Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1903-12-24
MURDER IN FIRST DEGREE
MRS. ROGERS FOUND GUILTY OF
KILLING HER HUSBAND.
Stella Bates Goes Free--leon Psrham
Guilty Of Murder in Second Degree
Corti Murder Case Nearing End
$4,000 Suit Against Factory.

Guilty Of Murder IN Second Degree
corti Murder Case Nearing End
$4,000 Suit Against Factory.
The jury at Bennington in the case
Of state VS.. Mrs. Mary M. Rogers for
the murder of her husband, Marcus
Rogers, in August 1902 returned ver-
dict Tuesday morning of murder In the
first degree. Mrs. Rogers gave no sign
of emotion and seemed the most uncon-
cerned of any person In the room. Sem
tence was suspended until next Tues
day. The jury was discharged and court
adjourned until Tuesday. Mrs. Rogers,
relying upon the ability Of her counsel
to present her case consented Saturday
to submit II to the jury without maxi
ing any defence. This. II Is said. Is the
first time in the history Of Vermont
courts that person charged with
murder has allowed the case to rest on
evidence submitted by the prosecution.
The closing arguments began Saturday
morning, before a large audience. 0.
NJ. Barber made the closing argument
for the state. and mercilessly arraigned
the prisoner laying much stress upon
the testimony of the handwriting ex-
made the closing argument for the de-
tense, and his only effort was to dis
credit the testimony of the prosecution.
The charge of Judge Watson was
rather impartial He said that the tes-
timony of Leon Perham, the self-con-
fessed accomplice, was not to be disre-
garded and that the failure of the de-
PENDANT to take the stand or to call
witnesses should not prejudice her
case.
In summing up for the prosecution,
States Attorney Stakeholder laid par
ticular stress upon the testimony of
Levi Perham the confessed accomplish
of Mrs. Rogers in the alleged murder OF
her husband His story, said the states
attorney was without doubt an accur-
ate account of the facts. He argued
that Mrs. Rogers was the only person
who could have profited by Rogers's
death Her guilty love for Morris
Knapp and her desire to obtain the in
surance on her husbands life he said.
was sufficient motive for the crime.
d. A. Guiltinan for the defence adj
vanced lines that surprised many,
He took the ground that Morris Knapp
had motive for killing Marcus Rogers
if any one had that Perham was his |
friend, and that he might have done II /
for him. He made a strong attack up !
on the testimony of Leon Perham, who, |
he said came upon the stand and gave
his testimony under an assurance of
He characterized Morris |
Knapp as the blacklist scoundrel who
ever came upon this witness stand.
He attempted to refute some of the
states claims but advanced no new ar
gument. The inconsistencies are such
hat the defence were obliged to admit
of Importance.
Even If nothing is done to prevent
he carrying out of the sentence of
ieath which will be passed upon Mrs.
Rogers under the Vermont law, the
,ase cannot be carried into execution
before 1905. The law provides that a
session of the legislature must inter-
'ene between the time the sentence of
leath is passed and its execution. The
asst execution took place in 1892, when
sylvester Bell of Fairfax, was hanged
or the murder of his wife.
Leon Perham was arraigned and
beaded guilty to charge of murder in
he second degree The plea was ac-
epted. He will be sentenced next
tuesday
Miss Estella Bates. indicted with
Irs. Rogers for completely in the muir
er was before Judge Watson Tuesday ,
morning. At the request of the states ,
ttorney her case was mol pressed and
he was discharged. She will go to a ,
married. sister in Lansingburgh, N Y. :