New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-02
Poison Was Solace When
Lawyer Planned to Visit
Legal Home.
EX-SPOUSE VISITS
COUPLE AT HOSPITAL
Hint That Mercury Victim
Was Wed Previously
i'm New CIeWS.

wife for even few days, Mrs. Ida
Sniffen Rogers took poison and gave
it 10 her two children. What Is be-
leved 70 be the real motive for her
act WAS disclosed yesterday, and lies
in the fact that at the very moment
when she administered the fatal dose
the man whom she called her husband
was preparing to spend several days
with Mrs. Caroline Giddings Rogers.
The latter had been invited to visit
relatives in Chicago, and had come to
New York from her bungalow in New
Jersey Co arrange for her trip. She
was searching for quarters in which
to spend the intervening time with her
husband, and he is believed TO have
informed Ida Rogers of his intentions
within day or two of her attempt on
her life and those of her children.
Friends Of the woman who is dying
in Lebanon Hospital have been post
tive, from the first, that her motive
lay in something less trivial than the
slight quarrel reported to have taken
place the night preceding the tragedy.
When It developed yesterday that
Rogers was about TO leave her for q
time, all doubts as 10 the cause of her
action was swept from the minds Of
those who knew her and the almost
/ fanatical love she had for the lawyer.
Woman Stricken by Trouble.
Disclosures in the case up to the
present time indicate that Rogers was
not in a position TO refuse to spend
certain amount of his time with his
legal wife, although, according TO an
alleged statement Of Mrs. Ida Sniffen
Rogers, he had fulfilled the conditions
+ Of an agreement he is said to have had
with Mrs. Caroline Giddings Rogers.
3 II is believed, therefore, that the re-
alization that her sacrifices had gone
for naught drove the woman who
/ claims to be Rogers's common-law wife
to desperation.
When the couple moved last October
from the apartment in University av.
to the house in West 167th St, and
Rogers began to live with her openly,
Ida Sniffen Rogers believed that her
hope of a name for her children would
not be in vain. Rogers spent all Of
/ his time, when not at business, with
| her, remaining every night at the
/ house. This arrangement would have
been broken up had Rogers carried out
his plans 10 devote some time to mis-
wife.
Evident fascination Of Rogers for the
women whose lives have been inter-
woven with his is brought out in fact
+ that came to light last night Coinci-
dent with the location of Rogers's first
wife. Mrs. Annie Dupree Roquemore
Rogers, it was learned that Rogers has
/ constantly visited her at her home. 1t
was said that he called on her within
two weeks
Mrs Annie Rogers, under which
name she is known now, lives in the
Corinseca, an apartment house at 2O9
West 9th ST. In spite Of the fact
+ that she has been reputed to be amply
supplied with money, Mrs. Rogers No.
makes her living by renting rooms
I in her eight-room apartment.
+ Every day since the tragedy which
has cost one life and which is ex-
pected TO end in the death Of Mrs. Ida
Rogers and her little son, Mrs. Annie
Rogers has slipped up TO Lebanon Hos
pital and spent hours with the dying
woman and the man around whom the
! trouble centres.
Divorced Wife at Hospital.
She has consistently refused TO talk
about the affair, and has always en-
tered the hospital by a side door, care
fully avoiding all whom she met. Be
yond expressing deep sympathy for
Mrs Ida Rogers, she has made no
comment.
Since Rogers's marital affairs be
came public Mrs. Annie Rogers has
appeared TO be affected TO a remark
able degree. When she returned 70
her home last night her face was
drawn with suffering. She faltered
when she walked and leaned on the
arm of young man who accompanied
her. When spoken 10 she trembled and
showed signs of breaking down. But
not one word could be coaxed from her
tightly compressed lips.
A statement alleged 70 nave been
made by Mrs. Ida Rogers 10 her ply
sician, DR.. W. G.. Hague, was shown 10
Mrs. Caroline Giddings Rogers, yester-
dav bv her brother, Professor Franklin
II. Giddings, Of Columbia. She evinced
much interest in the part that had 70
do with the alleged agreement between
her and Rogers, said 70 provide for the
release Of either party IN the event OF
another attachment.
Through her brother. she said: at
is impossible for me 10 make any state
ment now. Perhaps | may never. be
willing TO say anything about tins az
| fair. II | do make statement at any
time. II will be made, signed and sworn
10 before a notary. ] am unwilling 70
be placed in a position 70 speak III oil
anybody concerned"
Giddings Defends Sister.
Professor Giddings was very frank
in mis- comments on Mrs. Ida Rogers ;
alleged statement. I'm the hrst place,
ne said. 81 cannot be placed IN the po-
sition Of entering into a controversy
with a dying woman.
cit is true that my sister knew the
first Mrs. Rogers. She met her but
Continued on page 5, column