Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1902-11-26
SMOOTH
And Ingeniously
Constructed
Was Kent's Plan For
Obtaining Money.
All That Kept It From
Succeeding
Was the Reputation lie Bore
A~x~~ D~t.k:.~.
Was the Reputation He Bore
Among Relatives

On the desk at the Warden's Office
in the Ohio Penitentiary at Columbus,
there is a letter addressed to 1.-THE
Sheriff, or Deputies of Summit Coun-
ty." The letter was written by DIR.
Joseph Kent, who was sent to the Pen
itentiary from here to serve year for
forgery, last May. The letter contains
a request from the doctor that the
persons addressed come in and visit
him IL they chance to come to the PEN
itentiary. DR.. Kent has served more
than half his time and as he is said
to be a model prisoner he will pfoha.
bly, be released about the end of next
March.
DR.. Kent was one Of the most inter.
esting persons ever incarcerated in the
County Jail, where he sojourned for
nearly five months, between his indict.
ment and sentence.
He was always busy; the other
prisoners recognized him as a leader.
He made them work and keep theiI
quarters clean. He inquired into the
case of each prisoner, got all the points
he could, then held mock trials, in
which he gave the prisoners valuable
pointers, which enabled them, later.
to give the Prosecuting attorney con-
siderable worry when the real trials
came off. Dr. Kent was excellently
versed in the law, that is, Kentucky
law, for he resided in that state dur
ing most of the 80 years of his life.
He had not been in Akron long before
he fell foul of Ohio law.
He was exceedingly keen, mentally,
a perfect gentleman in ordinary con.
versatfon, eloquent as might be-
but he had weakness, or combina-
tion of weaknesses which finally
brought about his downfall. The doc
tor cultivated a love OF strong drink,
and, after long carousal, he became
sober to find that he was out of funds.
His weakened nervous condition led
him to forge a check, which finally
landed him in his present abode.
"Dr. Kent made desperate efforts
to square himself while he was con.
fined In the Jail before his trial." said
n county official Tuesday. "he
really believed, think, that he would
be able to secure his freedom, by the
aid of certain relatives and friends,
upon whom he relied to give. him mon.
ey. The cash was not forthcoming,
though, and the doctor had to catch
| it..
His letters, written in the jail, were
open to inspection before they were
sent away, and they showed that the
doctor was at least extremely careless
about the truth. To one relative he
would write, For Heavens sake send
me $25. am here in Jail and if don't
get the money ! will probably have ia
go to the penitentiary. This is all a
secret, 30 be sure and don't breathe a
word of it to Uncle John. or Cousin
Mary
J In the same mail. perhaps, there
would be letters to both Uncle John
and Cousin Mary asking for money
and implorlne each not to breathe a
word about the doctors trouble to a
living soul. In that way the doctor
thought he would be able to get each
Of them to help him without having
the relatives get together and find oui
that he was working them ALL"
Dr. Kent has indicated that he will
probably not locate in Akron again
He may change his mind. or he may
go hack to Kentucky. On, his release
he will be given good silt of clothes
a small sum Of money, and n ticket
back to Akron, or any other place moi
further away.
This is the rule In the case of re-
leased prisoners at the Ohio peniten.
tiary.