The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-12-17
LEVI PERHAM SAYS
WOMAN ASKED HIN
Claims Mrs. Rogers Sought His Aid in
a Plot Were to Tire 0ut
Husband.

Bennington, Dec 17.-MOrris Knapp,
the man for love OF whom it is alleged Mrs.
Mary H. Rogers murdered her husband,
and who Tuesday gave what appeared to
be damaging testimony against the defend
ant, was given pointed eross-examina-
tion when the trial was resumed yester-
day. During more than an hour the wit
ness was beseged with a rapid fire OF
questions from the defendants counsel,
without any material change 10 his story
being made The cross-examination was
concluded with the question:
Ibid you not tell stella Bates that you
were going to the annual encampmept Of
the Vermont national guard, aud that it
bad been arranged to do away with Rog-
ers during your absence?"
To this Knapp promptly responded:
no, sir; never made such statement
to anybody"
The first real sensation OF the trial came
just after the forenoon recess, when Levi
Perham, brother of Leon Perham, who
was indicted as participant ia the crime,
told OF an alleged attempC made by Mrs.
Rogers to secure his assistance 10 murder
ing her husband. The details of her plan
at that time, as reeounted by the witness,
were substantially the same as finally car
ried out by Mrs. Rogers, according to the
testimony Of Leon Perham.
According to the story told by Levi to-
day, Mrs. Rogers on ne occasion sent for
him and said she wanted long. private
talk with him. Ia the course OF that con
yersation, witness said, Mrs. Rogers pro-
posed that he assist her In doing away
with her husband They would 20 to
Hoosick, where Rogers was employed, she
said, on an apparently friendly visit, and
by some means lead Rogers to make an ex-
hibition of his strength and endurance.
For instance, they could use skipping
rope and get Rogers to skip until he was
thoroughly exhausted. Then Perham was
to spring upon him. and after be had been
overpowered Mrs Rogers would adminis-
ter chlOrofOrm, and together they would
throw the body into the river. For bis
part In the crime, Perham was to receive
$500 Of the insurance on Rogers life. Wit
ness said that he az first agreed to the
plan, but after delberatlon decided to have
nothing 70 do With 1t,
The next witness for the state was Mrs
Perham, the mother 0f Leon and Levi
Perham She told how Mrs Rogers came
to her house to board and about two
weeks later Morris Knapp came there also
an affection sprang up between the two
and they we're much In each others com
pany. Mrs Rogers claimed that Mr..
Rogers was her brother
When the body of Rogers was found
Mrs Rogers asked that it be taken to the
Perham house until burial, but the wit
ness objected, Mrs. Rogers in reply to
the objections said she could pay Mrs,
Perbam well for all the trouble as she was
to have $500 Insurance on her husbands s
life. She also said at that time that she
proposed to marry Morris Knapp Ia Sep
tember When The inquest on the body
Of Rogers was held Mrs. Perham was ask
ed by Mrs. Rogers to testify that 1t was
her opinion that Rogers committed sui
eide. She told Mrs. Perham what ques-
tions were likely to be asked and told her
what answers to make, insisting paTticu.
larly on the suicide theory