The Washington times., 1905-12-09
MRS. MARY ROGERS
WAS STRANGLED BY
DEPUTY SHER|FFS
Shocking Details of
Vermont's Tragic
Execution.
SHERIFF ADMITS STORY
Awful Bungle Has Sent Thrill
of Horror Throughout
the Country.
SHERIFF ADMITS STORY

WINDSOR, VT, Dec 9-The news
that the hanging OF Mary Rogers. FRI
day, for the murder OF her husband,
Marcus Rogers. had been bungled has
sent a thrill or horror through the
State. 1t is learned from eye-witnesses
that the rope, with which the wretched
woman was hanged. had not been
tested. When the drop came the weight
OF the body stretched the manila strands
that the woman's feet dropped on
the floor. In this emergency stalwart
deputy sheriffs seized the rope. lifted
the body clear of the floor and held
on for nearly fourteen minutes. while
the woman slowly strangled TO death.
The prison authorities made efforts 10
prevent the bungle from becoming
known. For a time they were success
full. but toward evening the awful truth
became known. through the States wit
nesses
Deputies Held Up.
c. A. Mccarthy OF counsel for Mrs.
Rogers. who was present at the execu-
ton. told the story in these words:
When the body shot down after the
trap had been sprung. the feet of the
woman struck the chamber floor. and as
the body swung. the feet dragged on
the floor. II was awful to see Sew
eral deputy sherins on the scaffold
leaped forward and seized the rope and
dragged the woman clear of the floor,
and there they held her. taking turns
relieving each other. for fourteen long
minutes. until the woman's life was
strangled out Of her"
Executioner Turns Away.
Deputy Sheriff KIniry, who virtually
l.. a
inclined 10 say much about the hanging.
bat what he did say was significant.
Sheriff, why did the deputies take
hold of the rope2" he was asked.
Il don't want 10 say much about it,
kiniry replied. We didn't want The
woman's feet to touch the floor"
Did you not see that her feet were
dragging"
NO. i did not / turned my back, and
/ don't know who the deputies were that
held on the rope. L did not. 1t Will be
the last hanging in this State
Another eyewitness tells the story
OF the hanging as follows:
The trap was sprung at TIA with
crash that could be heard 100 yards from
the prison. The body shot down and
snapped back when the rope became
tauL The woman trembled conyulsively
and her feet dragged on the floor The
rope had stretched To save the woman
from an even slower and more awful
death. the deputies on the scanold floor
seized the rope and pulled the woman
from the floor. The spectators started
forward at the sight
Feared Consciousness.
My God; she viii return TO con-
seriousness If they do not keep her clear
OF the floor. witness was heard TO say.
The deputies pulled hard on the
rope and held hard for the woman was
heavy. and the strain on them was in
tense
Minutes psssed and the woman still
lived. II seemed an hour TO the Wit
nesSeS- All sne wOmans weight was
being held by those deputies, VINO work
I'd In relays and shifts in keeping the
body from touching the floor
Mary Rogers was being slowly strsn-
gied 10 death. by q rope held by The
agents OF the State, and not from a
moose attached TO the gallows cross
tree.
DIR. Dean Richmond. the prison ply
sicisn. and DIR. A. W. Daley PRONOUNCED
(Cnnffpnaff On Cacnp1 Io.oo