Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-09-08
PRISON HEARING RESUMED
HAROLD HARPlN AND FORMER
DEPUTY WARDEN TESTIFY.
Vernon Rogers Had Run Of Prison and
Facilities-Loeks Old Fashioned
Only Honor Separated Him From
Mrs. Rogers-oakes Often Absent.

The investigation of the Vermont
state prison was resumed at Young's
hotel in Boston, Friday. September l.
There were present Governor Bell G.
III, A. Stafford of Morrisville and N. G.
Williams of Bellows Falls of the in
vestigating committee: Attorney Gen
eral Clarke c. Fits of Brattleboro,
Judge Z. S. Palmer of Burlington,
representing x-Superintendent Oakes
and j. c. Enwright of Windsor. coun-
sci for Warden Harpin.
Harold Harpin testified that he was
night guard in the quarters where
Mrs. Rogers was confined. but had no
keys to her cell. He had never been
in her cell and had never had any
communication with her whatever
He only saw Vernon Rogers between
to 8 D. M. locking him up at every
night. He never saw Rogers talking
to Mrs. Rogers, or told him ne could
go in and see her, and never knew OF
letters passing between the two. He
said:
"Vernon Rogers was not interfered
with during the day. He could go to
the engine ROOM the tool house. or
anywhere he wished except to the
workshop, and he could have easily
obtained wire. file or any other I'M
plement he wished. The locks on the
doors of Mrs. Rogers's quarters are
old fashioned There was no super
vision of the west corridor during the
day and from where my fathers desk
stood in the guardroom there was no
view of the tier of cells where Mrs.
Rogers was confined. If Vernon Rog-
ers entered Mrs. Rogers's cell from
the north corridor my father could not
hae seen him from the guardroom."
considering the old-fashioned
locks. the ease with which Vernon
Rogers could procure means to make
a kew the lack of oversight of the
corridor during the day. was there
ANYTHING to keep Vernon Rogers and
! Mrs. Rogers apart but their personal
honor?" asked Attorney General
Fits.
"That was ALL" answered Harpin.
He denied any knowledge OF MS
fathers desiring the superintenuents
position. He said he had heard noun
ing regarding the relations between
after he had left the prison. Superin-
Itendent Oakes had called him to ms
office one day, paid him off. and ne
knew 1t was 'up to him" to leave
from the way it had been done. Gov
ernor Bell asked Harpin when ne
left the prison, and Harpin replied
March Z, and that Vernon Rogers
had been put in solitary connnement
March IL as soon as it was founo OUT
about him. In reply to furtner aues
tions from the governor, Harpln re-
nlied that he did not understand ne
was discharged for anything in con-
nection with the Rogers case. Laugn-
fer followed the questions from Attor-
new General Fits regarding Harplns
} Knowledge Of bedbugs. The iatter
said he knew there were plenty ~
them. and no effort was made 70 ex-
terminate them. He thought the an
in the prison corridors was pau aiiu
the cells all poorly ventilated.
John E. Proctor testified that ne
J went TO the state prison as guard
) In Nav. 1900, haing been previously
/ employed at the Rhode Island state
nrison He remained at Windsor un- H.
2 In March 27. last when, he salo, !
told Superintendent Oakes what
: thought of him and left, because wao
e mad at him for not promoting me ~
E Warden Harpins place as 'houeN'
r II belonged to me-. -
Nv Proctor said he was guard for
: wear and four months and shop-
: keeper for a little over three years
: During the three years he said MT
f cakes visited the shop only four
times on business. Occasionally ne
S appeared when he was taking frlenos
over the institution. All QueslloH9 "
e discipline were referred to Warden
: Harpin. I'VE could always find the
: warden" said Mr.. Proctor. put We
n never knew where to find the superin-
J: ltendent. Mr.. Oakes used TO pc IN ms
# Office for an hour and half during
& the forenoon, and sometimes we
d would not see him for two or tnree
n days. Occasionally he was around II
the afternoon. One day Warden Har.
/ min received telegram stating tha'
II his father had died Mr.. Oakes was
o away but Mr.. Harpin waited until he
n returned. That night Mr.. Oakes tolc
$ me he was going to Sunapee. He LEI,
It me in charge of the prison and said Il
e ANYTHING happened l could telephone
e to Woodstock. After the session o.
s the legislature last fall Mr.. Oakes was
II on duty more
: Both Harpin and Proctor testified ina
n Mrs. Rogers had no women attendants
IS Her death watch during the day was
- a man, and the same was true OF tne
q night death watch. At no time Ole
i she have a woman attendant wit
nesses said. The latter said that a.
J. the Rhode Island state prison wnere
y. he was employed. great care was ex'
q ercised to have female prisoners at
tended by women employees as wei
as by men.
= Charles Dewey. the only surviving
l. brother of Admiral George Dewey ane
In