The Washington times., 1905-12-07
CrueSome Trial in Jail
Was Full Dress
Affair.
OFFICIALS ARE NERVOUS
Chief Almost Broke Down
While Reading Death
Warrant to Woman.

WINDSOR. Vt, Dec "A fun dress
rehearsal OF the execution of Mary
Rogers, who VIII be hanged at I:3O
O'Clock tomorrow afternoon, was held
this morning in Windsor prison.
Mrs. Rogers knows nothing of the
grim show which was rehearsed in the
prison court below her cell door. and II
is not likely she would have cared if
she had known OF it,
The deputy sheriffs were carefully
drilled in every movement and action.
even TO the tying of the black sack
over dummy figure. The scaffoId was
erected early this morning and the
manila rope which will be used to hang
the woman was tested WITH a a0o-pound
bag OF sand. Sheriff Henry Peck. who
mas charge of the execution. came from
White River Junction and took general
supervision of the rehearsal.
Deputy Sheriffs Nervous.
The deputy sherims who are to carry
out the sentence of the law began TO
snow signs or nervousness yesterday and
superintendent Lowell advised that a
rehearsal be held in order that eacb
deputy would have an opportunity TO
know his exact duties The creepy feel
ing which had taken hold OF the deputies
was felt by Sheriff Henry Peck. who
again complained of the same cardiacaI
ahection which troubled him so much AT
the um@ Mrs Rogers was 10 be hanged
iast February. Peck said however. thar
ne would be present at the execution n
his heart permitted
The deputies didn't complain OF any
specihc organic trouble bur they all
agreed privately that they had SWIM
toms or something or other which made
them feel weak in the legs and caused
them 10 fortify themseIvS With that
which is sometimes sold in this State
"hen the constabuIary are not looking.
Erecting the Galiows.
Old Fred Cady. who is the VILLAGE COR
penter and has been building barns and
patching up the old red scbooIbo11se
these forty years. was at work putting
up the scaffold before the night nolice
force, who is no other than S. n. Tay-
lor-the villagers call him Sinful, Tav-
lor-went home for his days sleep. Cady
knows every plank and bolt in the scat
fold, having put the structure together
several times. and by s O'Clock il was
in place and set up in the inclosed court
beneath the tiers of cells
After the scaffold was in pIace tbA
deputy sheriffs were instructed In their
parts. Six OF them were formed in
line near Mary Rogers cell. which is
on the third tier, and then led down the
three flights OF stairs through the
gUardroOm. then down into the court
below and up the gallows' steps to their
appointed places.
\ dummy Tigure was suspended from
the moose and on the scafroId floor Law
the black sack which will inshroud Mrs
Rogers. The black sack was enVeloped
around the nBure by Deputy Sheriff
SpaffOrd, after Deputy Sheriff Kiniry
had made imaginary motions of tying
the hands OF the condemned Spa rford
adjusted the black cap in pantomime
and then gave the signal for the droD
10 Deputy Sheriff McCauley. who press
ed the trap with his foot and in order
To see il he has his lines letter perfect.
recited his own sentence prescribed by
law:
Il now execute the sentence of the
law. and may God have mercy on your
soul.
McCauley said his elocution was "A lit
tie lame. but his foot worked all right.
The rehearsal was satisfactory, though
IN the march down the stairs TO the ex-
ecution court some of the deputies walk
ed on everybody's feet but their own.
Death Warrant Read Again.
The death warrant was read to Mrs
Rogers this morning by Sheriff Peck
She listened indifferently 10 the read
iag OF the document. which Sheriff Peck
read through weakly. Mrs. Rogers has
heard the death warrant read by Sheriff
Peck on two previous occasions. and II
was apparently a listless. tedious walt
with her. Sheriff Peck had not grown
Indifferent from the frequent readings
and he sputtered quite breathlessly
through the document. while great
beads of water stood out on his fore
head and chased each other down his
face When Peck concluded and OBJ
served the placid demeanor of the pris-
oner he went downstairs and said: IN
be ding busy; she's the durndest woman
/ ever saw. She never twitched a
witch
Fears that she will collapse are not
even expressed by the prison officials,
who say that Mrs. Rogers today Is in
time she has been in prison. Sheriff
Peck saws however, that II she col
Iapses on the day or the execution she
win be carried TO the gibbet by the
deputies. Matron Durkee will dress Mrs
Rogers in the black dress sbe had made
last spring. and will accompany her as
far as the gGaTd-rOom door.
'rhe Rev. Father Delaney, Of St
Francis Church, will call on Mrs Rog-
crs to hear her last confession ana
administer such consolation and solac+
as the church has TO offer to those CON
victed and about TO die for murder.
Mrs Rogers spent the last day but
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