Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-12-17
A VITAL POINT
Brought Out Against Mrs.
Rogers by Levi Perham
Who Swears She Tried to Hire Him
to Murder Husband.
Mrs. Perham Also Tells Damaging
Story on the Stand.

bennington, VT, Dec. 16.-Morris
Knapp, the man for love of whom it
is alleged Mrs. Mary Fl. Rogers muir
dered her husband, and who. yester-
day, gave what appeared to be damag-
ing testimony against the defendant,
was given q pointed cross-eXamination
when the trial was resumed, today For
more than an hour. the witness was
hcseiGel with rapid fire of questions
from the defendants counsel without
and material change in his story being
made. Knapp appeared perfectly at
ease and was ever ready with a quick
response. The cross-eXamination was
concluded with the question::
Did you not tell Stella Bates that
YOU were going to the annual encamp-
lnent Of the Vermont National Guard
and that it had been arranged to do
away with Rogers during your alb
seneca
To this Knapp promptly responded:
no sir; I never made such a state
ment to anybody"
The first real sensation of the trial
came just after the forenoon recess,
when Levi Perham, brother of Leon
PPfftnl, WIZ was luuiCteu DIS II pclIlt-
Grant in the crime, told Of an alleged
attempt made by Mrs. Rogers to secure
his assistance in numbering her hus-
Land. The details of her plan at that
time as recounted by the witness, We're
substantially the same as finally car
ried out by Mrs. Ogers, according to the
testimony of Leon Perham.
According to the story told by Levi,
today. Mrs. Rogers, on one occasion,
sent for him and said she wanted a
long. private talk with him. In the
course of the conversation witness said
Mrs. Rogers proposed that he assist
her in doing away with her husband.
They would go to Hoosck. where Rog-
ers was employed she said, on an APP
parently friendly visit, and by some
means lead Rogers to made an exhibit
ton of his strength and endurance.
For instance, they could use a skip
ping rope and get Rogers tp skip until
he was thoroughly exhausted. Then
Perham was to spring upon him and
after his had been oIerpowered Mrs.
Rogers would administer chloroform
and together they would throw the
body into the river. For his part in the
the insurance on Rogers life.
Witness said that he at first agreed to
the plan, but after mature deliberaton
decided to have nothing to do with it.
His direct examination had not been com
pleted when u recess w,s taken until :
O'Clock. this afternoon
When court reconvened after recess,
Perham was subjected to Il long cross
examination by the defence, but his direct
Testimony
Perham's mother. Mrs Lucy Perham,
was the next witness. She testified that
Mrs. Rogers boarded with her some time.
A stranger whom Mrs. Rogers said was
her bro ether. came to see her occasionally.
After Rogers body was found, Mrs. Rog-
ers told her that the man who had called
upon her was her husband. She wished
to have his body brought to the house
but witness objected. She offered to pay
Mrs. Perham We'll. saying she would have
$500 from her husbands insurance with
which she could pay for his burial and
also pay the expenses of her marriage to
Knapp in September.