Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1905-11-16
END or INVESTIGATION.
Mrs. Rogers Had Many Liberties
Resume of Testimony.

and Atty.-Gen. Fits had examined hel
privately and the material facts were mad'
public.
She retracts that portion Of her testi'
mony which implicated Harold Harpin'
saying that part was put in at the instiga-
ton Of Matron Durkee, presumably 70 ge'
back at Warden Harpin and 10 aid eA-
Supt. Cakes.
A decided sensation was sprung when i
appeared that within a week Mrs. Rogers
had sent a letter outside the prison with
out the slightest knowledge OF the prison
officials. As a result of this affair, Mrs.
Rogers Is now closely confined to her cell,
her meals being served there, and IS de-
prived of all liberties.
Evidence was introduced which showed
that for many nights the night matron,
Miss Kimball, who was discharged only a
few days ago, had gone to Mrs Rogers
cell, released her and taken her TO her own
room, from which access to the guards
quarters was but a few steps.
Ex- Warden Harpin emerged in much
better shape than indicated at a former
hearing. his wife, who was put on the
stand, testiiying strongly in his defence
and making a marked impression.
Ex-Supt. Cakes made a good Harpin
witness in relation to the Barry scandal,
in which Harpln appears to have been
indisereet.
In the prison investigation. without at
tempting to anticipate the conclusions OF
the committee, it seems 10 have been es-
tablished that Supt. Cakes had allowed his
management of the prison to become
r~eprehensibly lax; that the prisoner, Yer
non Rogers. obtained access to Mary Rog-
ers while she was in solitary confinement;
that a guard named Green attempted sui
eide BY shooting on account OF his rela-
tions with Miss Parker; that the steward,
Craven, a married man, was IN cores
pondence with a IN prisoner named
Cox, and that another woman named Cady
was a GO between in this correspondence
and arranged for Craven and the Cox
woman to meet after her release; that
another guard. Peaslee, also married, was
in correspondence with Mary Rogers, this
with the knowledge OF the assistant
matron; Miss kimball, a girl OF is, who
succeeded Miss Parker as assistant matron
and who held this position until a few
days ago, has confessed intimacy with a
guard named Burr; that the steward,
Craven, told the assistant matron, Miss
Kimball, that he saw the correspondence
between Vernon Rogers and Mary Rogers
while it was going on.
The criminal charge of Miss Parker, the
former assistant matron, against Warden
Harpin Is vigorously denied by him. He
claims the charge is one OF malice and for
revenge. This denial is largely borne out
by the evidence OF Mrs. Harpin.
1t is expected that the committee viii
not report their findings for several weeks,
but that the work OF investigation AZ Rut-
land and Nergennes will be taken up the
last Of the month.
Miss Jane Durkee, the matron, who was
the first witness Thursday, denied that
she dictated Mrs. Rogers confession; said
she did not know anything about it until
il was written. The witness said she
never suggested that Harold Harpin be
rung into 1t.
Miss Georgia ToWles, the present as
sistant TO Miss Durkee. said that Mary
told her that what she said about
Harold Harpin In her confession was false
and that she wrote it to please Miss Dur
kee.
Miss Carrie Foster, a prisoner during the
past year, testified that she roomed with
Mary Rogers last year. When questioned
Is to Mrs. Rogers being out OF the room
said she was only out when she
visiting Gertrude Kimhall; said she
lid not know bow late she stayed. as she
usually asleep and did not hear her /
in. She said Mrs. Rogers and Miss
kimball were great friends and that Ger
rude would often come and get Mrs.
TO come TO her room to visit her,
sometimes two or three evenings a week.
Mrs. Eva Laitord, another prisoner, said
Miss kimball would sometimes come TO
he room and get Mrs. Rogers after they
lad gone to bed. When asked II there was
to prevent Mrs. Rogers from
yoing dow nstairs after she got out, said
me didn't know OF anything. Said Mrs.
made the statement since Gertrude
away that she had got Gertrude out
If the prison, and that she would get Miss
)urkee out. Miss Durkee was reealiel
md told OF Mrs. Rogers actions Of late.
said she would get all the women around
Ter and would commence whispering and
hat Miss Durkee finally told her IL she
want to work she couldn't keep the
from working. Mrs. Rogers be-
anne impudent and witness told her to 70
and stay there. Miss Durkee
made out that the Rogers woman was a
cry vicious woman and u~nmanageable.
John Green denied his reputed intimacy
WITH Miss Parker and said that the testi-
nony given by DIR. Brewster about his
to the doctor when Under the
Of ether, after the shooting. was
lot true.
w. II. White and Wlnifred Pryor. in
tructors at the shop IN the prison yard.
ave testimony to show that Harpin was
mbitious and expected Mr.. Dakes' posi-
ion.
The rebuttal of r. W. Cakes. e-x-supcr-
ntendent, by the counsel, Judge Palmer
pas quite lengthy. All the various
harges against MIR. Oakes were taken an
IN nearly every case the charges were
to be false. The mileage Incident
be taking OF state supplies, postage
etc, the use OF prison labor. ain
we're gone over. Mr.. Oakes stated thar
hat be had taken TO Sunapee altogether
ould be bought in open market for $3.50
he different scandals and improps
Hairs OF the prisoners and officials, II /.
yident, MIR. Cakes did not know until
tier they were all over.
In regard TO placing Miss KimbalL. a
year-old girl, in charge Of all the
.omen prisoners, Mr.. Cakes said that
iiss Durkee came to him and said thai
er niece was competent to do it, and so.
citing on her judgment, he hired her. He
bought Miss Durkee would keep watch
I her.
Miss Ella Cotton told of what Mrs Holm
lreen had told OF her husbands relations
nth Miss Parker. She told Of a specisI
eiivery letter sent to Green BY some one
'hich was TO this effect s-"John. Won are
alking too much; il you don't st0p tall
lg you will have us both behind the
Witness never saw the letter personaflv
nd only knew what Mrs. Green ana 49,