Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1905-08-31
BIG STINK AT
STATES PRISON.
MARY ROGERS VISITED I'M HER
CELL BY MALE PRISONER.

CELL BY MALE PRISONER.
Shocking Revelations Brought Out by
lnvestisation---Mrs. Rogers Tells
Her Story OF How the Immoral Rela-
tions with "Trusty" Rogers Came
About--tiarold Hsrpin Involved
He Denies Completely and Has Diff
ferent Version of the Anair--More
About the 6atchelder Interview.
Last weeks session Of the committee Of
investigation Of the states prison, held AT
Bellows Falls Thursday, Friday and Sat
urday, brought out sensational develop
menls, amounting 10 a scandal Of the most
pronounced type. Evidence was given
esta blishing the fact that last March,
while confined Ia her cell, Mary Mabel
Rogers, the Bennington murderess, was
visited by Vernon Rogers, a ''trustyn
prisoner, for immoral purposes, and that
be gained access By key furnished him
by Harold Harpin, one OF the guards.
Thursdays session was devoted prin-
duct OF his office by Former Superinten-
dent Cakes. Most OF the evidence tended
to show that Cakes was a careful buyer Of
prison supplies, and that he did not, as
the Harp ns alleged. mulet the state for
mileages and for supplies taken TO his sum-
mer camp. Mrs. Cakes denied that she
had ever said she felt guilty al taking pay
for her services from the state.
Fridays session brought out the Rogers
scandal, which has been I'm the air. for
some time.
Horace Boyd, prison officer, testified
that Vernon Rogers, q convict, who il
serving a sentence OF rs years, had told
him that he Rogers had access last
spring to Mrs. Rogers cell by means OF
key which he had made Ia the shoe shop
Of the institution. The convict is not
relative OF Mrs. Rogers. Officer Boyd
further stated that Rogers and the con
demned murderess had not conducted
themselves properly.
After Boyd had left the stand the state
made public certain evidence which had
been taken In executive session some time
since.
+. w. Cakes, former superintendent OF
he prison, testified at that session that
Rogers had informed him that last March
Fred Morse, another prisoner, had given
Rogers a key which fitted Mary Rogers
ell. Cakes also said Rogers had told him l
hat the latter's key opened the outside I
ioor Of the cell but would not unlock the Z
inside door.
The second door, the superintendent I
estihed, was opened according TO Mrs 4
rogers story by Mrs. Rogers herself. who /
emoved the screws IN the lock By means .
4 pair OF scissors which she had been I
'ossessed Of
There was also made public a statement !
made BY Mrs. Rogers in writing 10 Ma 4
ron Durkee Of the prison. Miss Dur 4
ee testified that this statement was
rritten out by Mrs. Rogers at Miss /
'urkees suggestion and IN her pres
nee, after Mrs. Rogers had admitted
be relations with Vernon Rogers, reports
[ which had come 10 Miss Durkec,
-hereupon she had gone to Mrs. Rogers
bout II. Mrs. Rogers seldom refers 10 the
latter now, Where she Is at present Ii
not p ssible for anything similar to
appen again for there are two women
18th her and no man is employed about
be corridors there.
Mrs Rogers statement is as follows,
Isl as she wrote 1t without dictation
'om anybody
Mar 10, 1903.
label Rogers For Miss Durkee.
have exhausted every measure in
lought as TO what was best in regard 10
ais matter, and have entered ON the de-
sion ! would make a full statement at
Re best OF my ability, 50 far as ! know
ld as ! know Il.
Our conversations are doubtless Inn
lateral with the exceptions OF the prin-
pal facts, and how they came about.
Before the doors were ever opened be ,
loke with me and related TO me how he
marked to Mr.. Harpin how "bluen be
IL at times, and that he told him that
: might keep me company when he had
isure time, for namesake II nothing
ore. He said the more he thought about
TIE more he thought he would. ! am !
nal bic 10 state as any fac. as TO whether !
J was testing or sincere, or whether /
r. Harpin was sincere If he made the !
atement. I
But, J can state that he did not seem I
fear coming around 10 the back door I
Ist the office windows when Harpin I
manned here, ana said that he didn't 4
re for Harpin, IL no one else came into :
e office, and when he left then he was !
ry careful Again previous to the de- d
rture Of Harpin or Harold. as We were e
,lding a conversation at the door, he I
locked the doors and came in. :
AT that time / was not aware he was =
ing to come in. | then learned that
and Harold were speaking about me a
d OF my affairs and that be expressed a
mpathy for me, and Harold told him v
at as he was SO much in sympathy with \
E, too bad he couldn't 60 in and keep a
2 company and in connection made v
me very disagrteible remarks. 4
only too glad to, was the opportunity Il
cred, which after a moments silence "A
lrold told him that providing he could
me to an agreement with him on a h
neme for which he had in view he would K
} that he got in there which was agreed b
d that keys were tried more than once h
fore they succeeded in fitting the door. in
ter Harold left here, either through h
cobs or Craven those keys were de- n
cred up to Harold as requested. After Al
At the one who took them to Harold n
them back again to get the impression Il
them for to make two like them which 10
IS done, and others returned. Ii
Then as the smaller part OF the lock on IN
2 inside door was somewhat loose, he ~
{ in larger screws so as to make it more
m, using pair Of small scissors OF mine Y
so do, and where Ii made the screws "a
my from turning them, he suggested M
{ something on them. i did so and on m
: floor are two spots of the same for si
dence. X,
exchanged notes with him during ali "
this time which he said be took to the
CINE room and burned in the furnace At
qOnuertiOn he said that ffrafa tia Hgr.,