The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1909-09-17
WAS GEORGE KENT
KILLED BY SON !?
Rumor That the Boy Has Made
Confession.
FISH SPEAR THE WEAPON USED.
Young Man Said to Have Had Father S
Keys in His Possession When Ar
rested-Claim That He Confded to
Fellow Prisoner.

Fellow prisoner.
From wel-authenticated rumors ahoat
in Townshend and Newfane this morning
the belief is general that Fred Kent, who
is in Newfane Jail charged with breaking
into the home of Mrs. +. +. Eddy in
confession connecting himself with the
death of his father, George Kent, in such
way as to cast serious suspicion upon the
young man. Although court officials main
tain a guarded silence upon the subject it
is understood that Fred Kent told fell
low-prisoner that he had an alteration
with his father the evening of July 9 and
struck him with a fish spear with such
force as to break the handle. 1t is be-
lieved that the scufle that followed re-
suited in the elder Kent's death.
The persons claiming to know of the
confession say that when Fred Kent was
taken into custody at Westminster West
Aug. %, he had in his possession bunch
of keys When he was searched in New
fame the keys were missing and prls-
oner, whose name is said to be Herbert
Collins, is claimed to have seen Kent at
tempt to hide the keys in a hole in the
chimney in the Jail and to have acqualnt-
ed the iailer with the fact. Though Jailer
Earl Davis refuses to verify this story,
there seems to be every reason to believe
that there is a foundation for its truth
inasmuch as other parts OF the confession
alleged to have been made by Kent to
his fellow prisoner are known to be facts.
The rumor is that Kent was asked by
his felow-prisoner why he was attempting
to hide the keys and replied that he didn't
want to have them found upon him as
they belonged to his father. Then getting
confidential Kent. it is asserted, proceeded
to tell that he had an alteration with
his father and that he struck him with
the fish spear which he had borrowed from
a neighbor named Henry Cobb for the
the Kent home. He returned the broken
spear to Mr.. Cobb the next day, sending
it back by younger brother with ehe
statement that he had fallen upon it in
the road and broken the handle. 1t IS
known that he did borrow such a spear
and that it was returned in the condition
described. While the court officials would
not acknowledge the fact, it is known that
the spear was sent to the state laboratory
at Burlington for examination and it Is :
alleged that bloodstains were discovered
upon 1t.
1t is claimed further that an examina-
ton made of the coat found near George
Kents body when it was discovered be
side the brook Sunday afternoon, Aug. y,
revealed holes which might easily have
been made by such weapon as it is said
Fred Kent assaulted his father with.
Fred Kent is claimed to have said that
he had an accomplice in dlsposlng OF ms
fathers body and is claimed to have told
his fellow prisoner that finding his father
was dead he and a friend named George
Rodgers carried the body to a small nat
ural cave at the roots of a large tree near
where it was found and hid it. Rodgers
soon after went to Grafton and while
there it is said made statements concern
ing the death of George Kent which re-
suited in an officer being sent for hlm by
States Attorney Williams. He was taken
to Bellows Falls and examined as to his
knowledge of events at the time of kent's
death While he attempted to connect a
well-known farmer with the crime, 1t Is
believed by those on the inside OF the case
that his statements We're made In a spirit
of malice toward a man who was lnstru-
mental in causing him to be sent to the
house of correction some years ago Tor a
criminal assault upon very young girl.
Fred Kent, it is said, told his fellow,
prisoner that he and Rodgers transferred
where they had placed it to the spot where
it was found beside the brook This. he
claimed to have done several days before
the body was discovered. This is not be-
lieved for two fishermen from Massachu-
setts are known to have gone down the
brook either one or two days before the
body was found and they could not have
passed the body without discovering it.
However. they could have passed down
the brook and not have discovered the
body if it was under the roots of the tree
where it is said to have been placed the
night of July 9. An examination OF the
little cave beneath tree in question
was made and it is said that bugs which
are invariably found where there Is de-
caved body were noticed.
There appears to be a discrepancy IN
the stories told by Fred Kent and his
mother regarding the time her son came
home the night of her husbands disap-
pearance The woman has stated that he
returned during the evening but rumor has
it that there are witnesses who know
that he did not come home until early the
following morning. 1t is claimed that
when he did return he made remarks to
his mother concerning his father and said
he supposed that he would be expected to