The Express.
London, England, 1860-09-24 00:00:00

THE ROAD OITILDNURDER.

On Saturday evening last the investigation which
Ices been going on for the past fortnight under the super-
'Meadow° of Mr. Slack, the Bath solicitor, was brought to
• close, at least so far as the examination of the inmates of
Road-bill House are concerned. In our issue of Wednes-
day last we stated that the two Misses Kest, the female
dommetles, and the youngest girl bad been examined, and
Gust then the inquiry was adjourned. On Wednesday a
meeting of Wiltshire magistrates was held at the Court
House, Trowbridge, when Mr. Slack attended, and laid be-
fore the magistrates meant, H. G. G. Ludlow and W. and
J. P. Stancomb, Esqs., the whole of the evidence which he
bad taken up to that point. Those gentlemen have from the
first been fully acquainted with the case in all its hearts
so far as known, and therefore it is not unimportant to ore
serve that of which we are most credibly informed, that
Mr. Slack's documents cause much astonishment on man
points even to them. This was especially the case with
regard to some observations which fell from one of the
Muses Kent and the boy Holliday, unqualified as they were
by the absence of any cross-examination. After a long
consultation between the magistrates, the superintendenu
of police, and Mr. Slack, the latter gentleman was corn-
mimioned to proceed with his inquiry and requested to take
the evidence of all who were known to have slept is the
house on the night of the murder—a course which pre-
viously had not been decided on. Accordingly, on Thursday,
Mr. Slack again visited Road, and having examined the
eldest child of the second family a little girl 5 years of age,
who slept in her parents' bed-room, Mrs. Kent was ex-
amined for nearly five hours with remarkable domi-
nos. The examination of Mr. Kent then coin-
meneed, and en adjournment took place. On Friday
morning Mr. Kent's examination was resumed, and having
lasted several hours, that of Miss Constance Emily Kent
began. On Saturday morning her examination was re-
sumed, and having lasted all day, was concluded in the
evening, when Mr. Slack intimated, we understand, that he
should have no further need at present for any of the
household. The inquiry bas been conducted in the strictest
secrecy, the only persons present being Mr. Slack and two
clerks, who have copied the depositions from his notes, Mr.
Dunn, Mr. Kent's solicitor, and either or both Messrs.
Wolfe and Foley, superintendents of police. Mr. Dunn
has remained throughout an all-but passive listener,
although we hear that previous to Miss Constance Kent's
examination be recorded NON sort of protest against her
evidence being taken, on the ground that she still stood
with the murder, and was now only out on bail.
char d
herself, however, we believe, expressed a wish, as she
had frequently done before, that her statement should be
received. The statement made at Road-hill House have
not been signed by the respective witnesses, Mr.
Dunn having objected to their being so ; those taken
at Bath were severally read over and signed.
As to the result of the examination, it is as yet premature
to form a definite opinion. It may perhaps iedieale the
direction of affairs to note that on Wednesday Mr. Superiu.
Indent Foley, at Mr. Slack's request, carefully dug up the
soil to a considerable depth of a small plot of ground be-
hind the house, which had been stated by the boy Belli.
day to have been known as Miss Constance's garden. No
results, however, followed. In opposition to this we may
state what we have learned from another quarter—viz.,
that Mr. Slack, after leaving Road on Saturday evening,
appeared most favourably impressed as far as re-
garded Constance's evidence. That some decisive measures
will be adopted is the prevalent opinion on the spot.
It is Mr. Slack's intention, before finally closing the in-
quiry. to take the evidence early this week of two additional
witnesses -Mr. J. Parsons, of Berkington, the surgeon who
made the post mortem examination of the body, and of
Elisabeth Gough, the nurse. It turns out that the latter
has not been residing at her father's house at laleworth since
leaving Mr. Kent's service, but elmewhere. The police are
well acquainted with her whereabouts, however, and she
evinces no reluctance to appear. Emma Sparks, who was
servant at Mr. Kent's a year ago, was examined by Mr.
Slack at Beth ; her evidence on some important points as to
the domestic harmony hardly coincides with that of some
other witnesses.

A VENOM RUN DOWN ON THE HUMBER. —Yes-
tardily (Sunday) morning • very serious accident occurred
on the Hitit Humber, near Hull. About • quarter past
12 oelook, the steamer Adler, Captain Munster, left
the Hull Docks to proceed on • voyage to Bremer.
She bed only got • short distance down the Humber--piat
her Majesty's ship Cornwallis—when she ran into • fish•
ing smack. She immediately freed herself, and was about
to proceed onward, when she ran into • Swedish yacht,
which was coming up towards Hull. The Swedish vessel
immediately sank, and, before any boats could be got out,
two men were drowned. Their names are H. Johan Olof
Haekstrom, and Jobaa August Predriekston. The vessel's
same was Atha B. Clelia, and she was laden with iron.
Efforts will be wade to movie both the vessel and the

carrrr or LONDON HOSPITAL 701 HI6IAIIII Op
Tun Omer, VICTORIA PARR.—The number of patients
relieved at this institution during last week wadi NM of
which 129 were DOW cue.
The Atlantic Royal Mail Steam Navhsittion
Company's new paddle steamer Connaught will mg- from
Galway tomorrow, Tuesday, the 26th inst., for St. John's,
Nowfoundkod, and Boston, with her Majesty's mails.
Mercies for America, via St. John's, received at ()slimy
by British and Irish Magnetic Telegraph Company up to two
p.a on that day.
Eirres HOIDNOPATHIO Cocoa. Its delicious
amok regal iebnetisseie. sad Invigorating power have pre-
med es breakfast beverage. 611,
flawed 115. ai1p11191.142r RR per lb., by the principal groom.
i.Jenee Ileasepeatic Loavlos."—Ad-
abrasion&