Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-01-16
KENT, SET FREE,
FLEES;; SOUGHT IN
MERIW ETHER
Officer Comes With Warrant AT
ter Schley County Turns
Trio Loose

l
Schley county is rid of j. w. Kent
and the two women, one his wife,
who had been living with him near
Lacrosse, but another Georgia coun-
lty, Meriwether, is looking for them,
there being a warrant against Kent
charging kidnapping in carrying away
the two-year old child of farmer of
that county last February when he
eloped to Schley county with the
child's mother, bringing her along
with his own wife and representing
the two to be sisters. This is the
woman he passed off as his own wife
during their residence at Lacrosse,
and was the mother of three weeks
old child when the three were ar
rested some ten days ago, the real
Mrs. Kent being represented as his
wife's sister.
Schley county happens to be rid
Of the trio because DIN McElhaney,
the Lacrosse farmer who eloped with
and married the real Mrs. Kent, not
knowing she was already married, and
was later informed of the facts by
Kent, dismissed TIE warrants against
the three and the county authorities
decided it would be cheaper for the
county and better for all concerned
to set them free and see that they
left this part of the state. The news
of tkeir being freed was not made
public at the time, Schley county
people not relishing that kind of
notoriety.
1t was not long after the trio had
been sent out of Ellaville when Dep
uty Sheriff Allen, of Meriwether
county, appeared in Americus bear
ing clipping of the newspaper story
telling of the arrest of the Kent trio
and announcing that the officers
there had been locking for them
since last February. At that time,
he said, KeKnt had carried away the
wife of farmer there and his 2-year-
5old child, and had disappeared. The
farmer wanted his child back and
took the warrent charging kidnap-
ling. He was unable to locate Kent
lat last accounts.
Although an effort was made by
the people of Ellaville, who interest
led themselves in behalf of the wo-
linen and two children who occupied
the county Jail for several days, to
iseperate the women from Kent, it is
believed he has already joined them
I'm Florida wtere they were sent.
While in jail here the real Mrs. Kent
communicated with brother in Flor
ida who wired her transportation to
Icome to her. Citizens of the town
took up purse and bought ticket
for the other woman, who still was
represented as the sister of the real
Mrs. Kent, and the two, with the
tchildren, were placed aboard the
lSemlnole one nigh1 and started for
the Land of Flowers.
| Kent was kept in Jail until the
next day, when he was set free with
the advice TO travel He left, walk
ing out of town toward Buena Vista.
Later a report came that at Buena
Vista he was heard inquiring the
Eroute to Fitzgerald, and not long af-
Eterwardd secured man to row him
Iacross the river near Oglethorpe. He
is believed to have headed south from
! that vicinity, evidently knowing
| where the women had gone.
The Kents were almost destitute
when arrested, and the ladies of the
tservice section, Methodist church mis-
sionary socity, secured clothes and
other necessities for the women and
children. Thta Kent had money hid
den away, however, is the belief of
neighbors, who dclare he made a
Igood crop and APPARENTLY spent little.
He resided as tenant on the farm of
flames Reese, of Americus, and moth
ling whatever of value belonging to
him was found when he and the wo-
men left before their arrest.
/ Deputy Allen, of Meriwether, re-
ported that when Kent fled froW
there last February he did as he at
stempted to do here-disappeared
with the property of the landlord on
whose place he was living. This was
evidently disposed of, for when they
came to LaCross they had nothing
and Mr.. Reese supplied everything,
Eincluding household furniture.
| Schley people are congratulating
| themselves that they are rid of the
trio and disagreeable case.