Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1911-05-24
Five to Twelve Years for viii
Rogers With Seven to Twelve
Years for AcCompliCe, Joe
WlgginS.
ROGERS BEGS FOR THE
LENIENCY OF THE COURT
Wggins Takes Dose Calmly;
Judge Roberts Makes I'M
presSive Talk to Principal in
Passing Sentence.


Especial Dispatch to the Morning journal !
Las Vegas, n. NJ. May 23.-Will
Rogers of Las Vegas, whose fertile
brain evolved the inhuman plot for
the abduction of little Waldo Rogers.
the child of his own brother, ana who
confessed that he was the sole 'nsti-
gator of the most sensational crime
for ten years in New Mexico, " II
| spend not less than five nor more
than twelve years IN the penitentiary
at Santa Fe for his crime, by the
terms of sentence imposed upon ROg-
ers today in the district court at Las
Vegas by Judge Clarence j. Roberts.
Joseph Virgins, ex-convict, the ac-
complice and willing tool of Rogers.
will atone for his share of the crime
by Imprisonment for at least seven
and not more than twelve years. Judge
Roberts said in pronouncing sentence
that the additional two years were
given Virgins primarily because he
refused to plead guilty, and secondly,
because he WAS an ex-convict.
1t was a dramatic scene when ROg-
ers stood up to be sentenced his only
of the court being, 1T is impossible
for me to give vent to my feelings
beg for the mercy of the court
Before sentencing Rogers and Wig
gins this morning, Judge Roberts ask
ed District Attorney Ward whether
he had anything to add to what he
had already suggested to the court, to
which the district attorney replied in
IA, snA
Rogers to stand up. Rogers arose
with mis- left hand shielding his face
and evidently in the grip of strong
emotion. Seated near him We're his
father A. T. Rogers, Sr,. his brother,
John Rogers and his sister. Mrs.
Homer Unsell of Spokane, Wash.
After Rogers reply, almost inaudi-
able, to the query of the court If he
had anything to say why sentence
should not be imposed upon him,
Judge Roberts said:
THE court will then sentence you"
In passing sentence upon you 1t is
useless for me to attempt to say any,
thing about the enormity of the Of
fense which you have committed
Words cannot express my conception
of the enormity of your crime. You
doubtless by this time appreciate the
truth of it. 1t has already been done.
Nothing we can say in regard TO the
past would be of any use. The only
thing / could say to you would be
few words relative to the future. Ol
course | will have to sentence you to
the penitentiary. | trust you viii
realize that 1t Is not the court as an
individual doing this, but 1t Is the law.
Here in New Mexico law Is supreme.
Were | to follow my personal inclina-
tion in this matter | would sentence
you and suspend sentence, because
you are a young man. and this Is your
first offense. You We're a young man
with bright future before you.
believe If sentence were suspended
that you would probably never COM
nit another crime. i am going to
give you a minimum sentence of five
years in the territorial penitentiary
and a maximum sentence of twelve
years.
Virgins was seated several feet
away from Rogers when the latter
received his sentence. isolated and
alone, apparently without a friend, ex-
cept his counsel appointed by the
court, who sat near him, he calmly
listened to the sentence imposed up
On hoseIs anu "' s,.nd sp,''' h., VS tsa onr,
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