Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-27
PTLLNG TESTIMONY AT ROSTER INQUEST

AT the words the woman fell back Into
her chair and graspcd her mother.
Mrs. Roster left Moyamensing Prison
at five minutes after o o'clock this
morning.
The young woman, who gave way TO
frenzy of emotion when she was taken
TO view her husbands body on the
day of his funeral, seemed calm and
quiet when she left the prison today.
On the former occasion her attorneys
waited for her in shining limousine
with silver trimmings, her baby in the
arms Of relative.
This morning It was not limousine,
but a police patrol, that waited for
her, and not her lawyers, but Deputy
Coroner John McCarey, a district dc.
tective and patrol sergeant who were
her escort. And for company In the
patrol she had Frank Doris, who ap-
reared before the Coroner in another
shooting case.
The trip to City Hall was made
quickly, Mrs. Roster chatting with Nc
Carey on the way. She asked him
many questions about her chances Of
getting out on bail after the inquest.
she talked about her life In the prison.
and commented on the care free atti-
tude of some Of the other prisoners, es-
pccially the Negroes, saying she envied
their ability to take their troubles With
q smile.
The crowd had begun to arrive ut City
Hall very early, many being OH hand In
the north corridor Of the sixth floor
by 7 o'clock, where the Coroner's court
IL situated. But though the crowd was
early, the police were earlier, and there
was heavy guard of the door. No one
got through except those who held sub
poenaes In this or other cases.
When Mrs. Roster finally arrived,
shortly after 0 o'clock, she walked
through the crowd without being rec
ognized. The pale, wan woman in dark
clothes, turpan with red and blue band
and dark Gir coat slipped into the room
almost unperceived and took scat In
q corner Of the court, In back row,
McCarey sitting beside her.
Mrs. Roster occupied her time reading
newspaper until o 80 o'clock, when
she was taken to Room GOT TO meet
her mother and her sister, in law. The
mother held Mrs. Rosters baby. Mrs.
Reid brought change of clothing for
Mrs. Roster, 30 she could dress herself
carefully for the trial.
Great Crowd Gathers
The crowd had grown greater in both
corridor and courtroom as the time set
IL the inuuest--10 o. o'c'ock--aDproachcd
So many persons were striving to ge
up to the courtroom that the guards OF
the first floor formed line at the elc
vators. The corridor on the sixth flool
looked like q crowded sidewalk at a cir
cus parade-mcn and women e,bowinl
for places IN front, patrolmen holdini
the lines.
Mrs. Roster. her baby IN her arms
and her mother and sister law OF
either side, emerged just about II
o'clock from the room where she hat
dressed.
Few In the crowd recognized her ever
then, as she was ushercd quickly bacl
/ into the hearing room. md this tim,
| took seat on the front row of tn,
spectators seats. with only the bras
rail separating her from the inclosur,
where defendants Sit.
Mrs. Roster had on black shoes Of ,
dull leather. back sill; stockings, blacl
mourning dress, with black hat TO match
and her ack fur coat. Her face wal
cxpressionless and pale. the cheek bone
a title prominent, and the eyes dark
circlcd.
Coroner Knight already was in hi
place, prepared to hear some cases o
lesser Importance. Doris. who vas ar
rested in connection with the murder o.
John Villano little more than weel
ago in u room:ng house near Tenth ant
Walnut streets. sat in the prisoner
dock. Margaret Hastings, a witness
in the same murder, sat directly IN from
OF Mrs. Roster, smiling. but with 1
bandage on her face. Mrs. Rosie
looked at her curiously and pityingly
Later on, Margaret wept In sympath!
with Mrs. Roster.
While the deaths Of two children
were being inquired into briefly, Mrs
Roster took out a nursing bottle anC
gave it to her baby. She undid tn
child's white cap and opened the lit
white coat, trimmed with pink. II
smiled up at her with big blue eye
when she offered him the bottle, and Ia.
back contentedly. Just as he finished
his bottle Coroner knight called for thD
witnesses In the Roster case.