Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1902-01-31
BURGLAR WITH RECORD
EIroy Kent, rs, Has Been Arrest
ed Six Times.
NOW IN JAIL AT NEWFANE
Shortly After Completing a Three
Years Term in Prison He Stole from
His Cousin in Brattleboro.

His Cousin in Brattleboro.
Elroy Kent. a burglar with a record,
was placed under bonds in the sum of
$500 Friday afternoon by Justice w.
S. Newton in default of which he was
taken to Newfanc Jail Saturday by
Chiefof- Police Hall to be held for the
grand jury, before whom he will plead
to the charge Of grand larceny Kent
recently has been serving a sentence
in the state prison at Windsor
Having been given his liberty he came
to BrattlehlrO few days ago to
visit his cousins, w. &. Kent. the
butcher. ana w. i. Kent During his
visit he learned that w. G. Kent had
received payment of $50. and h.
resolved to get the money. During
the night he searched his Cousins
clothes. found $12 and departed hasti-
ly. In the morning the loss was re-
ported to Chief Hall who remembered
having seen . person going toward
the railroad station who answered the
description given OF Kent.
Chief Hall telegraphed to Spring
field to the conductor of the early
morning train. who said that on ac-
count of a hot-boX his train stopped at
Dummerston and that a man answer
ing the description given got on there
and got off at IIolyoke after inquring
the way to Manchester, this state.
Mr.. Hall found that Kent's home was
in Manchester, so he notified an Off
Ger there with the result that Kent
was found at his home. Kents mother
said he was not at home, but the Off
Ger found him in the cellar. Chief
Hall went to Manchester and returned
with Kent Friday
Kent has dark record. He knows
it and does not hesitate to talk about
it. Indeed he relates his experiences
on occasions with considerable gustO,
He said before going to Newfane that
he had been arrested six times and
had served three sentences of i'm
prisonment. He said that while in
Holyoke he bought revolver and two
quarts of whiskey. He sold the re-
volver for 81, worked his way to North
Adams and walked from there home.
In reply to a question by Justice New
ton. Kent said he was % years old
and began his career of theft at the
age of seven years, when he and an
other boy broke into house while
the family was at church, stole a
stove and took it to log cabin in the
woods.
From what is known of Kent it is
believed that his story of his crimes
is true. He has lived in Putney and
Brookline. In July, 1896. he was
caught while attempting to enter the
store of b. M. Adams in Townshend
and was sentenced to two years in the
house of correction. After complet-
ing the sentence he began working in
Williamsvile. Later the store of A.
NJ. Merrifield of Williamsville was
burglarized the railroad station at
Williamsvile was broken into and
three 1000-mile mileage books were
stolen, and in May, 1899, the house of
Adams Blood of Putney was entered
and watch and repeating rifle stolen
therefrom.
At the time of the Putney burglary
Sheriff A. w. j. wilkins was confident
that Kent was the burglar. He traced
Kent to Mount Holly, where it was
learned that the watch and gun had
been traded. Thence he traced Kent
to Burlington, where the trail was
lost. From Burlington messages
were sent to officers in surrounding
towns At that time Mr.. wilkins
claimed to have positive evidence that
it was Kent who stole the mileage
books from WilliamsvilIe station.
During the following month a man
was seen one dark night to enter
through window of a clothing store
in Milton, this state. The proprietor
was notified and three men stood by.
one with gun, and awaited develop
ments. Soon the man came out and
started to run, but was brought down
by a charge of shot in the back.
From descriptions given by Mr.. Will