Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-24
CITIZEN UNDER
CRAVE CHARGE
Conrad Roger Indicted for Poi
soning Neighbor's Stock.
SENSATION AT ROCKVILLE
William H. Mckay Charged With
Murder of Mrs. Mary Lang.
BOTH TO GET EARLY TRIALS
Grand Jury Makes Recommendation
Regarding Shoemaker
Road Law.

The grand jury at Rockville,
Nd, yesterday charged Conrad
Roger with having poisoned some
stock belonging to Oliver G.. Hen
ley, a neighbor, over year ago.
Henley's dwelling was destroyed
by fire soon after the poisoning was
discovered, and the two occur
FENCES caused great indignation in
the community. The county COM
missioners offered ST. 900 as a re-
ward for discovery of the guilty
parties. The grand jury also in
dicted William H. Mckay, charg-
ing him with the murder of his
wife's mother.
Special Dispatch to The Star.
ROCKVILLE. Md, March 23-The grand
jury for the March term of the circuit court
Tor this county adjourned late this after
noon, after having been in session six days.
Elghty-four witnesses were examined and
tWenty-three indictments found. The term
was close to record breaker, both as to it's
oreVlty and the small number of indict-
ments In discharging the jury from fur
ther attendance at this time Judge Hender-
son congratulated the members upon the
dlligent and expeditions manner in which
the business had been transacted and
thanked them on behalf of the court and the
people of the county.
The last batch of indictments handed in
contained one against Conrad Roger, one
OF the best known farmers of Laytonsville
district. IT charged him with poisoning
several cattle and horses belonging to Oliver
o. Henley, also Laytonsvilie district
farmer. The poisoning was done something
over year ago. and soon afterward Hem
leyS home was destroyed by fire
Much indignation was created all over the
county by the alleged vandalism, and Gov
Warfield expressed his interest in the case.
Reward of 81 900 Offered.
The county commissioners offered a re-
ward OF $1,000 for information leading to the
| conviction Of the guilty one Detectives
were employed on the case. and several
| grand juries made investigations. The evil
dence developed was not sufficiently con-
vincing, however, to justify the finding of
an Indictment.
1t was generally thought the case had he
come history, but Jonathan Magruder. a
Washington street railway conductor re-
opened 1t. He told States Attorney Peter
story that was nothing short of sensa-
tlonal. Among other things Magruder
stated that shortly before Henley's cattle
were poisoned he heard young resident
OF LaytonSville district declare in Wash
ington that he had in his possession pack
age of poison with which to kill cattle be-
longing to man named Henley.
1t was principally upon the evidence of
hot fhn til;
found. 1t is understood that several years
ago Henley and his brother, in a suit for
damages against Roger, were given judg-
ment in quite a large sum.
The grand jury also found an Indictment
against William H. Mckay, charging him
with the murder of his aged mother-in-
law, Mrs. Mary Lang, near Wheaton, about
two weeks ago. Mckay is in jail here 4.
is understood that this case aid the one
against Roger will be tried at the Grim
inal term which begins here next Thursday
morning.
Discusses Road Conditions
The grand Vrys report devoted much
space to road conditions in Montgomery
county Numerous complaints have re-
Gently been made, because of delay in the
completion of several pieces of what is termed
the Shoemaker road" and upon the request
OF large number of taxpayers the grand
jury made an investigation. The report
stated that the county commissioners and
their clerk had been examined in regard to
the conduct Of the work, and that other
Investigations were also made. 1t was
found that the delay was due to extensions
by the commissioners upon the recommer-
dation of the state highway engineers of
the time limit for the completion of the
work.
The report says nothing was disclosed
tending to cast the slightest suspicion on
the county commissioners. all of whom
are designated as honest men, but we do
allowed the state engineers and the con-
tractors to impose on the people of the
county certain hardships which could have
| been avoided had the commissioners not
| favored the time limit extensions and had
| they exercised more of the authority given
| them by law. and we recommend that in
| the future the commissioners refuse to
award contracts unless assured that the
work will be completed within a reasonab BILE
| time limit.
Favor Amendment.
The report referred to the Shoemaker
| Law, and concluded as follows:
I'VE believe in good roads, and we favor
any practical law which will give them to
US; but we believe that certain portions Of
| the Shoemaker law and the several acts
| leading up TO that measure are not prac-
| teal road laws. and We recommend that
these acts. If they are to remain on the
| statute books, be so amended as to make
| them more practicable"
In regard to conditions at the Rockville
| Jail the report states that the jury found
| everything clean and In sanitary condi-
| ton. and the prisoners apparently satisfied
| with their rations and quarters. This was
very different from the report of the No
vember grand jury, which declared that
| the jailyard was in filthy condition and
| that the sanitary conditions OF the prem
| ises generally were of the worst.
Judge Henderson addressed the grand
| jury at some length. He referred especially
| to that portion of the report In regard to the
| roads, and stated that he heartily Endorsed
| the observations and recommendations con-