The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1905-08-26
YOUNG HARPIN GAVE
HIM KEY TO THE CELL
And Told Him He Might Wis
it the Murderess' Cell---
Rogers Made Key in the
Prison - Mary Rogers
Makes a Written State
ment.

Bellows Falls, August 26.- Sensation
al and startling testimony concerning
Mary Rogers, condemned to be hanged
Tor numbering her husband, was brought
out yesterday afternoon at the inyesti-
cation Of the state insane asylum. Hor-
ace Boyd, a prison officer, testified that
Vernon Rogers, "trusty' Of Cabot,
who i serving 16 years sentence, had
frequently had access to the cell Of
the condemned woman and that Rogers
and the woman were guilty Of immoral
conduct. After Boyd had finished his
testimony the state made public evidence
taken in executive session, IN which for
mer Superintendent 0akes testified that
Rogers had told him that Fred Morse
had given him a key which fitted Mary
Rogers cell. The key unlocked only
the first door, and Mrs. Rogers unlocked
the second door by removing with scis-
sors the screws in the lock
Mary Rogers signed statement, made
TO slatron Durkee or the prison, was
also presented, in which Mary Rogers
bad told Of frequent meetings with
Rogers.
Horace Boyd testified that Rogers told
him how he had gained access TO the
woman's cell Boyd asked him how
many times he went III and he replied
that he went when he wanted to. He
aha not tell how he happened to 20 to
the cell in the first place. Boyd's con-
yersati0n with Rogers occurred about
month before Harpin's discharge.
Rogers asked how long they were
going to keep him in confinement, and
Oakes told him he had got to stay there
until he told who was implicated with
him. He said no one had anything to
do with it. Mrs. Rogers was supposed
to be in solitary confinement. Boyd said
he talked with Rogers several times
about the matter, but did not report
It to 0akes He thought that il such
a key was in existence there would be
no trouble in getting it. The place
where Rogers worked was in sight of
Harpin's Office. A man might stand
in the corridor however, without being
seen, because of d platform which might
shut oft the view,
Matron Durkee's Statement.
Matron Durkee stated that As soon
as she was aware that d man was visit
ing the cell she went to Mary Rogers
and asked her about it. The latter
didn't seem inclined to tell about it.
Miss Durkee told her to think it over
and tell her Just how it was. That
night she admitted some of it and said
Rogers had been in there. She said
that the first thing she knew he was
trying to get in. He came with the
KEY and she asked him where he got
it He told her that Harold Harpin got
il and gave it TO him. She went on
10 say that lie sided with her and
Young Harpin told him if he thought
10 much Of her he had better 90 and
STAY with her and then gave Rogers
the key After Harold Harpin was dis.
charged he was very anxious about the
KEY and got one Of tile officers to get
ii for him, either Craven or Jacobs.
Then Rogers got hold Of It again and
made copy Of it. Mrs. Rogers said
that one didn't work very well and
took more time, so he didn't feel as
free to 90 as at first.
Mrs. Rogers Statement.
Miss Durkee couldn't remember wheth-
er Mrs. Rogers told how many times
Rogers had been in. She asked her to
wrote out her story and Mary Rogers
aid 30. Il was written in her room with
no one present at the time. Miss Dur
kee furnished her with the paper and
material. She did not tell her that
NE wanted her to bring Harpin into
tbe case. She wrote Of her own free
will.
The statement follows:
March 10, 1905.
Mabel Rogers . For Miss Durkee.
have exhausted every measure in
thourht as to what was best in regard
to t6is matter, and have entered on the
decision that would make full state
ment at the best Of my ability, SO far
"A know and as know it.
Ogr conversations are doubtless imma-
terial with the exceptions Of the prin-
cinaI facts, and how they came about.
BEFORE the doors were ever opened
- .+ftb ma auJ raiatad N tna