The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1904-12-08
House Refuses To Be Moved
BY Appeals
LAW MUST BE ENFORCED
Bill Committing Her Sentence Killed by
Vote Of 81 to 1ss Amended
License Law Passes the
Senate.

Montpelier, Dec. s-After most de-
termined attempt to commute the sem
tenee Of Mary w Rogers. condemned to
be hanged for the murder Of her hus-
band, the House Of Representatives Of
the Vermont Legislature yesterday af-
ternoon refused to stand between the
woman and the carrying out Of the SEN
tence. The discussion was dramatic in
the extreme and was listened to by an
audience which crowded the Represent
tatives' hall To its utmost capacity. Ar
lgument, the most effective that could be
made, was brought TO bear on the mem-
bers; yet the House was obdurate to
all the appeals Of sentiment and voted
139 TO 81 against the third reading Of
the bill. II the proposed attempt 20
reconsider the action fails Mary Rogers
viii in all human probability be hanged
on the day Of February 5, 1905. Mr.
Hapgood Of Peru, who fayors the com
mutation, changed his vote from affirm
ative to the negative with the express
purpose Of voting with the majority so
that he could vote to reconsider today,
ii thought advisable.
The debate continued for nearly one
hour and half, most Of the speaking
being IN favor of communication. Mr.
Darling Of Chelsea opened the debate.
He said that his attitude on this ques-
ton was not on legal grounds, but on
the grounds of charity and humanity,
He had rather be mereiful than logical.
/ He drew a picture Of the execution on
February s, and said lie wouldn't care
to stand in the shoes Of the man who
would have to say then, ut was my
vote that helped make this thing possi-
bic.
Mr.. Waite Of Hyde Park dwelt on the
Importance Of the action at hand. This
prisoner may be depraved, but are We
/ TO cut her of uutimely without prepara-
ltiong Let us not sacrifice her IN the
spirit Of carrying out this barbarous
law
Mr. Dart II Springfield favored com.
mutation, not because there was any
doubt of this woman's guilt, but as
being IN line with modern civilization
The theory now ii to give conyicts q
chance to reform, and he would not, By
his vote, make this impossible
Mr.. billiard Of Cabot, the FIRST man
to oppose, said that ne had taken an
Soath to support the law, and considers
that when ne voted to commute he would
vote To break 3 Law Of the state, It
His not d question of conscience SO much
/ as OF experience. lie us not forget the
majesty Of the law. Mrs. Rogers may
be a degenerate; SO are all criminals,
I'VE should not vary our laws to suit
individuals. He had stood between a
terminal and the law, and that man il
Inow in the insane asylum. If it were
Imy own sister, before God | should not,
] could not, vote for communication. We
laive a que to the anarchist and other
terminals when we thus break the law
which we have sworn to uphold.
/ Mr.. O'Sullivan of st. Albans charaet.
erized such an execution as cold-blood-
ed taking Of human life. He shared the
sentiments Of the gentleman from Chel-
sea. and could never quell whisperings
of remorse il he voted to hang this
unfortunate woman. It is question
of sincerity and honest opinion, He did
inot think such clemency would be IN
iconhict with the law. The law has
lprovided that no criminal shall be exc
lcuted until session OF the legislature
lintervenes, the purpose being to give
opportunity for Communication. Nor can
lactiun of ours be taken as reflection on
lthe court. The jury said this woman
Twas guilty, and SO do we. Though tho
nudge pronounced her awful doom, We
sput The words into his mouth. So We
lean legally and properly change the form
Iof punishment The speaker invoked
mo pretext Of responsibility for hen
action. but took occasion to read O letter
from the Catholic clergyman at Ben.
lninpton. who stated that the woman
i.was an offspring Of iniquity7 and was
no more to blame than PeTham, Mrs
bates and Knapp. The speaker said thai
til men reyerenced women under all oc
lcasions the standard Of woman would
long ago have been raised 50 that there
would now be no Mary Rogers 70 hang
la chief reason for bus support Of thi:
bill lay in the fact that the aimina
was a woman. Since we have made Z
place for woman and discriminate against
her in all matters, we should not dea
with her thus as d criminal He arguee
Generally against the strangiing Of Grim
inals as d yindieation. We are all tor
guilty ourselves 10 punish othefs,s--Ns
should exercise mercy. He said tws
classes Of people committed murder one
IA higher class, that escaped detection
land another class, low and degenerate
Ilc said be might not be right in thii
matter, his mind was not quite cleal
on the subject, but he could not bring
himself to vote against this bill ans
To hang this poor woman. We ar'
Iabout to send d mandate to the sherlt
~ Windsor county. We cannot close on
ewes 10 this. Then he drew viyit
word picture Of the execution Of Mary
Rogers. This will be done to vindicati
1.-The majesty of the law "Gentlemen
II viii have no part in i"
Mr.. Grout OF Derby referred critically
10 the heart-appeal Of the gentlemai
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