The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-12-12
Mrs. R0cGaS dAN6lD
Put to Death at windsor, W., For
Murder If husband.
uHc MET Her FATE eRAVCLY
laced Her End VITA stcical Indlfier'
enoe-NecK Was Broken BY Drop.
Governor Bell Refused to Inter

laced Her End Win Stcical lndlffer'
enoe-Ncck Was Broken BY Drop.
Governor Bell Refused to Inter
forc.
Windsor. VI. Dec. .. - Without
tromor and without a word mrs Mary
Mabel Rogcrs marched 10 her death on
the gallOws az the state prison here
and paid the penalty OF numbering her
husband. Marcus Rogers at Denning-
ton on AUGUST 10, 1902 To all appear
ances Mrs. Rogers was the calmest per-
son in the chamber Of death. She faced
her end with the same stoical indiifer-
ence that had marked her demcanor
ever since her arrest more than three
years AGO. Governor Bell firmly refused
10 interfere with the sentence.
Greatly to the relief OF those officials
who were assisting in executing the
sentence. Mary Rogers last hour was
remarkably free from narrowing Incl
dents II had been feared that the wo-
mans wonderful nerve would desert
her at the nnal moment and that she
would have TO be carried to the scaffold
in state of collapse. Instead, how
ever. Mrs Rogers met death brayely.
There were ma sensational incidents
I'm connection with the hanging.
Although the woman was not OIL
claIly pronounced dead until IL minutes
and 20 seconds after the trap was
sprung she evidently suffered no pain
Hor neck was broken at the second
ceryiral yeTiebrae and she lost con-
sciousness instantly the drop fell a
few feeble conyulsiye movements Of
her pinionod hands were the only evil
dence that vitality had survived the
first shock
Since the death watch was estab-
llshed Mrs. Rogers had eaten heartily.
and she has slept soundly. MIR and Mrs.
NJ. II. Loukes. OF the prison stan COM
prlsed the death watch, eating and
sleeping in the same room with the
condemned woman Margaret the lit
tie child of the Lonkes was frequent
visitor in the cell. and her childish talk
evidently eased many weary hours dur
ing Mrs Rogers last days and helped
her to keep her mind OF her own fate.
During the last few days Mrs. Rogers
spent a great deal OF time In crocheting
tokens fer relatives and friends.
When the guards went TO Mrs. Rog-
ers' cell 70 escort her 10 the death
chamber they found her receiving spir-
ituai consolation from Father Delaney.
her confessor. who the day before had
administered the sacrament OF Holy
Communion 10 her. Down three flights
of stairs from Mrs Rogers cell the
procession wendell It's way. Holding
her head high. Mrs Rogers never fall
tered for an instant as her eyes rested
on the scafold. Unaided she mounted
the steps. walked onto the trap and
then seated herself in a chair. A mo-
ment later she arose. having declined
an offer by the authorities to make a
statement
Even at this tragic hour Mary Rogers
thought OF others Just as the deputies
approached TO bind her limbs she re-
moved her eyeglasses and passing them
10 one Of the deputies. she said:
"These are for my sister. Please see
that she gets them"
A moment later the straps and moose
were arranged and the trap was sprung.
The rope was a trine too long and the
womans toes barely touched the floor
beneath. She was beyond suffering.
however. her neck being broken at the
drop. and she had instantly lost con-
seriousness.
A little more than II minutes later
the physicians pronounced that all
signs OF life had vanished, and soon
after the body was cut down and placed
in the coffin that had been placed near
the execution place
Those who witnessed the execution
united in saying that it was successful
and humane Except when the woman's
toes barely touched the floor there was
no untoward incident.