Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-12-07
HE WRITES EN- ROUTE.
Letter from Will Kent, Who Shot
His Brother in Cold
Blood.
HAS LOST NONE OF HIS GOODNESS.

W rites on n Train. Dating "Guess Where
Dec. 5"-wants His Exploit Kept Out
of Court" for Which He Is Willing to
ing circumstances for His Deed and
Asks Pardon Generally.
Virder. Ills. Dec. IA prominent cit
izol of this city received yesterday the
following letter from William Kent,
who murdered his brother on Chicago
and Alton train at Girard last Satur-
day. The letter was mailed on Louis
willie and Nashville train, evidently on
the line between East St. Louis and
Cincinnati. The letter is in the hand
writing of the murderer:
Guess Where. Dec. ., 1851 admit
the horrible deed and plead seIf-defense
of lie. liberty and the pursuit Of hap
piness. urged on by a morbid fear and
an unnatural state of mind. Though a
refugee from justice I Go not feel like
a criminal. / believe I crcwled through
the easiest hole in q tight box. II l am
ever found they Will fnd NE wearing
that same sweet smile that graced my
face before the death of my father. and
not the hard-set frown that wore from
the time 1 was snot until last seen.
Only Lives for His Lie.
'T am now a happy man and shall al
ways remain such. free or in prison. My
life, which is all I have to live for. is
out of danger. 1t was not revenge. but
protection, that prompted the deed. He
has no one to blame but himself Hehad
no right or business to place me in the
position he did. 1 used every means in
my power to prevent trouble between
US. 1 left my dear home time after
time TO keep out of his way. He swore
the night / was born he would have my
life some time. and he labored under
that insane delusicn until he paid the
penalty of his folly. I never feared his
threat as long as my father lived. un-
less he thought he had me in a place
where he could slip out.
Wants 1t Kept Out of Court.
''I want you to use all your power in
my behalf to keep the matter out of
court. 1 am willing to make almost
any sacrifice IL 1 can be allowed to
come back in peace and look after and
care for my dear old mother, whom /
fear the shock will almost kill. She has
had trouble enough and needs protec-
tion and care. 1 am to be pitied, not
censured, for my act. l always tried
to live a just and honorable life. 1 did
not seek the position l was in. 1t was,
of my life seems like 500 years. The
mental strain 1 was in was unbearable.
could not stand any more sleepless
nights.
Regs Pardon All Around.
ITO the frightened ones on that train
Il beg sincerely your pardon and for
giveness for frightening you, but 1 can
assure you, you were not in a particle
of danger. / fired seven shots, but
can assure you none were fired at ran
dom or promiscuously.
ITO the Hon. Sheriff Davenport
beg thousand pardOns. He may have
been slightly powder burned. but I was
very careful not to hurt him. I don't
believe he knew 1 was on the train un-
til at least two shots were fired. trust
ed to bluff and running to carry me
through. I can truly say to Mr.. Dav-
enport that if he had grabbed me and
held me he would not have been shot
With charity for all and malice toward
none, l am. yours truly,
WILL KENT"
The authenticity of the above letter
is not a matter of doubt