Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-12-12
PERHAM'S STORY
As to Main Facts Of Rogers
Murder Is mistaken.
His Memory Somewhat Shattered as
to Some Important Points
But Rogers Is Dead and Point Is,
Who Killed Him?

Bennington, VT, Dec. 11.-Levi Per
| ham, the young man who, yesterday
calmly told the jury in the trial of Mrs
Mary H. Rogers. charged with the muir
| der of her husband, the story of his
participation in the plot, which he said
resulted in Rogers death, was subject
ed to cross-examination when the trial
| was resumed, today. One by one the
. details in his story in which he had
, named Mrs Rogers as the principa!
and himself and Stella Bates as hel
tools, were taken up by the defendants
counsel
AS Perham was taken step by steI
over the ground he had covered in his
direct examination he frequently be.
came confused and contradicted him
self as to the trifiing incidents, but ir
the main his original story was IN
shaken. He was led to admit that some
of the statements in yesterdays story
as to the time he left home and again
returned after the murder had beer
committed might have been inaccurate
Also he admitted that while he hac
said Mrs. Rogers, had pinned a note
to her husband's hat signed with Rog-
GlS IiilIif, tiili odyIllS IIIuL HS Hat
committed suicide he was not sure
that this was so. In fact, his recol-
lection regarding the note and the hat
was very obscure.
He also was very sure, despite hi
statement to the contrary, yesterday
that Rogers made no outcry when the
chlorofoTm saturated handkerchief was
placed over his face by Mrs. Roger
after he had been securely bound.
Perham became almost hopelessly
entangled as the cross-eXaminatior
progressed but the only contractions
brought out were in connection will
the points of minor Importance in hi
story. The examination was complete.
without any material change having
been made in the facts developed dur
ing the direct examination, yesterday
After NJ. c.. Middleton, civil engi
noer, had explained to the jury certain
plans of the Perham house and the
spot near the river bank where tn
alleged crime is said to have takel
place .....
DIR. e. T.. Daley was called to the
stand. DR.. Daley testified that wher
he performed an autopsy on the bod.
of Rogers, he found conditions which
proved conclusively that Rogers dif
not come to his death by drowning
The conditions showed clearly that the
man was dead before his body was pu'
in the water.
DR.. Daley said it was possible tina
death might have resulted from a blov
which left bruise like the one describ
ed as found on Rogers head. He wa
rot prepared to testify that such
blow was fatal in this case.
DR.. Daley was followed by Dr. H. j
Potter, who also examined the bod!
and -corrrohorated Dr.. Daley's testi
mony in all points. The defense at
tempted to bring out that death result
cd from this wound and not from
and did establish that thu
wound was serious.
DR.. N. J. Witt of the State labora
tory of Hygiene, was then called ant
told of his examination of the vita
organs taken from the body.
The heart and stomach, he found, t.
be normal. These were the only part
of the body which he had examined
On DISCRIMINATION he told of thu
effect of chloroform on the vital organs
He was still on the stand when cour
adjourned until tomorrow.