St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1905-02-08
Mrs. Rogers Retrieved.
Gov. BELL Yielded on New Evidence the
bay Before Ghe ExecuiiOn.-The Case
Now Goes to Supreme COuri on an
Appeal for New Trial.

| wv" UOcH 10 supreme COurb On AN
Appeal for n New Trial.
A teprieve until Friday, June 2, was
! granted at Montpelier at noon Thursday
to Mrs. Mary M. Rogers of Bennington,
the young woman who was sentenced to
be hanged at Windsor, Friday for the
murder Of her husband, Marcus Rogers,
in 1902. The tour-months' stay was
granted by Gov. Bell, according to the
governors announcement, solely on the
ground OF the claim OF Mrs. Rogers at
torney that she had not had fair trial,
and that the evidence presented against
her was false, and in order that an
appeal to the May term of the supreme
urt Tor new tfial might be made
Within the past two months the Rogers
case has attracted wide attention, and
strong Efforts had been made to save the
woman's life. Gov. Bell gave a hearing
at Montpelier Wednesday, at which
Thomas w. Moloney OF Rutland, counsel
TOR the condemned woman, and Others
pleaded for stay of execution. Mrs.
Rogers received the news of her reprieve
during the afternoon. She was ap-
parently unmoved by the announcement.
the statement of Gov. Bell is as fol-
lows
l grant reprieve to Mrs. Mary M.
Rogers until Friday, June 2, 1905. do
this expressly and only on the ground
that she claims through her attorney
that she has not had fair trial and
that the eGidence presented against her
was false. | do not in any way pass
upon the question as to whether such is
the fact. leave that question entirely
with the court, to which she now has
full recourse. | fix the date as June 2,
since that will enable her to bring her
case with all the new evidence she claims
to have before the supreme court at its
May term, and the d, clsion of that court |
upon her application must be final, so |
tar as executive power is concerned. No |
consideration is given in granting this |
feprleve to the complaints made by out
slders that the laws of Vermont are cruel
and barbarous. l believe that the laws
Of Vermont are just and merciful, and ex-
press tie will and wish of the people of
he state, and the best judgment of the
enlightened and law-abidng people of
he commonwealth. | shall not by any
act OF mine attempt to thwart the ex-
pressed will of the people, or undertake
o change the policy OF our law in re.
,ard to capital punishment.
STATEMENT FROM THE LAWYERS.
T. W. Moloney of Rutland Mrs. Rog.
RS personal counsel, said that the case
ould not come before the supreme court
It the present term, and that it would
equlre quick work to get it ready for
he next term, on account of the ahida-
its which it would be necessary to Sc.
ure, and other work involved. Mrs.
of Stamford, Ct, who
eaded petition Of the legislative
eague OF New York, for the reprieve, re-
Used to discuss the matter except to say
hat She believed the league would cen
rlbute toward the expenses of a new
rial for Mrs. Rogers. She made no COM
lent on the governors statement that
e was not influenced by the efforts of
utsiders. E. B. Finn oil Springfield,
Tho appeared Wednesday before the
overnor as counsel for Sheriff Peck and
is deputies and requested a reptieve,
aid: Knowing what did about Per
ANS confession, felt that great in.
lstice would be done Mrs. Rogers un-
IS she were reprieved. She told her
.ory. to me Tuesday evening. l then
aw Perham and during that interview
broke down and confessed that he
ad lied"
REAKING THE NEWS TO MRS. ROGERS. {
At 2.41 O'Clock Sheriff Peck, Superin.
ndent Cakes and States Attorney {
appeared at the door of the
cath cell. where they were Joined a
oment later by Prison Chaplain Fuller.
he sound Of hammering reverberated .
rough the cell room. The prison car.
,nters had begun to take down the gal
WIS as soon as the governors message I
as received. bnt the woman in her cell |
ard the sounds and believed that they t
ere caused by the work of erecting the 7
ructure upon which she would die the
xt day.. AS the party, with the sheriff +
the lead, approached the grated door, r
RS. Rogers was seated at table writ y
letter to her mother. Apparently
pposing that the sheriff had come to L
ad the death warrant, she arose and t
~ viva tlIC uOOI vi the Cell, L.
Sheriff Peck had never seen Mrs.
ogers before that moment. Walking up
the door, he said: "Mrs. Rogers, | am
e sheriff | have brought you good 4
VS." Il am glad to meet you, Mr., -
erlf, d" said Mrs. Rogers, as she extend. }
her hand through the grating. II n
I'VE often heard of you, but have never n
It you before. What is the good news?" fl
'ov. Bell has today granted YOU a re. a
leve until June q" replied the sheriff. b
RS Rogers remained like statue as
ough unable to comprehend the mean.
OF the words. Without a sign of
lotion, she gazed at the sheriff a mo. ..
INT, and then said: II had given up all -
pc, but am glad that the governor q
S granted me more time. He is a good
an Mrs. Rogers then thanked the Is
erlft and his companions for the infor-
alton they brought her. She seemed
affected by the tidings, and as the mar. 8,
moved away from the door of the "
ath cell she turned to the table and re-
med writing.
FROM SHERIFF PECK or is
WINDSOR. in
sheriff d. Il. Peck gave out the follow eV
statement Thursday afternoon: on
believing in justice to ourselves that =,
motives in asking Governor Bell to in
'rieve Mary Rogers pending a further
estigation OF her case by the supreme =
'rt should be understood, the follow.
statement as to the motives which
uated us in asking reprieve is made
While making preparations for the
man S execution it came to our knowl. Is