The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1905-02-02
HEARING BEFORE
s.s s.'...s GOVERNOR BELL
roceedings at Montpelier Yesterday AT
ternoon Told Windsor County
Sheriffs They Could Resign
if They Wished.


Montpelier, Feb. 2.-At the close of
the hearing held at the Pavilion yes
terday afternoon on the petition for
a reprieve for Mary NJ. Rogers, who is
sentenced to be hanged tomorrow at
Windsor, Gov. Bell, to whom the re-
quest was made, stated that he would
give his answer this afternoon some time
beween three and four o5clock, at Wat
erbury, where he with the state com-
mittee, is investigating the state insane
asylum. To the petition OF the sheriffs
Of Windsor county who asked for a stay
Of the execution of Mrs. Rogers he made
the simple statement that If they wished
to resign their commissions they were at
liberty to do SO. The sheriffs who were
present at the hearing were surprised
to say the least, as they were not
expecting that answer to the petition.
II was considered as rebuke to them.
Everyone who spoke at the hearing,
excepting the attorney general was in
favor of granting a reprieye for Mary
Rogers, and they included Attorney IT.
w. Moloney of Rutland, Attorney Il.
b. Finn OF Springfield, j. X. Fuller,
chaplain of the state prison, John H.
Senter Of Montpelier, FT. c. G. Delaney,
pastor Of the Roman Catholic church
at Windsor, ex-Lieut. Gov. z. S. Stanton.
Deputy Sheriff Lowell of Windsor coun-
ty, the man designated to spring the
trap at the execution, was called upon,
but asked to be excused as he thought
the petition for reprieye had been fully
covered Mrs. Bliekensderfer, the STAN.
ford. Conn, woman. whose interest in
the Rogers case has been evident through
her communications in the papers and
also through the announcement OF her
intentions IN the same medium, was
present at the hearing, but said moth.
ing. She was also represented by two
attorneys. Mrs Bliekensderfer was pre-
pared to speak if called upon, but she
was not asked She is Il woman of
apparently a nervous temperament, tall,
slender, dark-complexioned and a face
Of ashley pallor She displayed her ner.
yousness when she was ushered into
the hearing. From a seat surrounded
with men she listened intently TO every
word that was said.
Mr.. Maloney read petition from
Mary Rogers asking for a reprieve, and
F b. Finn read the petition Of the
sheriifs of Windsor county. Then Mr..
Moloney again spoke at more length
stating that he had been counsel for
Stella Bates, woman who had been
arrested in connection with the same
murder and who was released subse.
qnent to the conviction OF Mrs. Rogers
MIR. AIoloney asked for the petition on
the following grounds; (1) History
of the family showed insanity in one
OF more cases (2) The woman was
pregnant when the crime was committed
and that her mental condition was i'm.
doubtedly affected (3) The record
Of the trial had never been before su.
preme court for revision. (4) He MA
loney) would present petition for 4 new
trial ii the reprieve was granted.
Attorney Finn again spoke at more
length, stating his interviews with Per.
ham, he accompHee Of Mrs. Rogers, ii
which Perham had declared that he lied
about Mrs. Rogers in the trial and that
he did SO to save his own neck.
He was followed BY the Others whe
spoke more from the sentimental stand
point, declaring that it would be a dis
grace to the state Of Vermont to hang 8