Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1909-04-08
ELaoY KENT TRIAL
said 10 Have Confessed that He Muir
sersd MIss consdon at WaIIInssord.


serse Miss consdon at WsIIInssord.
Elroy Kent is ON trial in Rutland coun-
ty court, charged with the murder OF
Della B. Congdon at East Waningford
last Jhly. Judge E. L Waterman is the
presiding judge. Kent, II will be re-
membered, escaped from the Waterbury
asylum, and shortly aiterward Miss
Cou0don was found murdered in her 1
home. Kent had been seen in the neigh
borhood and his initials, "E. K, were
found cut in wood on the Congdon prem
ises. Search for Kent was diligently pur-
sued for weeks without avail, until final
" he was arrested in Pittsdeld, Mass, for
stealing a-bicycle and there identified. |
He has since been at the Waterbury asy- |
lum for observation.
The general public is excluded from
the court room owing to the unsavory de-
tails brought ont in evidence. Because of
the prominence given to the case, there was
great difficulty In getting 9 jury. Kent
il defended BY Ernest II. O'Brien and
John ID. HpelIman. The state Is repre-
sented By States Attorney ]. G. Jones and
former States Attorney r. A. Lawrence.
Mr.. O'Brien Of the respondents counsel
announced that the defence would be
made both on the ground of no connec-
ton with the crime and insanity.
In behalf Of the state, Mrs. Mary A.
sprague and her two sons, George and
Darwin, neighbors of Mrs. Congdon, who
discovered the murder, told OF seeing the
imprint where q man had laid in new hay
be had put in the Congdon barn two days
before and of finding q tobacco pouch on
the hay. Mrs. Sprague found that the
desk Of the murdered woman had been
ri6ed.
A great surprise was sprung by the
prosecution when Deputy Sheriff A. A.
Leonard Of walIingford, the ofiicer who
went to PittsfeId, Mass, after Kent last
October, gave evidence showing that
J Kent had practically confessed to him OF
} killing Miss Congdon. Deputy Leonard
was the most important witness Of the
day.
J John d. Spellman Of the respondents
: counsel also brought to light q new point
, when he intimated that the defence
: would endeavor to associate <. M. Tag
CART. an East Wallingford cheesemaker,
E living near Congdon's, with the crime.
The exhibition of the blood-stained
:. garments Of the murdered woman and tn,
, testimony Of DR.. B. II. Stone, director Of
: the state laboratory of hygiene, concern
s ing the results OF bis autopsy on bel
! body, revealed that Miss Congdon was
! subjected to the most outrageous treat
ment before she was killed.
The confession of Kent to Deput,
Leonard was made at the House OF Cor
r rection, according to that officer. Ken
= told the officer that he went to the Cong
z don house to assault Miss CoBgdon, an
D when asked why he killed her, he re
piled, "She made noise and / was afrai'
other people would hear her."
The officer testified that Kent told hir
d that Miss Congdon saw him as he entere
J. her house. He said that be grabbed he
y and threw her into the milk room. Ken
e told the officer afterwards that he wante
" to go into court and plead guilty. II
y admitted stealing provisions at Walline
IL ford farm houses soon after the murder.
d Sheriff Leonard's testimony was col
d roborated BY Herbert ID. Slavery Of Wa
" lingford. who testified to being present {
5. Leonard's interview with Kent at th
q, house Of correction. Kent said he kille
eli Della Congdon because he was afraid tbs
she would tell on him.
v Robert A. Lawrence, the former state
ID attorney, produced Q piece Of wood COZ
he tanning the Initials, "E. K" which /
said was cut from the inside OF the bar
be door on the Congdon place at q poiT
H. where other witnesses have testified this
o. there was an impression in the hay, an
d. from where the window OF Miss Con,
IN don's bed room could be seen through
90 crack in the door.
3. DR.. w. w. Townsend, physician at II
'e- house Of correction, testified that Kel
Ie, admitted to him that he assaulted Deli
IS. Congdon.
John II. Hart and H. c. Dawson, farm
ers of East Wallingford, testified TIN
they now recognize Kent as 3 stranl
On man they saw about their homes a fe
be days before the murder. Mrs. Emn
ne Baker, housekeeper for another Elro
k Kent, who lives in East Wallingford, te
I'd titled that man whom she now recol
er nizes as the respondent called at b,
ds house the day Of the murder and aske
A for some matches, which she gave hin
We The man was greatly excited. He offers
,et to pay her for the matches.
IS The respondents father, George 4
he Kent, Of Wardsboro was the only 9TH
r. witness examined. He said that his sol
Elroy, was 20 years old and that he hs