The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1905-12-08
History Of the Crime.


WINDSOR, Vt, Dec. S.-Every in
genious device, known in law, was
used to save Mary Rogers from the
gibbet, and 1t was not until the case
was disposed of by the Supreme Court
of the United States last month that
all hope was given up of saving the
woman's life. Had there been one
mitigating circumstance, had there
been one spark of womanllness In
Mary Rogers, had she shown slight
possibilities or regeneration, Gov. c,
u. Bell, of Vermont, might have inter-
|Iferei. The murder was as brutal as
that of Mrs. Martha Place, who mack
ed her stepdaughter to pieces be,
cause of jealousy, in BrooElyn. Gov.
Roosevelt declined to interfere and
save her from electrdcution in March,
1899.
Mrs. Rogers killed her husband,
Marcus Rogers, in order that she
might possess herself of 5000, his life
Insurance, and marry another man.
The murder was committed in Ben
Hington, on August u, 1902, by the
administration Of chIoroform. The
circumstance leading up to the muir
der breathe OF foul deceit, cunning and
a viciousness Inconceivable in wo.
man.
Mary Rogers was deeply loved by
her husband. firing of her life with
; this quiet, unpretentious man, she left
him. In her unfortunate life that fol-
lowed in Bennington she met youth.
barely seventeen years old, by the
name of Leon Perham, half breed
Indian, who became enamored of her.
Perham wanted to marry her Mrs.
Rogers had no mind for that, but kept
Perham dangling by her side
Mrs. Rogers fell in love with we'll
known citizen OF Bennington, who,
however, was not aware Of her pas
sion for him. AS a woman Of the
street she knew she could not win
him, and in her simple way bethought
that once in possession of, her hus.
bands 5000 life insurance money she
would become an object of devotion
and attention. With ithe thought
came the plan to do away with Rogers,
whom she had left Rogers, in spite
Of her life OF shame, had ofteRtimes
sent word to his wife to come to him
and he would forgive and forget the
past. His strong love for her and his
willingness to forgive were his I'M
doing. She entered into conspiracy
With Perham, who was her willing
tool, being led TO believe that she
would marry him.
Rogers was a powerful man and his
end had to be accomplished by cum
ming and deceit She wrote that she
was ready to come back; wanted to
come back and would he forgive her
Leon Perham turned States evidence
and on the stand, he gave testimony, a
recital such as has rarely been heard
in the courts Of law.
According to Perham Mrs. Rogers
had written to her husband, from
whom she was estranged, asking him
to meet her at $3.50 at night.
After the meeting and pretended
reconciliation Leon led the way into
Morgans grove, and by a winding
path to the river A great stone wall
separated the grove from the river
bank. The distance from the wall to
the bank was less than half dozen
feet.
May and l walked along with Rog-
ers until we came to a break in the
wall" said Leon. She went through
and we followed 1t was cold and
had on big overcoat. spread this
cut on the ground and all three Of us
sat down. We were only a few feet
from the edge of the river.
May said she had new trick with
a rope.
HE laughed. May laughed, too,
and drew out a piece of clothes'lne.
Then she said she'd bet she could tie
me SO that l couldn't get loose.
"Tll bet you can't | said.
She tied my hands loosely and l
broke away. She tied it again and l
broke away again.
Try it on him. said.
"T'lI bet you can't tie me, said
Rogers.
HE was as strong as an OK. May
tied him and tried to tie him tight,
but he just gave heave and broke
away She tried it second time.
and he broke loose without any trOu-
BILE, She was getting worried, She
tied It third time, and when he
broke loose again | saw that she