New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-12
Bronx Prosecutor to Bring
Rogers's "Soul Mate" to
Trial as Mrs. Walters.
COLD BLOODED
MURDER, HE SAYS
Indictment Awaits Inquest
and WOman's Condition
Trail Poison Purchase.
Cold blooded, deliberate murder.

Cold blooded, deliberate murder.
That is how District Attorney Francis
Martin, Of Bronx County. characterize'
the act OF Ida Sniffen Walters, in Civ
ing poison TO her two children. More
over, the District Attorney said las'
night that the prosecution Of the wom-
an will be pushed with the utmost
yigor and every possible effort made
10 bring her to Justice
In the criminal proceedings the name
Rogers that OF Lorlys Elton Rogers
father Of the dead babies, has been
dropped. and she will be prosecuted
unler the name of Walters, that of hei
divorced husband.
Five witnesses were examined yes
terday by the grand Jury. They were
DR.. W. Grant Hague, Ida Walters's
physician Mrs John Halden, janitoi
of 1431 University av., where the wom-
an and her children lived for two
years; Mrs. Catherine Burns, a neigh
Dor, who lived in the same house, at
224 West 167th St, where the crime
was committed, Coroner Jerome Healy
of The Bronx, and Dr. Reigelman, coro-
ner's physician.
Woman Friend a Witness.
Mrs. Halden was called 10 testify as
to the life of the accused woman while
living at the University av. house. Dr.
Reigelman, it is understood, told OF
finding large doses Of bichloride OF
mercury in the children, especially in
the body OF John, the eldest. The
other child, Lorida, is supposed to have
died from the burning Of the throat
and sufocation caused by the poison.
Mrs. Catherine Burns is expected to
be one of the most important witnesses
for the state when the case is brought
TO trial. She will tell how Ida Walters
called her on the day of the tragedy,
and told her that the little bos, John
had given his sister poison and taken
some himself.
According to Mrs. Burns, Mrs. Wal
ters did not mention having taken the
drug herself, and showed no indication
Of being mentally deranged- Her testl-
monv will be a powerful blow 10 the de-
fence. in the opinion Of the prosecutor.
II is unlikely that the Indictment oil
the woman viii be handed down before
rext week. The complete examination
of but four witnesses was accomplished
Yesterday. When o'clock came, DR.;
Hague had just begun his story and
the jury refused to sit longer. .,
An adjournment was taken until
Wednesday and while 1t would be pos
sible to finish the work by thursday
night. District Attorney Martin wishes
10 await the result of the coroners IN
quest Coroner Hesly will not call the
inouest until assured that Mrs. WATERS
can appear before the coroner's Jury
without endangering her health. She
was i'm good condition yesterday, ac-
cording to DR.. Hague and the Lebanon
Hospital authorities, and showed little
trace of her illness.
Fears Going to Jail.
What worries her most is the pros
meet Of being locked up. Nevertheless,
The District Attorney said she would be
lodged in the county jail within ten
davs. If necessary. he will send doc
tor of his own selection to examine
the woman at the hospital.
81 am going to find out how much
noison this woman took" said Mr. Mar
lin Her calmness when told Of her
children's death and her attitude since
that time. seems 10 me 10 be almost un-
natural. According to her statements
she took syrup of ipecac Immediately
after swallowing the bichloride, and
that does not look like insanity.
~ intend TO prosecute vigorously
whoever is responsible for the murder
that has been done. ] feel that the
public will fully understand the case by
the time it is brought to trial and look
at it as deliberate murder"
Mr.. Martin expects TO clear up the
mystery surrounding the purchase OF the
pojson within a day or two. The Bronx
druggist, A. Di Bella, at whose store
Mrs. Walters says she bought the drug,
will produce his poison sale record to-
morrow. The law forbidding the sale
of bichloride of mercury without doc
tors prescription was not IN erect at
the time the poison IS alleged TO have
been obtained. Mr.. Martin, however,
is not sure that Il was bought at the
time given. and is giving serious atten-
tion 70 the possibility Of some one
other than Ida Rogers having been con-
cerned in procuring II.
Another witness for whom a sub
ppna has been issued by the prosecu-
tor is Mrs. Annie Roquemore Rogers,
first wife Of Lorlys Rogers. She is be
L.. So, - .v,ts
facts regarding the life of Rogers and
his soul mate" Ida Walters, and 10
have. visited her and Rogers at their
fat in The Bronx.
Subpoena Tor First Mrs. Rogers.
Mrs. Roauemore Rogers was quoted
yesterday as saying that she was glad
Airs Caroline Giddings Rogers, the
LAWYERS legal wife, was going TO free
him so that he might marry Mrs. Wal
tors. Also, il is said, she expressed the
deepest sympathy for the accused
woman and hoped for her aequittal OF
The charge of numbering her babies.
Abraham Levy, attorney for Mrs
walters. said yesterday that he had not
vet determined upon a line OF defence,
ifa refused TO confirm the report that
an insanity plea is contemplated. How
ever. he is confident tnat MS client
will be freed. .,;o,, nil, ho
a,;,t@d" he said. Il do not believe
qultIe", 20 twelve men among New
vr SheIe city's five million inhabitants
e.h 1oIH rod d blood in their veins who
WIN ia convict this woman under the
c'TSe@TIii TReferrins to Rogers, Mr. Ley Levy con, on,
iI1sfS ,n siSe out any statement at this w.ia time
40 40 70 his marriage with Mrs. WgI.ers, s;ni -
AZ tbe % only logical attitude for or nm ,,yS 70
tste tat II he IS freed would be 10 give