Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1905-12-15
Ispringheld Union.J

There has been expressed much maud
lin sympathy for Mrs Rogers. the Yer
mont murdercss who paid the penalty
Tor her atrocious crime. and in equal
measure there has been expressed bit
Ter condemnation OF Gov. Bell, who refus-
ed TO reprieve the unfortunate creature
we md In the recent message OF Presi-
ueht koosevelt--a message remarkable
Tor the wide range OF subjects IL con-
slders-the following: Centuries ago II
was especially needful TO throw every
safeguard around the accused The dan
ger then was lest he should be wronged
oy the state The danger Is now exactly
the reverse. Our laws and customs tell
immensely In favor OF the criminal and
against the interest OF the public he has
wronged.' II is well TO keep that I'm mind
In any consideration OF the Rogers case
Gov. Bell deserves the support and the
commendation OF every rlght-mindad
and right-thinking person. When he took
once ne swore that he would uphold the
law and at time when It took very great
courage he has remained true TO his oath
Our sympathy goes cut to him far more
IMAM 10 That woman who broke the great
commandment and suffered the conse-
quences or her rash act. II took n brave
heart and clear mind to withstand the
tremendous pressure brought upon him TO
reprieVe Mary Rogers. We can well
times have
hesltated between his duty and his in
clination. Where many man would
nave yielded he stood firm. The law was
plain. IL provided the penalty of death for
premeditated murder. There was nothing
IN the law which made the crime less
heinous when II was committed by a
woman there was nothing in the law
mat made the punishment less severe
when II was to be melted out to a woman
There was absolutely no question of MARY
Rogers s guilt. There was not a flaw I'm
the evidence. Her accomplish in the crime
had confessed everything. Skillful law
yers had resorted to every known techni-
calty to save the woman's life. The high
est court In the land had passed judg-
ment on the case A fiendish murder had
been committed, the murderer, who hap
peneu 10 be woman, was found guilty
OF the crime. and the law said she should
give her life for the life she had taken.
There was no reason, no possible excuse.
for executive interference.
1t is appalling, an awful thing.
TO execute the sentence of death
upon human being. 1t seems more APP
palling and more awful when the human
being Is a woman. The very nature of
man reVolts against such a thing The
chivalry inbred in him by ages strongly
asserts itself. He feels himself to be the
natural protector of the weak and woman
is the weaker sex. 1t is entirely natural
because II is entirely human, that Mrs.
Rogers's fate should have excited wide
spread sympathy, even when the crime she
had done was remembered and due con-
sideration was given her conduct since
her arrest. Try as one would to Judge
thls case by the inheXible rules of justice,
the mental picture of that woman going
to the scanold, and being hanged by the
neck until the last fiutter of breath had
left her body, could not be oblterated
That picture. must have come many
times to Gov. Bell, and we say that It
took man OF extraordinary courage not
to be influenced by it.