Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-03-07
DEATH |. MYSTERY
NEAR SOLUTION
ROGERS CASE REVIVED EY
STORY TOLD BY LIFE
TERMER.
CONVICT MAKES
DIRECT ACCUSATION
DIRECT ACCUSATION
Claims Rogers Was Slain at Alton,
Following Quarrel over Poker Game
Statement of Everett Vaughn Re-
Suits in Renewed Effort by Authori-
ties to Clear Up Mysterious Case.
special to Times Republican. !,

Special to Times Republican,
Creston, March after months Of
inaction from lack of a clue or any
thing to work on, renewed efforts are
being made by the officers to solve the
death of John Rogers, believed to have
been murdered at Alton in August,
1915. Rogers lifeless body was found
in a barn and altho i virtually was
known at the time that he had been
with a party Of convivial friends and
also that there had been poker party
in the barn, no evidence has ever been
secured upon which possible convic-
ton could be obtained and the sus-
pected ones have never been brought
into court.
A revival of interest in the case at
this time is due to story told by
Everett Vaughn. now serving a life
sentence at Fort Madison prison for
the rape of girl at Centervlle.
Vaughn has disclosed to County At
torney Johnston, Constable Tom York,
Of Alton, and Charles Rogers, father OF
the slain man. story which makes it
pra ctically certain, emitting any ques-
tionable details that Rogers was muir
dered. There are reasons, however,
for dou Biting much of the convicts
story and there is a strong suspicion
that he has withheld the most impor-
tant link in the chain and there is
suspicion that he is trying to place the
crime upon another than the real
murderer. if murder it was.
Makes Direct Accusation.
Vaughn makes a direct accusation
aga inst man whose name was linked
with the crime at the time but who
established a clear alibi. Vaughns
story is that he and Rogers and two
others were engaged in game or
poker in Thea haymow of the barn:
that the man whom ne accuses of haV-
ing slain Rogers was caught cheating,
that Rogers charged him with it and
that fight resulted. Rogers, who was
left lying in the NOW when the others
fled. was not believed to have been
dan erously hurt and when it became
known that he was dead there was 4
scattering and the trio went into hid
ing. Vaughn at the time was out on
parole and knew that suspicion would
attach to him if it became known he
was with Rogers. A fourth man in the
cIOhu disappeared tiiS Nos AO'io'AN>
Rogers death and has never been
heard from He left without collecting
money that was due him. The officers
have always believed that Rogers was
murd cred and are using every effort
now to solve the mystery of the case,
1t is the theory of the authorities that
Vaughn, when he first wrote to the
officers, intended to make>a clean
breast Of the affair but that he weak
ened when the time came and rear
ranged his story and has accused the
wrong person.
No Motive For Suicide.
There were circumstances surround
ing the death of Rogers which made
the theory of suicide appear probable.
The absence Of any motive was the
sticker, for Rogers was a, young man
Of promise and fairly we'll established
in life. 1t was shown at the coroner's
investigation that there had been
carousal but Rogers was not shown 70
have been mixed up with the crowd.
Rogers death. as testified to at the in
quest by DR.. T. V. Golden. OF Alton:
resulted from wound in the neck ana
there were marks as of finger nail
prints upon the neck. He had virtual
'ly bled to death.