Rock Island Argus., 1904-12-28
FALL OF ROGERS
Former Respected Citizen Pleads
Guilty to Petty Lar.
ceny.
Unhappy Marriage and Drink Said to
Have Caused Him to
Go Wrong.

Until a few years ago filling one of
the most responsible positions in the
United States railway mail service.
and attributing his fall to an unfortu-
nate marriage and drink, J. r. Rogers
that is not his correct name-stOod
before Judge E. E. Parmenter in the
| county court yesterday afternoon ac-
cused of petty larceny, the theft of an
Overcoat from b. F. Brussel, farmer
whose home is in the southern part of
the county a week ago. since which
time he has been held prisoner in
the county Jail.
Rogers entered plea of guilty. and
was fined $25, which he paid. the mon
ey having been sent to a friend here
by a brother of Rogers. who is we'll
tO-dO resident of an Iowa town. Rog-
ers was out of funds when he struck
Rock Island. In passing through Mar
ket square he saw an Overcoat lying
in a wagon. The farmer that owned
the wagon was on an errand in a near
by store.
Falls Into Hands of LAW.
Rogers took the coat and walked
west on Third avenue in search of a
pawn shop. where he expected to put
it up for any sum that would be offer
ed. Policeman Henry Thode was stand
ing at one of the windows at the city
station. Rogers passed. His actions
were suspicious. The officer hailed
him. Rogers was confused. Probably
he had never stolen before. He could
not give satisfactory account of him.
self. He carried the coat under his
arm. He was taken in and locked up.
In less than an hour afterward Mr.
Brussel came to police headquarters
to report the theft of his coat, and
was surprised naturally to find that it
had been recovered.
Black sheep of Family.
Rogers is 40 years of age. He and
his wife are separated. He is a man
whose appearance are those of one
who has seen better days. He is the
black sheep of the family. He had a
run on the Rock Island road in the mail
service between Chicago and a west
ern city. He was in charge of a car
in which five clerks worked. He was
thy men in the district. and was mark
ed for promotion at the first opening.
He and his wife could not agree They
separated. That was the beginning of
Rogers undoing. He sought forgetful-
ness in the booze bowl. He found it
temporarily. And while he was for
getting his troubles he was losing his
hold on his job. He heard from the
superintendent. The superintendent
was disappointed in Rogers. He knew
that he was capable of better work
He had done better work. Now he was
growing careless. Rogers was repeat
edly warned. He seemed sorry, and
promised to do better.
Turns tn Tramping.
Then the thought of his domestic
unhappinesS would seize him. and he
would turn to the mahogany. He re-
ceived his discharge one day. Then
he left his home town. He hit the
road. He was tramp. His brothers
offered to help him. They gave him
money to go into business. He blew
the money. Then he was a tramp
again. He came to Rock Island
tramp.
But he said yesterday that he was
was foolish in him to carry on SO. His
people were good to him. and he was
going to try to be a man again. His
brother sent him enough money, in
addition to the fine, to put him on his
feet. Rogers said the salOonkeeper
would not get it.