The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-12-18
Case is Strong Against
Her.
SEEMS UTTERLY HOPELESS
Testimony Of Handwriting Experts.
State Finishes It's Case
Today.

Bennington, Dec l8.--What was be
lieved to be an effort to anticipate the plan
Of the defence was made by the proseeu-
tion In the Rogers murder trial yesterday,
when witness was introduced to testify
regarding wheel tracks found near the
scene OF the alleged murder 1t had been
intlmated earlier IN the trial that the
prosecution expected the defence to at.
tempt to transfer responsibility for the
crime from Mrs. Rogers, the defendant, to
Leon Pc ham, her alleged aecompliee.
The move made yesterday morning how
ever, was the FIRST direct attempt to dis.
count the probable defence Sheriff Hen
ry Wilson Of Bennington county, who was
called TO the stand early Ia the day, told
Of wheel tracks found In the dust of
the road when he visited the scene OF the
alleged murder Being engaged ia an in-
vestlgation Of the case at that time, he
made careful examination Of the tracks
on the suppositlon that they might have a
bearing on the case. As a result Of that
examination be was satisfied that the
track was made By bicycle, and not by a
wheelbarrow or any other flat-tired yehi.
Gle.
Mrs Laura Perham, mother Of Leon
and Levi Perham, who have had a promi-
neut place In the trial, was recalled to the
stand today for redirect examination TO
clear up some apparent discrepancies in
her testimony.
Charles Fl Potter, a furniture dealer,
told Of arrangements made by Mrs Rogers,
previous to her husbands death, to pur.
chase furniture for new home. She was
about TO marry painter, she said
Cumulative evidence as to the relations
said to have existed between Mrs Rogers
and Morris Knapp, with whom the woman
is alleged to have been In love, was intro
due a.
The reference to Rogers intention to de-
stroy his insurance papers came out in
connection with the examination Of Mabel
Philpot, who with her sister, Myrtle, de-
seribed movements Of both Rogers and his
wife The evidence rejected left practi-
cally nothing Of the testimony Of Mabel
Phlp0t, but the fact that Rogers was at
the home Of the mother of the witness, who
was Rogers aunt, the night before the
murder
Myrtle Philpot said that the day after
the murder Mrs. Rogers called, saying
that she bad met her husband the evening
| before and that he had left her, saying
that she would mover again look upon his
living face. Mrs. Rogers asked advice
about sounding the FIRE alarm to get out
parties to search for her husbands body
as she believed he had committed sui
eide Finally she said that they had quar-
relied.
"The time may come. she said, "wher
Pn have TO tell it, and | might as well tel
it now
In the afternoon experts in handwrit
ing were examined in regard to the not'
found
Frank Shaw was called aud stated tha
he saw Marcus Rogers few hours befor,
his death and that he was In unusuall.
good spirits He told the witness that h'
bad arranged to meet his wife by the rive
that evening and expected to effect re
! Cancellation with her. He was feeling verl
happy over the prospect.
That the strength Of the states evidenc,
! is realized by Mrs. Rogers was shown thi
afternoon when she broke down in tht
court room and wept violently 1t wa
some time before she could be CONTROLLED
and during the remainder Of the session
sat in her chair looking utterly hopeless
and disconsolate