New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-16
PLOT" GAS BAG BURSTS
PARKHURST GUARDS OFF.
Rogers Says Afdauit Was False
Held for Perjury.


Guards who have been watching the Rev. DR..
Charles II. Parkhurst since November 10 were
called off last night after Lawrence Rogers had
repudlated his affidavit revealing" plot to
kill the pastor OF the Madison Avenue Presby-
terrain Church. Rogers who according to his
statement yesterday had been pulling the wool
over the eyes of DR.. Parkhurst Frank Moss. OF
the Society for the Prevention OF Crime; District
Attorney Jerome and Robert ]. Kelly, secretary
Of the Citizens Union OF Brooklyn. was sent 10
the Tombs on a charge OF perjury. He declared
IN court that the story had been Matched by
Kelly. but the latter's reputation is said by MS
friends to be above suspicion
The District Attorney says he was inclined TO
doubt the story, but Frank Moss sent a letter 70
his office just before the John Doe proceedings
at which the bubble burst. in which he said:
think that Rogers and Wilson should be
believed and should be protected If these men
would be prosecuted for giving information II
would deter others from doing So
After Rogers had been held for perjury Mr.
Moss gave out a statement of the connection OF
the Society for the Prevention of Crime and him
self personally with the case, but refused to say
whether he really believed the story or not
The population of his affidavit by Rogers oc-
Cured at the John Doe hearing held by District
Attorney Jerome before Magistrate Wahle late
Yesterday afternoon. Subpenas had been issued
for Sergeant Shells of the West Tooth street
station. and Patrolman John Phelan. OF the
City Hall station who had been mentioned in
the "Parkhurst plot story Of Rogers. sum
monses had been issued for Rogers and Richard
Wilson, who had made affidavit confirming
the statement of Rogers that he was in the
Parkhurst plot. Wilson did not respond. and
warrant for his arrest was issued last night.
Both Shiels and Phelan were represented by
counsel when the proceedings were opened by
VVr.J,Ta ,1O htY-g
report soon after District Attorney Jerome be-
gan to question Rogers under oath. After he
had identified the affidavit and his signature
thereto he was asked:
Are the contents of the affidavit true?"
mo sir"
TN what respect they untrue?"
I'm everything in it. your honor"
Why did you tell Hep
II will tell you. I was working for this
Kelly around election. Then he told me his Job
in Brooklyn was gone. He said he had a good
scheme-that there a named ShieIs up
my way and we would get after him I strung
Kelly every day was with him. He made the
balls; fired them. Kelly brought me TO DR..
Parkhursts house one day and said: You make
it as strong you can and get Job for
life. Mr.. Kelly asked me to get some fellow to
cOrroborate II, and I brought in Wilson. Mr.
Kelly wanted to make the story strong. He had
q grievance against Sergeant ShlelS, Eddie
Reardon. Of your staff; Captain McDermott and
a detective sergeant named Hahn
After few more questions the District At
torney asked that Rogers be held for perjury IN
having sworn to his affidavit before Magistrate
Wahle Tuesday Sergeant Shiels was made
the complaining witness. Bail was fixed at
$4,000 Kelly will be the chief witness when
the grand jury takes the case I'D tomorrow.
1.-The is either crazy or he has been
hxed' since he made the afidvait," said Kelly
last night Rogers came to with the story
at the headquarters OF the Citizens Union In
Brooklyn on November 10. and received him
in good faith. He was voUched for by Charles
R. Gleason. who had worked for me as a special
officer. 1 never had any conversation with him
except in the presence of others. On the first
day he made affidavit TO the same story that
he swore to before Magistrate Wahle on Tues
day"
District Attorney Jerome told Rogers on Feb
ruary 16 that he could help to corroborate his
story by having talk with Wilson in his room
overheard by detectives without Wilson's
knowledge. Rogers told Wilson, and they
planned to fool the detectives Detectives Mar
tin and Platt said that the blOodcurdIng con-
versation they heard was so overdravn as To
District Attorneys office IS that Rogers who
has been in trouble before and is in perpetual
hard luck, was induced TO cook up the plot
story TO be sure Of job through the winter
The prospect of a term in jail as result of his
perjury did not seem to worry him last night.