Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-01-25
TWO KILLERS
ARE ARRESTED
Mora Brothers Admit Muir
der of Lithuanian Farm
Hand.
Robbery Motive for Death
of Man Found in
County.


has finally been cleared up as a re-
suit of the confessions of two broth
ers, Walter and Arthur Kent of near
Mora, who, after four days of grill
ling by officials admit they murdered
the man for the 500 he carried on
his person. Walter, the one who ad-
mitted beating the man to death with
an automobile crank is &c years of
age and his brother, Arthur, an ac-
complete, is %.
The confessions of the young killers
related in detail the events leading
up to the crime and the attempts
at burning the body. The solution Of
the case was the result of the tireless
vigilance on the part of state GRIM
inal apprehension bureau operatives
after they had been called into the
case following the finding of the body
near Brook Park by j. MarQuardt, a
CWA worker.
The Murder Trail.
At the time of the finding of the
body. the trail to detection of the
murderers seemed very faint and al
terry, since it had been some time
since the deed had been committed.
In fact there was no clue to work on
except possible Identification through
a small book of Lithuanian poems
which was found beside the body OF
the dead man who had been consider
ably burned. Taking this book the
authorities began a search for those
in Minnesota, whom the publishers
of the book said had recently pur-
chased copies. When it was found
that five had become owners of the
book then it only remained to make
certain which one of them was mis-
sing. 1t was found that the missing
man was Tony Masilionis. former
Norwood, Carver county farm worker
Then, so the story goes, it was found
that Masilionis had quit his farm job
with the announced intention of going
elsewhere to seek employment. This
was on December 81 and it was ar
ranged that Walter Kent was to take
his place on the farm. Masilionis
said he was going to Minneapolis
before going to a logging camp. In
vestigation disclosed that the two
Kent brothers had taken the Lithu-
anian from the Carver county farm
where he had workes, presumably to
drive him to Minneapolis. When they
were first questioned, they said they
had left him in the Mill City but
later it was discovered that they were
attempting to destroy suitcase
which belonged to the dead man.
Their arrest followed.
Was Hired to Drive.
According to their confession it
was found that they had taken Ma
silionis to Bongards in Carver county
where he withdrew his money from
a bank. He then offered the brothers
S15O if they would take him to Min
neapolis, after which he changed his
mind and told the brothers he would
give them $40 to take him to the
Michigan peninsula. They agreed
and set out northeastward. When
they neared the farm of the parents
of the brothers it was suggested that
they stop for the night but Masilionis
wanted to continue. Walter then
struck him on the head, pushed him
out of the car and then beat him to
death with the auto crank. They
then told of wrapping the body in
blanket and taking it to a side road
near Brook Park where it was left
and where it was later found. Walter
said he secured a can of kerosene
and returned to the body on which
he poured it and lighted it.
The brothers are being held in the
st. Paul city Jail pending first degree
murder charges by Pine county au-
thorities County Attorney M. B. Hur-
ley went to st. Paul Wednesday to
work out further details in regards
to the case.