The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-03
A DEsPERADo,s CRIMES.
Escape and Capture of Man Accused Of In-
ccndiarism and Murder.

HoNEsDALE, Pa, May 1.-Gcorge Kent,
who was arrested some three weeks ago AID
lodged IN jail in this place, on charge Of attempt
ing to burn the village of Forest Mills is a Il 3
perate criminal. Outing the past ten years he
has been a terror to this section. lie was first
arrested for alleged murder Of his wife. lie
escaped punishment by mysterious disappear
ance Of the remains Of his wife, which had been
exhumed for analysis. All the parties who were
active In caua'g his arrest for the murder after
ward suffered by the burning OF their mills,
barns, and other buildings. Kent was afterward
ares ted for the commission Of several highway
robberics and buralaries in the western part of
the county, but escaped from his cautors on tho
way to jail. For year he eluded the officers,
and lowered about In the woods. burning saw
mills, farm buildings, aud other property. To
escapc the consequences OF DIS revenge, tho
parties seeking his punishment settled with him,
aud lie again made his appearance.
shortly afterward he waylaid the adopted
daughter OF a wealthy farmer IN the woods OF
Salem turnpike ~ she was returning from school,
and assaulted her. Complaint was made against
Kent and he was arrested. indicted, and admit
ted to hill The week before his trial there was
n spelling school in the district school house In
Salem. The only witness against Kent was the
girl he had ou' ragged. She left home about dark
to attend tne spelling school. She has never
been seen or heard of since. Kent was arrested
S Snsrse Of kng ner h H" detention Kent Tp bns
since been IN custody on charge OF rape, bur
glary,arsOn uni attempted murder,hut managed
to escape punishment In every case.
lie recently appeared In the manufacturing
village Of Forest Mills, near the Luzerne county
line. lncendiary fires have been prevalent in
that section ever since, and although Kent was
believed to be the incendiary, the fear of him
was 80 great that no measures were taken bv
the sufferers to have him punished. number
of disastrous connagratiOns occurred In the City
of SCrintOn during the past winter, and all OF
undoubted incendiary origin, ana since the
arrest Of Kent for the Forest Mills outrage. II IL
said that circumstances pointing to him as the
incendiary have been discovered.
Kent was discharged from the employ OF the
| Forest Mills Manu- curing Company some
| months ago. The dwellings OF certain EN-
ployees were burned soon after. Three weeks
ago a German living at tho mills revealed TO the
| superintendent late at night plot OF kenfs for
| destroying the entire village. Investigation
| showed hat Kerosene oil aud other innlmmable
| stuff had been placed about the factories aud
| many OF the dwellings, and was ready for the
| torch. The doors OF a house occupied 10y one OF
| the forencn aud his family had been fastened
with chains. so that they could not be opened
| from the Inside.
| Kent would have been lynched II the incensed
| opera Ives had found HIM, nut he escaped to
ward by officers. aud lodged IN jail Ia llonesdae
| and II was believed that no was at last to meet
| his Just deserts. On SATURDAY. evening last, how
| ever. he escaped from the jail by rushing sud-
| denly by the Sheriff, who had entered his cell
| with his rations. lie reached the street, aud
| escaped In the d rkne@s.
| HoSEspALE, Pa., May 2.-George Kent who
| broke jail IN this place on saturday night. was
| found under a haystack In u field at Indian Or
| cnard, four miles below this place, yesterday
| afternoon. He was brought back to his u udr
| tors, aud Will be tried thts week.