seemingly aware that he must pay
the penalty. Gradually he conYersed quite
freely with the reporter, in low vol e
frequently interrupted by coughing spells.
After the woman was engaged to died
was what they say broken up, neglected
my business, lost my place, got reckless and
went wrong
you see went into business when quite
young At Il was getting sl5 week
and at Il was my own boss at $500 year.
OF course | soon had big head. Having
more money than most fellows of my age
spent it recklessly.
Some of the wspapers have said that |
had been living by means of these forged
checks for three years. That's false. IL
is less than year ago lost my place. |
had lost one before that and my father had
a strong talk with me. so that when | lost
the second place | was ashamed to 90 to
him. The first forged check | passed on
our grocer. OF course that was easy work
I've only been at it since January. The
die was then cast. | felt that nothing re-
manned but to keep on. Ii is sad that the
way of the transgressor is hard and | be-
heve it. If anyone thinks get any enjoy
ment out of that kind of life they are
mistaken. felt all the time As if the end
must come AMI was expecting it any min
ute
"Dln't you really experience relief when
YOU were arrested and the uncertainty was
overl"
Eyes, in way did l have got so that
IA Just as soon die. have a good mother
and sisters believe it will kill mother. |
think most of them. 1t doesn't matter so
much about me. They say I've got con
sumption AMI think have"
If he has been at his iniquity only since /
January, he has made mnch of } Il II ne, |
for there are mary complaints ag 'inst lin
IL was quite svi lent from his talk that he /
.ntertains - faint hope that the forg"r'"s
outside this State can be settled. He say /
that they told him at Bridgeport they had
telegraphed hi4 father. He says he doubts /
if his father got the tel, gram, and he wrote |
him Wednesday morning.
Whether Rogers has repented of his
crime or not, an understanding of bis pres
ent condition is as eloquent as any sermon
can Re.