Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-12-09
LAST APPEAL IN VAIN.
No Evidence to Warrant Gov. Bells
Granting a Reprieve.

Mrs. Rogers was dead, Gov. Bell gave
| to The Associated Press the following
statement:
81 am much relieved to know that
the execution of Mrs. Rogers was ac-
compished promptly according to law
and without a hitch or unnecessary
delay 1t was a disagreeable duty I
have been called upon to perform but
notwithstanding my personal views in
regard to the matter l have acted on
my oath as chief executive and 1 be-
lieve I have acted in the interest of
abiding sentiment of the people of
Vermont. The incident is closed and
| l do not care to say anything more
at this time"
Gov. Bell left for his home at Wal
den at Las o'clock, this afternoon.
Gov. Bell and party arrived here
from Chicago by way of Montreal at
3.15 A. NJ, today. E. B. Flynn of
Springfield, one of the lawyers who
have been active in the interests of
Mrs. Rogers, boarded the train near
the Canadian boundary line and at
Montpelier, Charles A. Mccarthy of
Hoosick Falls, N. Y. another attorney,
joined him. Neither Mr.. Flynn nor
Mr.. Mccarthy had any conversation
with Gov. Bell regarding any new evil
dence they We're prepared to offer. Mr..
Flynn had expected to talk over the
situation with the governor on the
train, but the chief executive was
fatigued after his long journey and
Col. Dole of the governors staff adj
vised the lawyers not to bother Gov.
Bell with a rehearsal of the case I'M
til this forenoon. Mr.. Flynn was able
| to see the governor a few moments,
and the former agreed to hear any
thing that the lawyers had to say at
| 10 A. NJ.
When the Montreal Express reached
| the junction Gov. Bell was met by his
| secretary, Charles r. Walters, and was
| conducted to the Junction House. The
governor was approached by number
| of newspaper men as soon as he ar
| rived but to the inquiries he said: Il
am going to bed; have nothing to
say" He retired before A. NJ, and
| obtained several hours rest.
Secretary Walters stated, early to-
day, that he had heard of nothing that
could prevent the execution. In the
| governors mail, Mr.. Walters said were
sc letters, only one Of which was writ
| ten by a resident of Vermont, begging
| clemency for the condemned woman.
| Secretary Walters did not bring the Of
| fetal seal here. Before reprieve could
become legal document. it would have
] to bear the seal of the state executive.
| Among the other arrivals here, early
! today, was Mrs. Jessie PARTON of Gin
cinnati, who brought two suit cases said
to contain $4,000 signatures of Ohio peo-
| pie who are in favor Of saving the life
| of Mrs. Rogers. Mrs. PARTON came on
the train which carried the governor
from Montpelier Junction, but she did
not have an opportunity to see him on
the way.
Attorney Mccarthy brought num-
Der Of documents including several af-
fidavits in support of the allegation that
Mrs. Rogers antecedents had not all
been sound mentally. Messrs. Nc
Carthy and Flynn desired to get a re-
prieve until the case could be taken be-
fore the Legislature. or failing in that
to be permitted an opportunity to enter
it again in the Vermont supreme court
on plea of newly discovered evidence
This new evidence related to the wo-
mans mental condition, her counsel
maintaining that she was insane at the
time the crime was committed and sup
j porting that claim by numerous af-
: fidavits.
Early today. Attorney Flynn handed
Gov. Bell d letter from Attorney Pow
ers former justice of the Vermont
supreme court and now corporation
counsel, who has become interested in
Mrs. Rogers case. requesting him to
show clemency. Former Judge Powers
argued in his letter that the ends OF
justice would be subserved if another
reprieve should be granted. He said
that he had travelled throughout the
state and was personally convinced
that the sentiment OF the Vermont peo.
pie was overwhelmingly opposed to the
execution. Mr.. Powers contended tina,
some of the new evidence in the cas-
had come to light so recently that II
mas been impossible to present il be
| lore two justices Of the state supreme