The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-12-08

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would happen?
The Attorney General thought such
a state of affairs not likely to oc-
cur. DR.. Bryant of Ludlow thought
that so far the discussion Of the case
had been much like an old~-fashion-
ed Methodist class meeting. He re-
ferred to the wild outbursts of emo
tional oratory and the morbid and
misplaced sympathy which had been
manifested.
Only One Justification.
He said there was only one thing
to Justify action in the case and that
was newly discovered evidence. No
such evidence to his knowledge had
been presented. He said there had
been a good deal of wild talk about
Kent's sanity and he asked the men,
bers Of the House when they
became expert alienists. He thought
If the House simply as an act
of human sympathy could
overturn the verdicts of the courts
that it would create a lack of re-
spect for the power and majesty Of
the law. He said the physician at
the State prison had not seen any
thing of Kent's conduct to prove
him insane. superintendent w. S.
Lowell of the State prison denied the
statement he had said he considered
following letter from Mr.. Lowell:
cit has been brought to my atten-
ton that as an argument in favor of
committing the sentence of Elroy
Kent, now confined in the Vermont
State prison under sentence of death,
l have been quoted as saying that
Kent was insane and should not be
hanged.
81 wish to deny in the strongest
possible terms that l have ever made
any such statement. 1t is not my
wish to express any opinion in re-
gard to what should be done with
Kent, that is for others than myself
to decide, but l deem it my duty to
deny that l have ever stated that
Kent was or is insane"
constitutional Question.
Mr.. Stone of Wallingford said he
had no animus or spite in the case.
He raised once more the question of
constitutionality. He said the pris-
oner had, the fairest possible trial.
A reign or terror had prevailed in
Wallingford after this crime. Some
women had followed their husbands
to the fields as a matter of safety
and others who could not do SO had
been furnished with guns. He had
4 just received a letter from his home
town saying that if he could not
convince the Legislature that Kent
ought to be hanged TO send the pris-
oner to Wallingford and the women
would take care of him.
Kent had made threats as to what
! he would do if sent back to Water
Mr.. Stone, God help us in Walling-
ford"
Extracts were read from the
testimony and from Judge Water
p nidH liz sc W Viz july OPpOt
tunity was given the respondents
counsel to go before the Judiciary
Committee, said Mr.. Stone and Mr.
O'Brien, the senior counsel, said he
had washed his hands of the case
when the Supreme Court passed up
on it.
Mr.. House of Berlin said if thi.
bill passed it would be fair to as.
sumo the Legislature was more com
petent than the courts. In behalf O.
the pure women Of the State hi
appealed to the House to kill the
bill.
Mr.. Ives of Mount Holly explained
the previous statement made by hin
regarding the presence of Kent IL
the town of Wallingford at the time
of the crime and read from a clip.
ping regarding the search for the
prisoner and his criminal career.
Bill Defeated.
In accordance with the previous
demand a yea and nay vote wa.
taken and the bill was lost, A votes
being cast in favor of it and IS
against it.
H. 456, an act taxing premiums
paid by nonresident insurance com
panies was taken UP as a specia
order. Mr.. Amey of Brighton sale
he had conferred with the Secretary
of State and State Tax Commission
er and learned that a bill would sooI
be introduced which he thought would
meet the objections that had beer
raised against this bill and would al
so enable the taxation of insurance
companies now doing business il
the State and not contributing any
revenue. Upon his motion the bill
was further ordered to lie.
II. 241, to grant a bounty on blacl
bears was taken up as a special or
der.
Black Bear D~epredatiOns.
Mr.. Wells of Victory favored thu
bill. He said the black bear was &