The sun., 1870-10-21
KENT, THE INCENDIARY.
THE MORRTSTO FIREMEN on
TRIAL FOR ARSON.

Setting Fire TO Buildings for Fun-Ths
Wretch that Led Young Men into Crime
burning Down Houses 20 Gather .
Crowd and Soil Liquor.
Should the charges against Gibson Kent, who
is now trial at Morristown, New Jersey. be sub
stsntiated, he will stand convicted % one OF the
most extensive incendlsries on record. His cress
as "dre bug" struck terror to Morristown pro-
perty owners during more than two years. and the
excitement attending his trial is intense.
The story of his crimes az brought out during the
trial and gsti cred from citzons of Morristown By
SUN reporter, shows lin to have been not only an
incendary himself but the head centre OF gang %
incendiaries
Gibson Kent removed from Chatham TO Morris
town about two years ago. and leased q store in .
new brick building, fitting It up saloon. A
that time the city athers OF Morrisown were ayerss
to liquors tcing sold In their midst and refused 10
grant licenses TO saloon keepers Kent was arrested
and fined for violating city ordinance In selling
without license, but
BEise SMALL POLITICIAN
In Democratic way, he managed still to keep Mn
saloon open, his sin being wnked at by the ocialA
Ills saloon was directly opposite the engine houss
OF Washington Company No 1, and was much fro
quented by the members Of that company, with
whom he speedily found favor. SO popular did hs
eeome with them that they elected him foreman,
although, In consequence OF some alleged irrcgu-
larity IN the election the city officials recog.
nized him ns such. lie became however. the lead.
bership.
shortly after Kcnrs ufnstion with Washington
Engine Company incendiary fires becam alarmingiy
frequent in and around Moristown. They wers
mostly confined to barns, sheds, and unoccupied
buildings, and Invariably occurred on Saturday
nights 80 excited did the citizens at length become
over
TINS REIGN OF FIRE,
that in June last vigilance committee was formed,
for the purpose of detecting the fro bugs" During
the year nteen incendiary fires had occurred and Ia
no no case did suspicion poin, to any person Ne mo,
for the commission Of the crimes.
Although stimulated TO extra e1ertion by large re.
rpc clue 10 WORK iOT o1E time ~. sD
diaries. growing reckless through long immunity
from detection; put Sp lob" 50 ipdisSreetly a. 70
old academy building, an i-olatod and uuoccupied
structure, and, unfortunately Tor themselves, tried
to enlist outsider In the scheme. The recruit
pretended TO enter into the plot but secretly be-
trayod 1t to the authorities. and
TRAP WAS SET FoR THE CRIMINALS.
The night Of August 81 was fixed upon for firing
the Academy. Thirty armed citizens hid Themselves
on the premises. and awaited the arrival OF the In
cendiares Soon four persons Crept cautiously into
kerosene, and set fire to It,. signal brought out
the am bUshed citizens, and four Of the gang were
brought TO terms by two shots rom a revolver.
both of which took effect in his arm. TIE men
proved TO DO Iialsey Woodrun, Henry StoveDs,
Jehn Drty; and Edward Dunstcr, all young men Of
good families and fair regulations Thev were taken
before Mayor Hlsey to whom thoy made tun
coniostion. Tley implicated Kent as
THE iNsriGAToR OF THEIR CRIMES,
and a nu mber OF others as accom- plices Kent was
Immediately arrested, as were also three young mon
named Wilis Van lloutcr, and Stout. Three others,
VINO were implicated, made their escape and have
The ,rial OF Kent was begun on Monday last. He
Is under Indictment upon eight distinct charges, the
trial being for his alleged connection with
the attempted burning OF tho Academy. The court
a9o GSs psss ssS s
conducting the case for the people, and Jacob Van
against Kent comes from
Five oP AcoonrLIoZs,
who have made complete exposure OF the orers-
tions OF the gang all OF whom were members OF
they arc responsible for every Ore il Morris,own
during the Tast two years. and that Kent per-
soualiy concerned in. planned, every one OF them
Ther object, they say. was only little fun.
To Kent, the aIlesed ringleader is imputed baser
saloon after fires, on which occasions they imbibcd
freely. The Ares always occurred, too on Saturday
tact supports the theory that Kent was pecuniarily
interested. The evidence does not show that he was
present at or near the Academy on tne night Of tho
21th Of August but IL was conclusvely proven that
ne planned the affair and furnished the kerosene
and matches.
to shake the testimony OF witnesses for the prosccu-
dav, and the will be given to the jury to day
During the trial Kent has simulated
THB UTMOST INDIYFERRscE.
and professes TO be confident OF acqultal. He re-
fuses to 0dmit any completely in the matter. His
personal appearance Is not bad lie Is over six
feet in height, and has strongly marked hut not .
vicious face. During the session yesterday he was
nearly all the time occupied In reading q newspa
per. but was not sufficiently engrossed to preven
lis marking. although apparently Indifferent, every
point of tie evidence The feeling OF the citizens
Is very bitter against him.
Should the jury fail to agree uron this charge. he
will be tried another and still another. unit the
whole eight are exhausted. During his incarcera-
tior. according to Oficer j. II. Woodruff. who tss
charPe of him. he has conducted himself becomingy.
lie has q y ife and three children.