Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1911-05-19

WILL ROGERS
. THROWSSELF
. ON MERCY Of
COURT
Youthful kldnaper of Baby
Waldo Rogers Pleads Guilty
When Arraigned for Trial in
Las Vegas District Court.
Ex-C0NvlCT WIGGINS WILL
MAKE FIGHT FOR FREEDOM
Pleads Not Guilty and Court
Appoints Attorneys to Defend
Him. Sentence on viii Rogers
Postponed.

Illllli oelllellC6 on WIN h0gefS
Postponed.
Especial Dispatch 60 tho Marning Jourunll
Las Vegas. N. NJ, May 1s.--I.ate
this afternoon William Rogers self
confessed kidnaper of the child of his
own brother. A. r.. Rogers. Jr.,
prominent attorney of this city. and
memebr of the law firm OF Jones and
Rogers, pleaded guilty TO the heinous
crime when arraigned In the district
court before Judge Clarence ]. Rob-
erts. Rogers accompliee, Joseph
Virgins, pleaded not guilty. The court
appointed John u. w. Veeder and
Fred l.. Burgan, both well known Las
vegas lawyers. 10 defend Virgins,
anu ordered them TO consult with the
defendant ana be ready for trial at
once. Virgins case will likely be
taken up tomorrow. In the event
that Virgins does not change his plea
and goes TO trial. sensational develop
ments in the kidnapping may be
brought to light AS there Is no stat
ute In New Mexico defining and fixing
the penalty for child abduction, Rog-
ers and Virgins We're indicted BY tho
territorial grand jury on series OF
felony charges. The Indictment to
which the men pleaded recites at some
length the acts alleged to have been
committed by Rogers and Virgins In
the home of Albert T. Rogers, Jr.. on
| the night that little Waldo Roaers
wAs torn from his trundle bed and the
arms of his frantic mother and held
for the princely ransom of $4,000.
The bill accuses Rogers and Wig
gins OF entering the home with the
intention of assaulting and threaten
ing Mrs. Rogers for the purpose of
extorting from her the ransom OF
$l2,VOO Tor the person OF Waldo Rog-
ers, her 3-year-old son. 1t further
accuses the defendant OF making an
actual assault upon the mother of the
child. threat to murder Mrs, Rog-
crs and little Waldo is included In the
bill. The presence of this accusation
Is said to have been the cause OF the
delay of Rogers In entering plea of
guilty.
1t was $3.50 o'clock when Virgins
and Rogers were brought into the
court room. AT that time the room
was occupied by fewer people than at
any time since the men were brought
here from the penitentiary. yesterday
afternoon when a large crowd gath
cred, expecting TO witness an arralgn-
ment The men We're brought In
quietly and but few knew they were
In the court room until Virgins and
Rogers were ordered TO stand up and
listen to the reading of the indict-
mcnt
OF young Rogers relatives only two
We're present. These were his father,
A. 7. Rogers. Sr., and his brother,
John Rogers. A. T. Rogers, Jr., was
not present, neither was his wife nor
Judge II. L. Waldo, grandfather OF the
kidnapped boy
While John Joerns, clerk of the
court. read the Indictment, silence
regned In the court room Rogers
and Virgins stood leaning on the rail-
Ing In front OF the judges bench. Both
prisoners listened closely while Mr..
Joerns read the true bill.
When Judge Roberts asked the men
now they wished to plead, WigglnA
was the first TO answer.
Not guilty, said Wigglns, clearly
and directly.
VIII Rogers tones We're almost In
audible as he made his reply. With
head bowed upon his breast he an
Hwered In faint whisper, Guilty"
IL was necessary to ask him second
time before IL was known that he de-
sired TO plead guilty.
Young Rogers displayed visible
emotion after the plea. lie dropped
Imply into seat beside his brother
John and put his head In his hands.
John Rodgers patted HIN Affection
ately upon the shoulder.
Attorney William G.. Hayden, who
represented Rogers, asked the court
to postpone sentence upon his client
as Virgins had not pleaded
guilty Mr.. Hayden hastened TO state
however that there was no intention
on the part of young Rogers 10 change
his plea. Judge Roberts inquired of
Virgins IL he had employed counsel
md Virgins replied In, the negative.
The judge then appointed Messrs.
Veeder and Burgan.
Absolute secrecy has been MAIN
aimed In regard to the investigations
IF the grand jury concerning the ia
nous kidnapping case. II is believed.
however, that the indictment to which
Rogers and Virgins pleaded this
afternoon Is one OF three or more
'eturned against them Jointly and in
lvidually However since Rogers
pleaded guilty the other indictments
'Rhinst him win probably be dis
missed
Virgins plea of not guilty brought
shock of surprise 10 the people In
he court room. II was expected
rom the first that he would not make
IN attempt 10 fight prosecution. He
iad said that he was firmly determin-
ii TO 80 to trial.
Much interest has been aroused as
o the length of sentence Rogers will
'eceivc or what punishment win be
neted ont To Virgins should he be
ound guilty, which Is likely, consid-
ring his confession and the mass OF
violence obtained by the officers be-
ore and after his arrest, on account