Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-23
Mrs. Roster Held
in Double SLaying
Continued from Page One


Continued from Page One
out the infant. Mrs. Roster easerl
took the child in her arms.
Mrs. Reid said: MY poor girl" an,
kissed Mrs. Roster on the soft dark hal
over her forehead. The elder woma,
then collapsed in her chair, rocking bacl
ana forth and almost convulsed wit
grief.
Mrs. Roster was sobbing, but she wa
dry eyed. She held the baby of a littl
and gazed at 1t long and lovingly, thei
she passed it to her breast, and kisse,
and caressed it. The child had fallel
asleep, placidly tai king the nursing bot
tlc which the mother, for all her grief
held pressed to its small mouth.
AS the mother leaned over her bab,
caressing it,, the child opened its blu,
eyes. blinked at her with q baby smile
and then went to sleep again. Th,
mother S sobbing diminished to an oc.
casional long drawn shuddering sigh
and tears began to slip quietly down hci
cheeks.
Only Formal Evidence Heard
Mr.. Conner leaned over and whis.
pered that he would ask the magistrat t.
to let her take the baby with her to
prison. This seemed to console hel
somewhat
Then the testimony began, brief but
| sufficient to hold Mrs. Roster for the
Coroner as the admitted slayer Of her
husband and Miss Reckitt.
District Detective Foy, Of the Eff
teenth and Locust streets station, tes-
titled that he had gone to 1914 Walnut
street shortly after o'clock, Saturday
afternoon. and had found the two vic
Tins badly wounded in Mr.. Roster
office. He said he had arrested Mrs
kosier, and that she had admitted the
shooting.
Both victims had died, the detective
testified, Roster little before ) o'clock
and Miss Reckitt shortly after 6.
Let me ask you if you have any
names of withesses?' asked Mr.. Con :
ner.
They are in the possession Of Lieu =
tenant Harry Humphreys"
Lieutenant Humphreys, in charge OF
the Fifth Police District. then testified
he was standing ut Tenth and Walnut
streets when he saw the Twelfth and
Pine streets patrol and the Jefferson
ambulance dashing to Jefferson Hos
pital, and had followed. He found the
victims there. he said, and learned there
had been a shooting. Tho lieutenant
testified that Mrs. Roster had been
blamed for the shooting and admitted It.
Mother Is Hysterical
Mrs. Reid was in Mysteries while this
testimony was being taken.
my child, my child she sobbcd.
time and again, court officers trying to
still her loud weeping and moaning.
Mrs. Roster, however. remained
quiet. She gaZcd stcadfastly at the
baby, and seemed not to hear the teS-
tlmony.
Mr.. Conner, just before the formal
commitment. asked If Mrs. Roster might
not take the baby with her.
"Of course she can take her child with
her TO prison." lie asked Magistrate
Renshaw.
Does she want to take it?' inquired
Renshaw. in a gruff voice.
He was greatly moved, and his eyes were
misty, as were those of court officers,
lawyers and most Of the spectators.
Then Mrs. Roster spoke, the only
time during the proceedings.
YES, SIR she said, II want my
little darling" The words were spoken
in low voice. full of love and longing.
Far be It from me to take the baby
from her. burst out the magistrate.
Denied Presence Of Child
Here Lieutenant Belshaw intervened.
lie. too, was visibly moved.
I'm no more unfecling than the
rest. snid the lieutenant, "but | don't
believe the prison authorities will per-
nit her to take the baby into Moya-
well, until we find out" said Mr..
Conner, II suppose it can go with her
to the cellroom."
"Certainly," said the magistrate.
II shall see the superintendent"
said Mr.. Conner, "and try to make ar
so that the mother can have
her child with her.
Magistrate Renshaw then formally
held Mrs. Roster for the action of the
Coroner. without bail. Mr.. Connor
learned thnt PatrOlman Toland had the
list OF witnesses. The lawyer was
eager to get them so that he could work
up the case. preliminary to the Cor
Oner's inquest.
Mrs. Roster apparently did not know
what was taking place. She sat quietly
bending over the baby, rocking it back
End forth occasionally, kissing its fore
head and smoothing the little hand that
rlutched the neck of the nursing bot
tie.
Finally. the matron touched her on
The shoulder and said that they would |
90 back TO the cell room.
Mrs. Roster ssot up with difficulty.
rying to hold The baby as still as she
'ould so rs not TO awaken It. The
'nort was too much for her strength.
Vt last, with pitiful look, she held
he baby out to Mrs. Davis, who fold
ng it to her breast with practiced
land, and with her free arm helped
Mrs. Roster TO nrise. They walked
lowly out Of the courtroom, Mrs.
Roster holding her handkerchief to her
yes.
Return TO CellrOOm
The little party went directly to the
'ellroOm, Mrs. Roster stumbled and
lmost fell as she crossed the threshold
Il the room, and then collapsed as she
lropped into chair. DR.. Egan gave
Ter q restorative, and she opened her
yes again.
She lay down until it was time for
er 10 90 to Moyalnensing Prison. At
he last moment she learned that she
'Ouid not be permitted 10 take her baby
With her.
Mrs. Reid went 20 the cellroom as
con us her daughter had been taken
way. and was allowed 20 be with her
Itl 1t was time to start for Moya-