Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-08-03
PECK LET HER IN.
-Q
Anna Basohslder :: How She
Got Interview 8 Mary
Roger y
supr. LOWELL kEsrlFlEs
says He Did Not Know She Wns Re-
portcr until after she Got into the
CclI-Shc Does Not COrrOboratc
This-Improper Use Of Sup.
plies at state Prison.

Bello,x Falls. August Fine in
vestigation of the state prison before |
the commissioners was continued this |
morning The most interesting de-
velopmcni of the day was the testi- |
mony given by Supt. Lowell and Miss
Anna Batchelder regarding her ada
mission to the cell of Mary Rogers
20 get an interview with the murder
.ss Her testimony tends to show
hat sheriff H. u. Peck underst ood
her mission and gave her permission
to see the woman and get the inter-
view.
The witness called was John r. Green,
employed for long period as farm
hand, finished work in February 1904 In
lie opinion of the witness the farm man
agonlent was good. He said the State
cams often did outside work but he did
not know whether the state received any
-cvenne from it. He did not know Of
John Oakcs using convict labor but said
The prisoners often helped Mr.. Harpin
rhovelling snow and cleaning ur about
the house He said he had killed poultry
which he supposed went to Sunapce. lie
also thought a little pig four weeks old
was sent to Dr Burbage at Woodstock.
He said that there might have been fric-
ton between Oakes and Harpn but he
didn't think any Of the officials neglected
,her duty to the State.
Harry +. Craven steward from Octo-
aer 1904 10 June &c. 1905. was called. He
testified that ne received $50 a month at
frs, and was finally raised by degrees to
$40 with additional pay for extra guard
duty.
U, had charge Of the supplies. ANY ofh-
Ger could take State supplies II they wish
ed as the key was kept in the guard room
Mr. Oakes personally looked after the
quality of the food and witness thought it
all right He thought the discipline was
perfect and could not have been improved
When asked by Attorney-(icneral Fits
IN regard TO the feeling between Oakes
and Harpin he said every one knew Of it,
lie said it began about two years ago
when the authority which Mr.. Harpn
had always exercised was taken from
him and Oakes became the actual as well
as nominal superintendent. The witness
admitted that he was an Oakes man but
he considered Mr.. Harpin all right. tle
said he had been in the habit of throwing
away left overs Of meat. etc, until MI
Oakes called him down for it. Mr. Craven
said ne and others officers got their fuel
from the shop with the permission Of
the contractor.
According TO the testimony OF the stew
ard many of the officers. Harpin included
took supplies haised on the place such as
milk eggs. ETC. without the knowledge or
Mr.. Oakes. whom he thought would not
have approved
THE BATCHELDER INTERVIEW.
The afternoon opened interestingly
with the investigation of the admis-
sion of Miss Anna Batchelder into .he
col, Of Mary Rogers for tho purpose
~ obtaining an interview for her
paper. This interview caused at the
time a good deal of comment among
newsrarers generally and to-day's
testimony reveals how il came about.
Wilson :. Lowell. the present superin-
tendent of the prison. was the first
witness.
Mr. Lowell said Miss Batchelder tele-
phoned him to see # she could inter
view Mrs. Rogers, saying who she was
but didn't mention tnat she was Il re-
porter This he did not know until
she was in the room with Mary Rog
ers In answer TO her request Mr..
Lowell refused. Miss Batchelder came
TO the prison, however, the morning
Of the day the reprieve was read to
Mary Rogers.
She was introduced sister of
the states attorney by Mr., Peck and
Mr.. Lowell did not think there was
any harm in her seeing Mary Rogers
as he did not know she was reporter.
and Mr.. Batchelder was going up to
read the rcprieve papers to Mary
Rogers. The witness was very much
surprised and disturbed when he saw
he story in the papers the next day
as he did not see Miss Batchelder take
note and she didn't have kodak
that he saw. Mr.. Peck informed Mrs
Rogers of the reprieve. which she took
With no demonstration. Mr.. Lowell
thought Mr.. Peck must have tcle-
phoned Miss Batchelder that a reprieve
had been granted.
Miss Anna Eatchelder then took thu
stand. She said she had been instructed
by her paper to get an interview with
Mary Rogers" whereupon she telephonec
Supt. Lowell telling who she was anc
what che wanted and asked him for ar
interview. He replied that he could no
allow it, The next day she telephoned hin
again. Mr.. Lowell told her she must ge
permission of Sheriff Peck as he couldn'
give it, where upon she wrote Sheriff
Peck telling him who she was and wha
she wanted and what supt. Lowell said
Ehc received no answer to this letter bu
the day before the granting Of the re
prievo she was called up at her hous,
at White River Junction by Mr.. Lowell
who asked her II she wanted to re,
Mary Rogers. She said "of course" an,
was told by him to come down the neg
day and she could.
The next morning she went to Wind
sor and was admitted at once to tn
prison. Sheriff Peck was already ther
and they waited for Attorney Batcheldeu
her brother. who was going to Mar,
Rogers cell with them. While they wer
waiting both Lowell and Peck talke
about her business. asking her how lon