The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-04-27
MRS. ROGERS
 ACQUITTED ON
 INSANITY PLEA

New I OrK, Apf1l Z1-N1rS. 1Qa Sn1t- fen Walters Rogers was acquitted yes terday afternoon of the charge of murdering her infant son. in the su- preme court of Bronx county, the yer dict being based on the belief of the jurors that she was insane when she committed the act.
 The district attorney immediately moved to dismiss the indictment against her for poisoning of hAr other child a girl of eight months, on the ground that it covered the same facts, and the defendant left the courtr oom a free woman.
 Mrs. Rogers was accused of poison ing her children on Dec. A29, 1914. Her counsel, Lewis Stuyvesant Chanler, said. as she was leaving the court house that after all the excitement of the last year and a half Mrs. Rogers yeared for rest and had asked to be taken to some quiet place, where she could see flowers in bloom. She ap- peared calm and rational after the first burst of emotion when the jury brought in the verdict. At first she bowed her head and wept On one side was her husband and on the other 8 woman friend. Rogers was also deeply affected and tears stream ed down his cheeks.
 Mrs. Rogers owes her freedom
 
 s. Gregory, head of the Psycopathic ward in Bellevue hospital, for the jurors after de1iberating from 1:30 o'clock till 2:15 came in and asked that a part of his testimony be read to themA The alienist, although he had been called for the prosecution and had declared his belief that Mrs. Rogers was sane, had admitted that there was doubt in his mind on ac- count of certain of her actions.
 It is understood that the first bal lot of the jury showed nine for ac- quitta1 and two for conviction and one blank.
 The questions and answers which had seemed to have final weight with the jurors follow:
 MT. Chan1er-Do you think that the fact that a nice, devoted, kindhearted, loving mother who
 killed her children without any
 cause at all is evidence of her in-
 sanity?
 MT. Martini object to that, your honor
 Justice Tompkins - Objection
 overru1ed.
 Dr. GregoryZI should regard
 that as a very suspicious circum-
 stance, your honor.
 The jury after having heard this record read again retired and at 3:30 o'clock returned with it's verdict of not guilty. >
 heavily upon the black-veiled defend ant, and even her husband, Lorlys FL ton Rogers usually so unconcered, was much worn by the three days trial.
 The proceedings were marked by the same precision with which they had begun. The Court apportioned the ' f10xy must be through by noon '@f<
 'eWe are trying a broad question of humanity said MT. Chan1er. tThe defense accepts the challenge of the district attorney, who says that this is either a coldlb1ooded murder, mer- iting death or the act of woman not in her right mind. It is a question of liberty or death and I bid for no cowardIy compromise.
 MT. ChAn1er quoted various wit nesses to show irrational conduct both before and after the killing of her children, and reviewed testimony in dicating that the defendant had at tempted to- commit suicide by taking bichIoride of mercury. Some of the physicians say she is sane,' coqtinued Mr. Chan1er. tIf a woman perfect ly sane can murder her two children then humanity has fallen far below the standard of the Middle Ages"
 District Attorney Martin said thai if the defendant were acquitted the seal of approval would bet set upon the illicit life which she and Rogers had lived.
 ssThey Iivedv' he continued, '.Iike beasts or 1ibertines and left behind them a trail of imm orality and Of broken homes. Rogers was tighten ing the purse strings. She thought he was going to leave her with the children on her hands. She went in- to frenzy that night, which caused the death of the two children. The crimes of this defendant are among the worst in criminal history. SheKis not insane now and she never was insane Neither did she take poison in an effort to end her own life. There was a clumsy effort to cover up her crime and to prevent the authorities from enforcing the law against her and in it all Idetect the cunning hand of Rogers himself
 Mr. Martins talk was devoted large ivy to the social and moral aspects of the personal lives of Mrs. Rogers and her husband.
 In a corner of the courtroom sat the first wife of Rogers following every detail of the address.
 Justice Tompkins charged the jury that it was not to be influenced by the relations between Rogers and the woman whom he afterward married and that no prejudice must enter their minds on that account. If it should be found that Mrs. Rogers was insane at the time of the act he made it plain that the verdict should be not gull ty.
 After court adjourned the district attorney, asked for a statement. said he had expected the verdict, and that Mrs Rogers had his sympathy and that of everybody in court. He felt that she had suffered enough. STD D0Crp CASENrENTT