Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1909-04-15


piled the deputy.
"No, WON'T" said Kent, "pn take
my medicine"
This Kent case is one of the most alb
sorbing in recent years to those who fol- |
low such things. Kent was not IN
known to the officials Of the states pris-
on and the state insane asylum before the
commission of this crime. He had been
twice at the states prison. During his
earlier career, he had escaped from Wind
ham county Jail and again had jumped
from a swiftly moving train. His last
offence was assault with intent to kill.
Feigning insanity, as he now admits, so
that he might be transferred to Water
bury and avail himself OF an easier oppor-
tunity to escape, he succeeded entirely in
his purpose. Kent seems to have fooled
the insanity sharps completely, who
thought him victim Of hallucinations,
but not dangerous. One night last July,
Kent, with companion. from the crimi-
nal ward, carried out nicely planned es-
cape, and disappeared from the asylum.
The companion was soon reclaimed, but
Kent evaded the searcbers. The asylum
authorities gave out that there was no
cause sor alarm, as Kent was practically
harmless, and the most that need be ex-
pected OF him was petty thieving. They
offered reward Of fifty dollars, We be-
lieve, for his capture, and seem not to
have concerned themselves further.
Two weeks later, Miss Della B. Cong
don, deaf mute living alone in the
town OF wallingford, in Rutland county,
was found murdered in the pantry Of her
home. She had been Drained with q
wooden maui, after being feloniously as
saulted. No more atrocious murder than
that OF this helpless woman, unable even
to make an outcry, could be conceived.
In casting about for the perpetrator, the
presence Of stranger in town was re-
called, seen by many in the vicinity OF
; the Congdon home. He had made in
quiries about Miss Congdon. Investiga-
ton showed that the initials, sc. K,
had recently been cut in the barn on the
Congdon premises, and the form Of a
man, impressed on the hay loft as though
he bad slept there, appeared. The mi
tials at once connected Elroy Kent with
the crime. His name or initials, which
he seemed to have penchsnt for cutting,
were found at various places in the locali
! ty. The keenest and closest search, how
ever, failed to bring the elusive Kent tC
: light. Many weeks after, a man arrested
J in Pittsfeld, Mass, for stealing a bicycle
3 was identified as Kent, returned to Yer
mont, indicted for the Congdon murdel
and placed in the Waterbury asylum FOL
observation.
At his recent trial, the state made
very clear case against Kent. Witnesses
swore that be had confessed the crime t,
4 them and given details, also that be haS
e admitted having feigned insanity. Th,
q defence could not establish more than
S somewhat unbalanced mind in behalf o
the prisoner. The iury's verdict seem
fully justified. As one juror said, "H
/, was either guilty or innocent. II the lat
4 ter, it must have been through insanity
and this was not proven. II the former
= there was but one degree to consider, AM
that the first"
= Nevertheless, we expect to see stron
fight made to secure commutation. Tn
state, through its experts, stands commit
: ted to the view that Kent, only a fort
night before the murder, was insane an
irresponsible, and classified him accord
n ingly. To treat him now as sane an
II fully responsible is to make sport OF II
: sane criminalogy as administered by thos
e upon whom Vermont depends The a
l. tentative is to admit that it is the easier
4 thing in the world to fool these experts
re their own game.