Durango semi-weekly herald., 1905-12-11
and a hard one to handle.

"ili RIVER JuNtllON, VT
S Dec. s.-The hour Of execution of Mrs
/ Mary Rogers was set for 1880 D. m
e today
2 After Governor Bell this mornin,
! again announced that he would no
interfere, Lawyer Flynn, the woman ,,
: CHIEF counsel, gave up hope. The gov
ernor said; Since midnight hav,
read 600 letters in the woman's be
half. Only one was from residen,
of Vermont
This matter was for the people OF
vermont TO decide. and they decided
she must die. Every opportunity was
gwen To save her from the gallows
but failed In all tribunals. both state
ana FEDERAL | talked with her lawyers
aIi night and heard nothing to cause
me to again reprieve the woman or
commute the sentence. A governor
must uphold the laws"
Among the petitions was one signed
by $4,000 Ohio people. presented by
MISS Jessie PARTON of Cincinnati. who
came east especially for the purpose.
WINDSOR. VT. Dec. S.-After weep-
|
eyed and broken spirited this morn
ing. She slept fitfully towards dawn.
she awoke and asked detailed gues.
| lions about the galows. A United
states marshal was In the Jail to
serve Immediately any federal writ
which might come at the last moment.
Mrs. Rogers half collapsed on the
hat l,..
declined to Interfere. She prayed for
few minutes with Father Delaney.
who left her after administering the
last sacrament.
The drop fell at l:134 p. IN.
Mrs. Rogers was pronounced dead
AT 1:2S p IN. She was dressed with
the assistance of Matron Durlee In
black combination waist and skirt
made for the execution last June. She
wore neither collar nor corset.
Mrs. Rogers met her fate quietly
ana calmly. as she said she would.
She made no statement when given
the opportunity Just before the lever
moved she merely nodded her head to
indicate that she was ready.
just before leaving the death cell
short religious services were held. As
three deputy 'GheIfj appeared Mrs.
Rogers turned to Ms. Durkee, the
matron, and said: 81 am ready to go.
Thank you for what You nave done"
She then bade farewell to Mr.. and
Mrs. Loukes.
WINDSOR. VT, Dec s.-Every in
genious device. known in law. was
used TO save Mary Rogers from the
slRhet and it was. not until after the
Ease was disposed cf by the supreme
court of the United States late last
month that all hope was given up of
saving the woman's life. Had there
been one mitigating circumstance;
had there been one spark OF woman
illness in Mary Rogers. had she shown
slight possibilities of regeneration,
Governor C. J. Bell of Vermont might
have interIered. The murder was as
brutal as that OF Mrs. Martha Place,
who hacked her stepdaughter to
pieces because of jealousy in Brook
lyn. Governor Roosevelt declined to
Interfere and save her from electrocu-
tlon in March, 1899.
Mrs. Rogers killed her husband,
Marcus Rogers. in order that she |
might possess herself of $500, his life
insurance. and marry another man.
The murder was committed In Ben
nington on Aug. II. 1907 by the ad-
ministration OF chloroform. The cir
cumstances leading up to the murder
breathe OF foul deceit, cunning and
yiciousness inconceivable in a wom-
an.
Mary Rogers was deeply loved by
her husband firing of her life with
this quiet, unpretentious man, she left
him. In ner unfortunate life that fol
lowed in Bennington she met "a youth,
barely II years old, by the name OF
Leon Perham, a half breed Indian,
who became enamored of her. Per
ham wanted TO marry her. Mrs. Rog-
ers had no mind for that, but kept
Perham dangling by her side.
Mrs. Rogers .ell in love with a we'll
known citizen OF Bennington, who,
however, was not aware OF her pas
sion for him. AS woman of the
street she knew she could not win
him, ana in her simple way bethought
that once in possession OF her hus-
bands 5000 lie insurance money she
would become an object of devotion
and attention. With the thought came
the plan TO do away with Rogers,
whom she had left. Rogers in spite
of her life OF shame. had oftentimes
seut word 10 his wife to come to him
and ne would forgive and forget the
past. Ills strong love for her and his
Willingness TO forgive were his undo
ing. She entered into a conspiracy
with Porham, who was her willing
( tool, being led 10 believe that she
would marry him.
Rogers was powerful man and his
end had 10 be accomplished by cum
ming and deceit. Sne wrote that she
was ready To come back wanted to
! come back. ii he would forgive her.
Leon Perham turned states evidence
and ON the stand he gave testimony,
u recital such as has rarely been heard
| In the courts OF law.