The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1908-07-31
ELROY KENT
A MURDERER?
May Have Killed Woman ut
Wallingford Friday.
OFFICERS IN PURSUIT
Posse OF shorins Searching for Man
Who Escaped from Insane Hospital
July Bloodhounds Used in Hunt
-Kent's Criminal Career.

Elfuy Kent. who escaped from the stat,
insane hospital az Waterbury July IL. u
! believed to b. the SLAYER 81 Miss Della
. II. Congdon, who was assaulted aud then
; hrutally murdered AZ her home IN East
Aalllngiori last Friday morning \ posse
! oi deputy sherifs and other officers has
been engaged an the week in searching
the wood, OF Rutland and Windsor ooun'
ties, but up 30 a late hour yesterday mo
. trace Of the criminal.lunatic had been
found. Deputy sheriff \, W. j. wilkins
OF Battlcboro, who has frequently had
charge Of Kent and j. familiar with his
habits, went 10 Rutland Monday 20 assist
IN the search, Kent has relatives living in
West Baitleboro and there Is some sts-
picion that he may attempt TO make his
way TO this county. Officers hercabouts
have been notified TO that effect and are
keeping a sharp lookout for the man.
Four bloodhounds were put on Kent's
trail near East Wallingford early yester-
DAY morning and after an all days search
they had traced him to a point near the
! home Of his sister in the mountains Of
Wallingiord. The dogs were thoroughly
] tired out last evening and tha hunt was
given up until this morning, although the
/ premises were thoroughly patroled last
night \ telephone message from Rutland
! this morning SAYS that the search was
2
au confident that the man will be cap
tured before night.
| The murder OF which Kent is believed TO
be guilty took place sometime last Friday
morning. The body OF Miss Congdon, a
deaf mute, about forty years old, was
found lying in her pantry in a pool OF
blood by neighbors who noticed that Miss
Congdon had failed to take in bottle of
milk lett at her door. After a prelimi-
a.
Lawrence, Frank Rogers, a farmland, was
arrested ON suspicion. An autopsy per-
formed Saturday by DIR, B. H. Stone OF
the state labratory showed that the
woman was outraged and strangled TO
death, then pounded on the head with an
instrument used to cut thin wood. Six
cuts were inflicted ON her head, but none
OF them pierced her skull, Open bureau
drawers showed that the house had been
ransacked after the crime had been COM
mitted.
Suspicion fell on Kent Sunday, it being
learned that he had been in the neighbor-
hood of East Wallingtord Tor several days
previous TO the murder. lie had talked
with several persons, but no one recog-
nized HIM and although they saw that he
was mentally unsound he seemed 10 be
harmless, and nothing was done to deter
mne who he was or where he came from.
He asked for work and when told that he
could probably secure employment from
some OF the farmers during haying he said
that he would do nothing but pitch hay,
that he would not assist with the moving,
raking or other work. His strange talk
led the residents to believe that he was a
half-witted tramp who had drifted in.
The authorities found Sunday that he
had been sleeping in abandoned buildings
in the vicinity, and in the old house on
The Buffum farm on Sugar hill where he
was born; they found where he had
stayed one or more, nights, and on the
ioor he had carved the following: e
Kent, July %, 1905" 1t is believed that
ne slept in Miss Congdons barn on the
hight before the murder and on the in
,ide- of the barn door he cut the initials
Il. X, the letters being identical with
hose found on the door of the Buffum
arm house. Through crack in the barn
le could see into the womans bedroom
rom where he lay, the matted hay show
ng where he had slept.
1t is believed that when Miss Congdon
Unlocked the door Friday morning he stole
n when her back was turned and grabbed
Ter by the throat, the imprints of his fin
ers being plainly visible. After outrag-
ny the woman he killed her with the
1eapon and fled.
Since the connection of Kent with the
murder the officials of the state insane
ospital have renewed their search for the
scaped inmate Dr. Don d. Grout, super
ltendent of the asylum, has offered a re-
ard of $50 for the capture OF the supect
nd posters giving description of him
ave been sent to all towns in the south
rn part of the state.
This is the second time that Kent has
,caped from the state hospital. lie has
$50 freed himself from the states prison
Windsor and from the Windham county
Ill in Newfane. In his early boyhood
ent lived in Brookline. His home at
he time was in Putney. Kent began his
'minal career at the age of seven, when
ith the assistance OF another boy he
ole small stove and carried it to a log
bin in the woods In 1896 he burglar
ed B. M. Adams's store in Townshend.
e was caught and sent to the house of
erection for a term of two years. Re-
rning he worked in Williamsville.
hile he was there the railroad station
as entered and three mileage books
oen. Shortly afterward Adam Blood's
'use in Putney was burglarized and
itch and a repeating rifle carried away.
eriff Wilkins traced Kent to Mt. Holly,
lere the articles taken from Mr.. Bloods
,re found. Kent was followed as far as
lrington at that time A little later he
Is shot and terribly wounded at Milton,
is state, where he burglarized store.
lie proprietor saw him enter the store
d when he came out three men were in
iting. Kent ran but was fired upon at
se range. He fell seriously wounded
the back. Five watches were founo in
pockets. Kent was in the hospital in
rlington some time, but recovered and
S sentenced to serve three years in state
son. After serving 26 months he es-
,ed in January, 1902. He came to Brat
boro and stole a small sum of money
m his cousin, w. G. Kent, was arrest
at the home of his mother in Manches-
this state, brought to Brattleboro,
ced under bonds for appearance at the
lnty court, and taken to Newfane jail.
direction of Governor Stickney he was
t to Windsor where he completed his
tence for the Milton burglary. On his
Ease in August, 1902, he was brought
Newfane Jail to await trial for his rob-
v in Brattleboro He had been in Jail
' ten days when he escaped by tearing
the floor and making hole in the eel
wall.
IN the night of Dec. 6, 1902, Kent
rded the train at Brattleboro with the
sntion of riding to West Townshend
see his mother, who was then living
re- When north of Williamsville sta
DR.. George Y. Roberts, now of Brat
,oro. watched Kent so closely that the
bird became alarmed and jumped from
rear of the train, which was going at