Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-12-08
TOday's Telegraphic News
MRS. ROGERS EXECUTED.


morning by f. B. Finn, of Springfield,
Vermont, one of the counsel for Mrs.
Rogers, who held an extended confer
ence with Governor Bell and pleaded
for a reprieve on further evidence that
had been obtained. Gov. Bell, after list
ening to the last plea of Mr.. Finn, said
that the woman must be executed. Pub
| lie sentiment in Vermont is against you, "
said Governor Bell, "and the law must
take its course"
Miss Jessie M. PARTON, of Cincinnati,
who this morning presented Governor
Bel with q petition signed by 30, 1000
women of Ohio, asking him to reprieye
Mrs. Rogers, exclaimed when she heard
the Governors decision: "My God, Gov
eruor, is it possible that you can ignore
the petition of these thirty thousand
women ?' The Governor sadly shook his
head and all knew that Mrs. Rogers
would hang before the close of the day.
Windsor, VT, Dec. S-The news that
Governor Bell had declined to make a
further reprieve and that she must hang
was taken to Mrs Rogers cell as soon
as it was received by Superintendent
Lowell. The wJman chung to the cell
doorbars, as the last remaining hope fled
from her breast, and then turned with
fearless eyes and half collapsed in her
cot.
Mrs Rogers last night spoke to Mrs.
Burke, the prison malrOn, OF the coming
day and told he. that she was ready to
meet her death. 81 know 1t must be,
and | am prepared 10 die" she said, and
then added plaintively, "You do not
think they will hurt me, do you ? "No
Mary, they will not hurt, and it will not
be long" replied Mrs. Burke. 81 will
90 with you as far as the guard room
door"
Mrs. Rogers relapsed into moody
thoughts and near midnight she spoke
of the wooden thing in the court below ;
what it looked like, was it very high,
and were there many stems to the gallows
floor? All these questions showed the
thoughts that filled her fevered mind.
She shook and trembled violently and
the fear seemed to grow on her that she
would be hurt on the gallows. Tortured
with this fear, until an exhaustion came,
she fell, half-dressed, on her cot into a
troubled sleep. She awoke at the dawn
and inquired the time of Mrs. Loukes.
Then she waited at the cell door the
coming of the day.
Matron Burke went to her this morn
ing and placed comforting arm about
the trembling form. Father Delaney
came later and heard the wOman's last
words. They prayed together for many
minutes and then the priest admins
tered the last rites of the church.
Father Delaney lett her after bidding
her farewell. He will not see the exc
cution for the kindly old priest believes
not in capital punishment. Instead he
will remain in the superintendent
library and will only 60 to the woman
in case she collapses and calls for him.
Mrs Rogers at times paced the narrow
confines Of the cell, and again paused
and gazed blankly into the corridor,
as if hope had aickered in her soul that
something might come to stay her miser-
able end. She sobbed only little, TOR
the shock of approaching death had
dulled much OF the remaining sensi-
bility.
The preparations for the execution
were completed this morning.
Shortly before one o'clock Mrs.
Burke went TO Mrs. Rogers cell and
dressed her for the execution. The woman
wore the combination black dress of
waist and skirt that was made last spring
for the execution last June. Mrs. Rog =
will wore no corset or collar.
Windsor, VT, Dec. 8.-Mary Mabel
Rogers vas hanged by the neck until
she was dead in the Windsor Prison this
afternoon for the murder of her husband
Marcus Rogers.
| The woman was pronounced dead at
l:2S o'clock just fourteen minutes after
the trap was sprung.
Without a trace or show OF any
emotion, Mrs. Rogers went to her death
quietly, and calmly as she had told Mrs.
Burke last night.
She made no statement or confession.
She merely nodded her head, indicating
that she was quite ready.
The march from the death cell began
at six minutes past one. Mrs. Rogers
had just concluded a short religious
service with Father Delaney, and when
the tall figure of three deputy sherifs
appeared at the cell door, she turned to
Mrs Burke and said simply:
81 am ready to go, Mrs. Burke, and
| thank you for what you have done.
Then the three deputy sherifDs who form
ed the death procession to the gallows
were Kinney, Fairbanks and Vaughan,
bowed their heads as the woman babe
her guards Mr. and Mrs. LOukes fare
we'll.
Mrs. Burke had dressed the woman in
combination black skirt and waist,
which had been made for the execution
last June.
in the face of death tine vanity of the
woman asserted itself and she called for
a gold chain and locket which she care
fully put about her neck, which was
bare, the matron having previously re-
moved the collar. She wore no corsets.
The cell door creaked and Mrs, ROg
ers stepped out in the corridor and took
her place between the deputy sherifs.
Mrs. Burke walked by her side. Down
the three long flights of steps the woman