Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1905-06-23
SAVED
FROM THE
GALL0WS
Governor Of Vermont Grants
Mrs. Rogers a Reprleve--
Story of the Crime

NhtANg WhO hdN ~
have been hanged today, was at a late
hour yesterday granted a reprieve,
and her case will again go before the
supreme court. The case has awaken.
ed more interest than aay criminal
case for many years, and there has
been a tremendous pressure brought to
bear on the governor Of Vermont 20
gain this reprieve. Only two days
ago Admiral Clark's brother tele.
graphed the governor that il the wo.
man was hanged the picture Of the
Captain Of the Oregon which hangs
on tho walls Of the state capitol at
Montpelier should be turned face TO
the wall for very shame. 1t was only
at the last moment the governos con.
sented to the reprieve. SO much has
been said Of the case in the past few
days that we give a short story Of the
crime for which she was charged.
found guilty, and but for the reprievc
granted last night, would now have
paid the penalty.
Mrs. Rogers crime was murder Of
her husband, Marcus Rogers, at Ben.
nington, August 81, 1903. This was
not the first attempt that had been
made on the husbands life. Mrs.
Rogers was married at the age Of 10,
and tired Of her husband some three
years after her marriage. At the
time Of the murder she was living
apart from Rogers. For some little
time her name had been connected
with that Of a man in Bennington. II
was stated that she wanted TO marry
him, and brooded over the fact that
her husband was the only bar to the
marriage. She also wanted $500 IN.
surance which Rogers carried.
On August 80, 1908, Mrs. Rogers,
then living in Bennington, sent 4
note 10 her husband at Hoosick Falls,
asking him TO come to Bennington the
next night as she wanted to see him.
The following night about o o'clock
Mrs, Rogers met her husband in the
Bennington public square. The two
walked up the road about a quarter of
a mile to tho ba INKS Of a little stream
which flows through the town. When
they arrived there they both sat
down on the banks Of the stream.
They had been there but a short
time when Leon Perham, a young man
with whose family Mrs. Rogers was
boarding, came across the field with
a rope in his hand. He was expected
by Mrs. Rogers, and his coming was
a part Of a prearranged program,
Young Perham had been there but a
little while when Mrs. Rogers sug.
gested n little game. She made a wag-
or with Perham that he could not tic
her hands so that she could not re-
lease them. Perham wound the ope
about Mrs. Rogers hands, but she
slipped il OF easily. Then she said
to her husband, "See IL you can do
il, Mark" Rogers consented, and Per
ham wound the rope around Rogeic'
wrists. Mrs. Rogers whispered 20.
Perham, ''Tie him tight" As soon
the not was tied Rogers %endeavorei
to slip It on, but without success. Fla
ally Mrs. Rogers put her arms around
his neck, drew his dead down nm her
lap, and kissed him and whispered;
~ knew you couldn't get away"
She then drew from her waist a bot
he Of chloroform and splitting IL on a
handkerchief pressed it 10 her huI-
face. In about Eve minutes the
nan was completely under the inhu'
,nce Of the drug. Then Mrs. Rogers,
to Perham to help her, took
ip the body and threw it into the
brook. Before. she went home she
ried to ehectually mask her part Of
he affair. She took a piece Of paper
md wrote a note, purpOrting to come
rom her husband, saying that hs was
ired Of life and intended to commit
Then she wound up the note
n an ingenious way. "Don't blame
ny wife, Mary Rogers, for this, as
he had nothing to with it,"
Mrs. Rogers signed her husbands
10 the note, pinned it on his hat,
md hung It on a tree. Then she and
went away. But at o O'Clock
he next morning Mrs. Rogers ap-
cared at the police station, weeping
nd wailing, and begging that they
end some officers with her 10 search
or her husband. Inasmueh as most Of
he officers knew Mrs. Rogers, and also
that she had not been living
nth him, they wondered why she
hould be 90 solieitOus at this time.
iut Mrs. Rogers begged for the aid
Z the police and finally several OH