The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1905-12-12
HISTORY OF The CRIME

HISTORY OF The CRIME
Windsor, VT, Dec. S.--Eyery in
genious device. known in law, was
used to save Mary Rogers from the
gibbet, and 1t was not until the case
was disposed of by the Supreme
Court of the United States late last
month that all hope was given up of
saving the woman's life. Had there
been one mitigating circumstance;
had there been one spark of woman
liness in Mary Rogers. had she shown
light possibilities of regeneration,
Gov. C. ]. Bell. of Vermont, might
have interferrcd. The murder was
as brutal as that of Mrs. Martha
Place, who hacked her step-daughter
to pieces because of jealousy, in
Brooklyn. Gov. Roosevelt declined
to interfere and save her from eiec-
trocution in March. 1899
Mrs. Rogers killed her husband,
Marcus Rogers. in order that she
might posses herself of 5000, his life
insurance, and marry another man.
The murder was committed in Ben
nington. on August IL, 1902. by the
administration of chloroform. The
circumstances leading up to the muir
der breathe Of foul deceit, cunning
and yiciousness Uncomfortable In a
woman. sg ~ ~ ..> g.
:. Mary Rogers was deeply loved by
her husband firing of her life with
this quiet, unpretentiOus man, she
left him. In her unfortunate life
that followed In Bennington, she met
a youth. barely seventeen years old,
breed Indian, who became enamored
of her. Perham wanted to marry
her. Mrs. Rogers had no mind for
that. but kept Perham dangling by
her side.
Mrs. Rogers fell In love with we'll.
known citizen of Bennington, who,
however, was not aware of her pas
sion for him. AS a woman OF the
street she knew she could not win
him, and In her simple way bethought
that once in possess:on OF her hus-
bands 5000 lie insurance money she
would become an object of devotion
and attention. With the thought
came the plan to do away with Rog.
ers, whom she had left. Rogers In
spite of her life of shame, had often
times sent word to his wifo to come
to him and he would forgive and for.
get the past. His strong love for
her and his willingness to forgive
were his undoing. She entered into
a conspiracy with Perham, who was
her willing tool. being led TO believe
that she would marry him.
Rogers was powerful man and
his end had to be accomplished By
cunning and deceit. She wrote that
she was ready to come back; wanted
to come back and would he forgive
her. Leon Perham turned States
evidence and on the stand he gave
testimony, a recital sucn as mas rare
ly been heard in the courts of law.
According to Perham Mrs. Rogers
had written to her husband, IRON
whom she was estranged, asking to
~ After the meeting and pretended
reconciliation Leon led ther way into
Morgan's grove. and by n winding
path to thefriyer. A great stone wall
separated the. grove, iffom the river
bank. The distance from the wall ID
the bank was less than half a dozen
feet.
MAY and walked along with
Rogers until we came to break In
the wall" said Leon. "She went
through and we followed. It was
cold and I had on big overcoat.
spread this out on the ground and all
three OF us sat down. We were only
few feet from the edge OF the river
May said she had new trick
with a rope.
"He laughed. May laughed, too.
and drew out a piece of ciothes.iine
Then she said she'd bet she coull
tie me SO that | couldn't get loose
"Illa bet you can't said.
She tied my hands loosely and
broke away. She tried it again ana
broke away again.
TRY lt,on him. said.
! "'I'il bet you can't tie me- sait
! Rogers.
I He was as strong as an OK. Ma,
tied him aud tried 10 tie him tight
but he just gave y iieave and broIz,
! away. She tried II second tins