The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-25
Breaks Down After Seeming
Apathy When Witness Tells
Of Slain Babies.
JURORS ALL MARRIED
State Denies Insanity. Insists
She Took No Poison and
Scores Husband.


So said one woman who sat not far
behind Mrs Ida Snifren Walter. Rogers
as the latter sat immovabie during the
opening hours yesterday OF her trial in
the Bronx county Suprem. Court for the
murder OF her little son. John Rogers.
sixteen months ago
But those who looked NOR, closely saw
that Mrs. Rogers was keeping "a mighty
grip on herself. Bolt upright she sat,
her back not touching the chair. and only
by watching intently could one see the
telltale movement of the head which is
an evidence of the greatest strain.
While the Jurors were being chosen she
never once glanced toward the jury box.
apparently not caring how they felt or
else trusting her attorney. Lewis Chan
Ter, and her husband. Lorlys Elton
Rogers. who sat close beside her and who
himself scanned the fac. Of every tales
man called to the box as II he would read
his every thought. The scathing remarks
of District Attorney Martin drew not one
tremor from the defendant though
Rogers moved uneasilv VIII. n the prose-
cutor characterized them as "a pair of
libertines. disregarding law and order.
leaving trail OF broken homes behind
them
Mrs. Rogers's apparently unseeing eyes
did not leave the table as MIR. Martin
declared that he expected to prove that
she murdered her children in cold
blood" II was not till the attorney for
the defence. Mr., Chanler. making his
opening address TO the jury. spoke OF
Mrs. Rogers's children and her devotion
to them that ON. hand. with her handker-
chief in il. stole UP TO her face and she
lowered her black Veil
Mrs. Rogers Breaks Down.
Later in the afternoon Mrs. Rogers
broke down openly II was when pretty
little woman. Mrs. ". Leroy SEA, was
called TO testify what a good mother the
defendant was. Mrs. Sea had lived neigh
Dor to Mrs. Rogers for months in the
house at 1897 University avenue. from
which the defendant moved to the house
where the murder was committed.
As Mrs Sea. who had with Mrs. Rog-
ers the common bond OF motherhood.
babbled stories OF their babies and how
they took care OF them together, the
black coated figure in the chair of the
accused shook violently. II shook again
when DR.. William r. Geist, chemical ex-
pert from Columbia University. started
to open "A grewsome satchel, which. he
! said, contained evidence. Justice Tomp-
kns evidently thought the sight of the
satchel enough. for he ruled that II need
not be opened
II the trial continues as it began. il
will be a short one At II 80 the jury
was complete in ninety minutes.
At 2:30 the State rested its case
Il tt,a GfTx,,
ended that he expected 10 close his case
to-day about noon. and unless the re-
buttal takes longer than it Is expected
| to take Mrs. Rogerse fate will be in the
hands of the jury tomorrow.
DR.. Graeine Hammond will take the
stand this morning for the defence. which
| relies upon him to prove that the woman
was insane when she gave bichloride of
mercury to little John, aged ., and Baby
! Loretta, aged eight months. in the house
at 224 West ls7th street, December 29,
1914
Any number Of talesmen were excused
because they said they were opposed to
capital punishment, and one because he
wouldn't have woman electrocuted."
So many gave this reason that the pre-
siding Justice grew sarcastic
| Sarcasm Aimed Mt TaI~smen.
Did you have this prejudice before
YOU were summoned on this trial. he
demanded of one man. District Attorney
! Martin waxed reproachful.
DO you mean TO say" he asked one
| talesman. that II your child were killed
YOU would object to capital punishment
! for the slayer
In spite of the number excused the
box was filled In record time. and the
defence succeeded in obtaining all mar
| ried men. and every one but one the
father OF q family. These are the
jurors:
! Edward storck. clerk, 1919 Elder
Charles +. Sherwood, teller. sss Anderson
julius Hannes. manager 77s Prospect
David T. Berger, insurance. go Prospect
| julius W weidenmuller. Blacksmith.
| 1851 Leland avenue.
| Samuel Raider. furnishings. $50 Jennings
Albert r. Mcco,ter. Jr, salesman. 2l5
Noun, s,t,p Hope p. place, o,... g., r..
william o. Market. clerk. 55i East listh
Edward NJ Tilburn. manager. 1906
Robert a, Meagher, estimator ?ios
! James Prior broker, 26I2 Briggs avenue.
! 1t was IA few minutes after the choos-
! ing Of the jury began that Mrs. Rogers
was brought in at the side door. She
| seemed absolutely dazed and appeared
| not TO know where to go. or to be the
least conscious of the eyes that were
turned on her in curiosity.
Many Eager 10 See Woman.
Justice Tompkins had ruled that none
hut those who could show some part OF
| interest in the trial should he admitted
| to the court room. but even so there were
plenty eager for the chance Of II look at
the woman whose deed and whose mo-
tive for the deed have been such a
mystery
| What they saw was tall, well formed
| woman in deep black--the very suit and
hat and veil. apparently. In which she
| left Lebanon Hospital after her recovery
from the effects OF the bichloridc Of mer-
curry she took when she poisoned her
children The face was contradiction
to the matronly figure--a very sweet. al
most Iirlish face. the nose "A bit uptited,
! the eyes deep blue and round cheeks
framed in chestnut hair, very neatly ar
! ranged
! Mr.. Rogers came In with her, and the
| deputy sheriff. Tim Duane She is still
| on bail. and came that morning from