Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-08-31

Bellows Falls. VT. Aug. 25.--sensa-
tional testimony concerning affairs at
the State prison at Windsor was given
at to-days hearing OF the examination
of public institutions now being held by
the State. Horace Boyd, n priton officer
testified regarding the alleged conduct
OF Mrs. Mary VI. Rogers, the Benning
ton woman who was convictd of the
murder OF her husband, Marcus Rogers
in August. 1902 but not executed.
Eoyd testified that Vernon Rogers. Il
convict who is serving Il sentence of
iG years, had told him that he (Rogors)
had access last spring to Mrs. Rogers :
cell by means of a key which he had
made in the shoe shop of the institution.
The convict is not II relative of Mrs.
Rogers. officer Boyd further stated that
Rogers and the condemned murdcrcss had
not conducted themselves properly.
OAKESS EXPLANATION.
After Boyd had been dismissed from
the witness stand the State made public
certain evidence which had been taken
in executive session by the special COM
mittee appointed by the legislature to
investigate pucllc iJStltnllOns
V. W. Otakes, former superintendent
of the prison. testified at that session that
Rogers had Informed him TINT last March
Fred Morse. another prisoner had given
Rogers a kew which fitted Mary Rogers $
cell. Cakes also said Rogers had told him
that tho lattcr's key opened the outside
door of the cell but would rot unlock the
inside door.
tlA 1.
testified, was opened according to Mrs
Rogerss story BY Mrs. Rogers herself
who removed the screws in the lock by
means OF a pair of scissors which she had
been possessed Of
At to.day's hearing the State officials
alsomade public a statement made by Mrs
Rogers in writing to Matron Durkce OF
the prison. In tho statement Mrs. Rog-
>rs said she had seen Vernon Rogers fire.
uuently in the corridor The woman's
statement then told of frequent meetings
which she and Rogers had in her cell. Tho
statement corroborated other testimony
given concerning Rogers at the hearing as
10 the means employed to open the cell
loors.
VARIOUS WITNESSES
The first witness this morning was
Mrs. Julia Burbridge. the daughter OF
sx-Superintendent Cakes. Mrs Bur
bridge denied the story that her hus'
band ever boarded month or two al
the home of Mr.. Cakes Said they went
there occasionally to visit only.
She said she packed her books wher
visiting at the prison in box which
had contained canned goods and sent
them to Woodstock by freight and that
they were II months on the way. The
witness denied the stories that she hat
taken sheets, clothes or other house
hold supplies. She first knew of friction
between her father and Iiarpin abou
three years ago. She had heard tina
Harpin was trying to get her father!
position.
DR.. Harwood Burbridgc, son-in-lav
Of Mr.. Cakes. testified very similarly -
Mrs. Burbridgc.
Mrs. Julia c. Bachelor, mother o
Miss Anna Bachelor, who obtained thu
famous interview with Mary Rogers
corroborated the testimony of he
daughter which was given at the las
hearing, saying that Superintendent
Lowell telcphoned her daughter tn
night before the interview to come T.
Windsor on the early morning trail
and she heard her daughter answe
the telephone.
DR.. II. II. Howe Of NarHord, Conn
who owns the Sunapce cottage joint,
with Mr.. Cakes. was called and state
emphatically that the State Of Vernon
never furnished supplies to their cot
tage at Sunapee to any extent. He toll
how Mr.. Cakes came to be offered tn
position OF superintendent at Hartford
Conn. The witness was member O
the executive board and when the sup
erintendent died. DR.. Howe admirIn
Oakes's executive ability asked him t
become candidate.
Hiram u. Messer. foreman OF the sho
and superintendent OF the maunfactur
ing OF prison shoes, was called. ii
thought Mr. Harpin was n faithful OF
fcer and that the discipline so far a
the work was concerned was good.
Horace hoyd. officer at the prison
took the stand. His testimony was un
important ana he was dismissed unit
afternoon.