Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-08-21
NEW EVIDENCE
officers Think Stella Bates Was mpl-
Gated in the Bennington Murder.


Bennington, Aug. 17.-New eviden dis
covered to-day by Deputy Sheriff Nash ard
Chief Of Police Godfrey indicates that
Stella Bates was equally guilty with Leon
Perham and Mrs. Mary Rogers in causing
the death of Marcus Rogers, the husband
of Mary, who was found dead in the river
near Morgans Grove last Thursday morn
ing.
Young Perham was in love with the
Bates girl and that is why he has tried
to shield her at every point of his confcs-
sions while not sparng himself or Mrs
Rogers. He has said all along that Stella
Bates was not with them when the deed
was committed and that they did not see
her again that night, hut officers to-day
found young man, Harold Cummings
who says that as he was going to his home
at the head Of Stafford street at / 80 o clock
| Wednesday morning he met Pcrham. Mrs
Rogers and Stella Bates. This directly con-
! tradicted Perham, who said that he and
Mrs. Rogers returned from the river to
the Perham house without seeing Stella.
AS Koserss watch had stopped 1T $50
about the time that it is Supposed the body
of Rogers was thrown into the river it
would give them just about this time 10
get where they were met Excitement vet
continues and the crime was referred to
IN the different churches to-day
his forenoon Perham accompanied by
the officers went to his house on Stafford
street and from there traced over the route
covered by the murderers ard their VIC
tim on fateful last Tuesday night He led
the officers by devious route out Stafford
County and Grove streets to Morgan's
Grove and winding through that to tho
pank of the river whore with their backs
to low stone wall NJ and Mrs. Rogers
sat while stretched between them with
his head trustingly in his wifes lap lay
their victim until they took advantage of
n trit= Oh 10 4
his lifelcss body into the water
He hold how he and Mrs. Rogers sat on
the edge of his bed and forged the note
with Marcus Rogers name signed telling
of his intended suicide He told how they
took an old ovorcoat from the hall 70
wind about their victims head to make
the chloroform more effective and Of their
cutting a piece from the clothes line in
the back yard to tie Rogers hands.
During the entire trip Pcrham maintained
his Composurc even when he met his aged
and grief stricken father whom he passed
without speaking or any sign Of recoSui-
ton. He answered every question with
promptncss except when Stella Batos's
name was mentioned when he became more
reserved and careful From what they
could learn the officers think Perham and
the Bates girl planned to go away and get
married when they got the $500 that was
to be the proceeds Of the murder,
Stella Bates still insists that she bought
the chloroform at Joseph Ayrcss drug
store. but did not know what Mrs. Rogers
wanted 1t for. Mr.. AYros and his clerk
deny that the purchase was made there
Stella has rcGained her nerve somewhat
since last night and she is no longer hys-
terical and threatening suicide.
Mrs Rogers maintains her calm and in
sists that she is innocent and that Perham
is lying to gain notoricty The other man
in the case the young mechanic whom Mrs
Rogers expected to marry If she could get
rid of her husband, is not yet implicated
in any criminal way. The first clue against
Mrs. Rogers were some of his pay en-
Velopes bearing hcr name which were
found on the river bank where the muir
der took place and supposed 10 have been
lost from her pocket. On the night of the
murder however. this young man was with
Company X OF the Vermont National
Guard at muster at Essex Junction and
he did not get home until tho next day
The two women have engaged cx-Judec
Charles VI. Mason TO defend them Perham
has no lawyer or money. Tho three rris-
oners were arraEned before Justice Shurt
Tiff saturday night and pleaded not guilty.
me nearing was then postponed to next
Thursday.
When the complaint was read charging
her with numbering her husband Mrs Rog-
ers held her hands over her face and
moancd but did not break down The OH
ers did not finch but later in the evening
Stella Bates became historical ana said
she would Kill herself Mrs. Rogers ycster-
day confided to the matron Of the Jail that
She expects to be confined in December
Leon Perham still insists that he and Stella
Bates were hypnotized by Mrs Rogers
OBSERVED EIGHTIETH BIRTHDAY.
St Johnsuury. Aug. lL-Major n. r.
Bowman celebrated his S0th birthday Sat
urday afternoon by entertaining the ladies
nj of WI no &c