Evening star., 1927-09-29
COED BANDIT SANE,
AL|EN|ST DECLARES
State Reopens Case Against
Mrs. Rogers, Charged With
Arson and Robbery.


GEORGETOWN, Tex. September
| 29.-Over vigorous protest of the de-
| fense, the State today re-opened it's
case in the trial of Rebecca Bradley
Rogers. former University of Texas
coed, charged with arson in Connec-
tion with the burning Of building in
Round Rock, Tex, last December
DR.. Joe S. Wooten of Austin was
called to the stand by the prosecution
in an effort to contradict defense testi-
mony that Mrs. Rogers is 'unbal-
anced" and suffering from dementia
praecox.
DR.. Wooten testified that the de.
fendant does not suffer from dementia
praecox and that almost every person
shows some symptoms of it without
being a victim.
DIR. Wooten tetifled unwillingly. He
told the court, when called, that in
formation given him by Mrs. Rogers
was in confidence. He said that Mrs.
Rogers came to him for examination
about January !, a few weeks after
her arrest in connection with the
Ruda Bank robbery. for which she
also Is under indictment. which Oc.
Cured the day after the fire at Round
Rock.
He said that he had given her eight
examinations and had a 4O-page auto
biography of her life.
Charge Given to Jury.
After the testimony of DR.. Wooten
the defense fixed a motion asking 1t be
allowed to reopen the case. but the
motion was denied and the court
charged the jury.
A form Of insanity made Mrs.
Rogers incapable of distinguishing
between right and wrong when she is
alleged to have set fire to a house as
part Of plan to rob n bank. her at
torneys contended.
Otis Rogers, who secretly married
he defendant on their graduation from
the University OF Texas two years ago,
Joined expert witnesses in testifying
yesterday that his wife apparently was
"unbalanced.'
she simply isn't there" DIR. Max
Handman. Texas University professor
and criminologist told the jury.
Rogers. who gave up his law prac-
tice to come to his wife's defense as
associate counsel. testified she seemed
to feel that she was incapable of
wrong" This condition existed, he
said, prior to December last, when she
of the, robbery of the bank of $1,000
the following day.
Defense Alienists Testify.
DIR. Livingston Anderson, Austin
alienist, told Of examining Mrs. Rogers
after her arrest. He said he questioned
her on statements of Round Rock
bankers, who ALLEGED she burned
the house with the apparent intention
OF distract.ng their attention to permit
robbery Of the bank. He declared she
showed a serene attitude toward her
troubles even when asked about a
package addressed to herself which
contained loot from the Buda Bank
and pistol identified as the one used
in the robbery.
DIR. Anderson described her ailment
as dementia praecox, and said she
exhibited "delusions Of grandeur"
Campbell Beard, also a university
instructor, testified she apparently
was afflicted with enlarged egoism. IS
Mrs. Grace Bradley, mother Of Re.
becca, was called in an effort to show
hereditary influences contributed to
her daughters ailment. She described
Rebeccas father as eccentric. She
said he spent his time on inventions
which never materialized, and finally
left his family without apparent
cause.
Defense counsel asked the court
for special instructions today on
circumstantial evidence and insanity.
They indicated arguments would he
completed in time to give the case TO
the jury tonight.