The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-12-11
LURED HUSBAND TO DEATH
MRS. ROGERS PRETENDED LOVE
 TO MURDER.
story of Sensational Vermont crIme Told with L,sties. Air by Ninesesn- Year-oid Youth Ont of Love Tor Whom 1t Was connmitsed-How He Aided iu the Deed.

Bennington, Vt, Dec. 10.-With dull and listless air. as though the telling little concerned him, Levi Perham. a youth of nineteen, related in the coun- ty court to-day how, for unrequitted love of Mrs. Mary H. Rogers he aided the woman to murder her husband, to the end that with the $500 insurance ob- tained on his life, she might furnish home for the man she loved.
 Perham was a witness called by the state in the trial of Mrs. Rogers, charg- ed with the murder of her husband, Marcus M. Rogers. For complicity in the crime, the witness and Miss Stella Bates are under indictment. Interest in to-day's proceedings centered upon the testimony of Perham, who admitted an infatuation for Mrs. Rogers that led him to become the willing tool of the woman, who, actuated by her love for another encompassed the death of her husband with almost incredible cun- ming, and playful manifestation Of wifely affection that threw her victim entirely off his guard.
 xASCOIQlllS u LlC H4g1ACo0B b4lC lOoldtl4 was lured, late at night to river bank, where he was to meet his wife, from whom he had become estranged. for the purpose of reconciliation. The pretend- ed reconciliation was effected and then, in a burst of well feigned and playful affection the woman proposed that they do tricks witha rope. which she brought with her. The husband, happy in the friendly relations re-established, joined in the sport with enthusiasm. After little, Mrs. Rogers wanted to see how strong her husband was. She thought she could tie, him so that he could not release himself. He e'thought differently. She bound his arms, but he easily re- leased himself. Again she bound him, but again he Ioosed his cords. Mrs. Rogers suggested that Perham try his hand. and he bound Rogers. Again Rogers indicated his strength by breaking loose. Then Per- ham bound him again, and this time securely From her pocket Mrs. Rog- CTS quickly drew handkerchief and a. bottle of chloroform. Saturating the handkerchief, she placed it over her husbands face in in three minutes he was dead. Perham testified that the only exclamation Mr. Rogers made. when his wife chloroformed him was to cry Stop" He said this once. Mrs. Rogers picked up her husbands hat, which had fallen on the ground, and pinned a note on it, which, she said, would make people think he had conn mitted suicide. On the paper she had written, T am going to drown myself and nobody else is to blame for my death," and signed her husbands name. Perham then threw the body into the river, and hand in hand the two re- turned tu tfeif. home.
 While Perham's story was told with apparent indifference as to the conse-s quences to himself, all of the facts were not brought out without much ques- tioning, but his narrative was not ma terially shaken. The trial began yes- tarday and the jury was completed to- day. Mrs. Rogers entered a plea of not guilty, and Assistant State Attorney o. M. Barber opened for the state. Be- sides Perharn, other witnesses told of 1 the finding of Rogers body and of the dead mans hat with note pinned up- on it.
 Deputy Sheriff John Nash. who ex- lamined the body, told of its condition and of finding a watch and a wallet and a sum of money in one of the pockets. lThe case will be continued tomorrow.