The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1905-01-16
HER PRAYERS
A COMFORT
Mary A. Rogers Preparing
For the End.
HAS A PLEASANT ROOM
Woman Is Not Confined in Cell, But Has
Private Room Sheriff Peck
Continues to Get Harsh
Letters.

Windsor, JAM 16.-Not until within
a few days has anyone that will be con-
neeted with the execution Of Mrs Mary
a. Rogers, fully made up his mind that
the woman would eventually meet her
fate. The interviews given out by Gov
ernor Bell within the last week have
practically settled this question. No
one in Vermont now looks for any inter
yention On the part Of the governor.
Passing a half day in Windsor by a
stranger reveals a tenseness on the part
Of its citizens, on the part Of every Off
cial Of the Vermont state prison, from
the very highest to the youngest EN-
ployee and on the part Of every county
officer who win be conected with this
execution.
The Frank g. Almy execution In New
Hampshire created excitement to a GER
tain extent, but the coming execution
of Mrs. Mary A. Rogers is seemingly
creating an interest unknown in the
Green Mountain state.
Mrs Rogers condition differs, today,
from what it was the day she entered
the prison here. The woman now seeks
comfort III religion and turns to prayers.
Practically speaking, most Of her time
is passed alone. Three times daily al
ways, some days more often, the matron
visits her room.
| A general supposition exists that Mary
4 aolf 10
the case, as she has fairly comfortable
room. OF course, the windows are COW
erred with iron CRATES, but the room has
not quite the gloomy air Of a common
prison cell. Various sources of informa-
ition have made public the statement that
the prisoner is far below the average
woman in mental ability and general
intelligence. From person who has
1 had much to do with this prisoner and
occasion to see her daily, the statement
! Is made that Mrs. Rogers Is the bright
est and most intelligent of the women
prisoners now confined in the institution
land far above what she is being repre-
sented.
Mrs Rogers viii be prepared for the
execution by the same matron who pre-
pared Mrs. Meeker for a similar doom
over twenty years ago. This motherly
woman has been matron Of the prison
lnearly a quarter Of century.
| Mrs. Rogers win be executed on the
same gallows that Mrs. Meeker met her
death. They were last used for the
execution of Sylvester Bell. The gall
lows are now stored in one Of the upper
rooms, where they have been for many
years.
Sheriff Peck continues to receive let
ters containing every conceivable wish
that harm may come to him before or
after Feb. 3. These letters are chiefly
from illiterate persons.
| Every person assigned any duty in
connection with this execution will draw
sigh Of relief when all is over. Some,
at least, have asked for transfers from
one duty to another, but High Sheriff
Henry III. Peck viii stand irm to his
duty and about al this official has to
say is; Il win do my duty"
1t is said that one of the guards in
the section Of the prison where the gall
lows will be erected, while making his
night trips with his bulls eye lantern,
realized he was standing on exactly the
spot where Mrs. Rogers would die To
show the strong feeling existing in the
heart Of every officer, it can be said
that this one Immediately moved from
his grewsome position.
BY those of experience il is said that
considerable doubt exists in their minds
las to Mrs. Mary A. Rogers ever having
the nerve to pass through this horrible
ordeal, without having to be carried
from the room where she is prepared to
the gallows.