The St. Louis Republic., 1902-08-18

selectmen the case seemed clear. They
would have rendered their verdict then and
there had it not been for the fornanty OK
waiting Cor the physicians.
The antiQuated system of Coroner's in
quest law is not followed in Vermont. The
physicians are expected to give the resIlt
of their post-mortsm Investigations to the
Selsctnen-
Surgeons Became Suspicious
The fact that the body was face down
ward caused the surgeons TO believe that
there was something IN the manner OF the
mans death which did not agree with the
theory that he had drowned himself
Further examination confirmed thcm n
this opinion, for the lungs were filed with
This man said the physicians to the
Sheriff. vas thrown into the water after
he Was killed. He was not drowned
In spite of the JearfulnesS of the widow
and of her lamentations the Sheriff began
son who could have profted by her hus-
bands death. He was insured for 500 in
a New York company. The policy was pay
able to her She and her husband had fire.
quently quarreled.
A sharp watch was kept over the woman
and her associates and acquaintances. and
especially the Perham boys at the home
Of whose parents the woman was living.
Boyd Perham. the elder OF the two, while
under the influence of liquor. was heard by
one OF the detectives to make a remark
which indicated that he had some knowledge
Of Rogers death. When sober. he was con-
fronted with two detectives. who finally in
duceG MIN 10 tell his story.
Upon the witness stand Boyd Perham
said that Mrs. Rogers and Stella proposed
TO him that he hire a carriage and drive
them the next day to Hoosic Corners,
where Marcus Rogers worked The two
women also proposed. he said. that after
they chloroformed Rogers and threw him
into the river he drive them back to Ben
nington.
For this. Boyd Perham said he was to re-
ceiye $50. one-half the insurance money.
The chloroform had been purchased by the
Bates girl Boyd Perham agreed. TO the
plan he admitted but he changed his mird
on the following day Levi Perham. his
sion. finally told his story Of the plot by
which Rogers had been lured to his death
the matter over with Mrs. Rogers and
Stella Bates. In accordance wiz, ulan
which had been agreed on he we'd Juosis
bedroom soon after 5 o'clock that's Fair
Mrs Rogers, who occupied an apal
adjoining his. retired at the same tim
Mrs Rogers. he said: called him
bottle Of chloroform and a piece
clothes line four feet in length. In the.
stocking feet. Levi said. they crept down
stairs and out Of the house.
Tells Story of the Crime.
, Lew. who Is only ls years old. says that
he was completely under the influence OF
Grove. where Mrs Rogers said she had an
appointment with her husband in seclud
the shelter of stone wall.
The darkness OF the grove. the low muir
mur OF the stream and the light of the
new moon formed u setting for the tragedy
which was soon to follow.
Rogers met his wife and they sat in the
shadows. Joking and laughing. said the wit
husband to the place where Levi Perham
was waiting. saying she had brought the
young man as her escort.
All three sat on the grass. Rogers in high
spirits. in the belief that he had been re-
conciled 10 his wife. Mrs. Rogers Perham
says. took from her gown the rope she had
Sb1 i'm ~ col. Il hat uIEra bod laarr r,a6
some very interesting tricks with knots.
She tied and united the cord about her
wrists Ihen she showed her husband
some of the ways OF tying sailors knots.
true-loye knots and the like. She laughed
at his awkward attempts a fashioning the
nooses and bows with the cord
Her husband was lying on the grass. with
his head on her lap. She bade him sit up.
and tied several knots about his wrists
raiseG himself to. a sitting posture she
placed the chloroform and handkerchief
in a Granny of the stone wall.
Mrs Rogers. Perham said then proposed
that he tie her husbands hands Perham
confessed that he tied them as securely as
he could; while Mrs. Rogers was saturating
Pulled Head Into Her Lap.
As soOh as his hands were tied said
Perham, she pressed the saturated cloth
upon her husbands face. and pulled his
head down into her lap.
At last Rogers lay still upon the ground.
The woman placed his head upon her lap
and renewed the application OF the drug.
At the suggestion OF Perham Rogers was
taken to the stream about ten feet away
and thrown into the water. The rope
the juggling with which had been the
cause OF the mans death. was removed
from the swollen wrists. Mrs Rogers
said Perham. gave him the bottle the
handkerchief and the rope and told him to
secrete them. This he did.
The outburst of the elder Perham while
in his cups furnished the clew which re-
suited in the confessions of the two broth
ers and which may result in two women.
Dr.. at least one. going TO tine gaIlows