The sun., 1895-05-26
MCSr DIE on srAND TRIAL.
kanrns Judre Waiting for an Accused
Man 20 corte Out or = Trnnee.

Ksnrns Judrs Waiting for an Accused
Man 20 corse Out or = Trance.
TOPEKA, Kan. May 2b.-aeoree w. Rogers,
who is charged with burning the county records
OF Harvey county two years ago, lies at tho
Midland Hotel in Hutchinson In q real or sham
cataleptic state. in which he has been for more
than week. Judge Martin, before whom ho
was to have been tried. believes that he is sham
ming. and Ia taking every means to thwart tho
accused mans supposed end, which Is to post
pone the trial until the chief witness. one
Mickey slado, now under conviction In Iowa for
felony, shall no longer be available to testify
against him.
On March 23, 1893. hole was made in tho
wall Of the bi iick vault Of the Register OF Deeds
OF Harvey county, at Newton, and the office
entered. The records were piled upon the floor,
covered with coal oil, and ignitcd. The interior
of tho vault was burned out, but the Court
House was not destroyed. The only set Of
abstract books in existence after the fro be-
longed to George w. Rogers, and this fact,
taken In connection with the fact that Rogers
rented part Of his building to George H. Shirley
for gambling and drinking establish
ment and that Shirley was strongly eus-
pccted Of having come knowledge OF the
matter. resulted In the arrest of both men.
Before his arrest Rogers had offered 10 part
with his abstracts for S25.000 but his arrest cut
short tho negotiations. Harvey county had Of
fcrcd q reward Of $4,000 for the arrest and con-
viction of the persons who committed the crime.
Shirley jumped his bond OF $4,000 before the
trial and Is still At large but Rogers stood trial.
After q contest Of thirty days he was convicted
and sentenced to Ave years in the penit entiary.
Appeal was takon to the Supreme Court, and
last winter the case was remanded back to the
District Court Of Reno county for new trial.
When the called on May 13 Judge
Wall Of Wichita read q telegram to tho court
from Newton, saying that Rogers had been
stricken with apoplexy. Rogers had an attack
OF apoplexy on the occasion OF the first trial,
which delayed the proceedings for several days.
The two condolences between attacks and trials
aroused Judge Martins suspicion, and he d.
rected Drs. Klippel and Coladay to 60 to Newton
and, with a third physician. examine Rogers.
The doctors reported that they were unable to
detect any symptoms of npopexy. and stated
their belief that Rogers WAS shamming.
that tho State had at great Inconvenience and
testify in tho Case, and had given bond in tho he
ordered Rogers 70 be brought into court forth.
with to stand trial or to give proof that he was
Ill. Tho next morning Rogers was brought into
court on u stretcher. Affidavit was made that
hours. and on the strength Of this Judge Mar.
tin. notwithstandtng his expressed opinion that
Rogers was 1elRnlnR. ADJOURNED court Tor q uny.
On order Of the Court Rogers was taken to a
hotel. where he was placed under the care of
physicians designated by the Court md under
the surveillance of the Sheriff. His wife was
not permitted to see him except when two other
persons were present.
In short time Rogers lapsed into an appa-
rently Comatoso condition. The theory was ad-
vanced that he was under the influence OF hyp-
notism. and hypnotist Of Wichita was sent for
to bring him out Of the seeming trance. The
hypnotist used every known means of rousing
Rogers without avail. and applied tests which.
show either that Rogers Is not ehammnR. or
that he las perfect self-control The hypnotist
said:
II experImented with him fully and cannot
believe that he 10 in hypnotic state. although
am convinced that no Is splendid subject.
discovered from invest ation that he has given
considerable study to the subject OF hypnotism,
end that he has the power. In a measure. u put
himself into cataleptic state. Whether he
has done go in this case or whether he will ever
b. able to rouse himself II he has. l am not
ready to say. but it !s my opinion tLat he is not
In a hypnotic trance"
Ali this time the physicians declare that Rog-
ers Is in q perfectly normal condition, and that
his seeming illness or catnlepsy Is pure sham.
except so far rs it has been induced Ly his own
hypnotic power.
The court adjourns from day to day. and
Judge Martin announces that II Will continue
to do until Rogers dies or RECEIVERS sufficiently
to appear. Arrangements have been made with
the Iowa authorities whereby Slade may be kept
longer than the term Of the bond, and 1t looks
as II Rogers must die or stand trial.