The Sun.
London, England, 1865-04-27 00:00:00

rim SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, APRIL 27, 186 as

Proposed Cobden Memorial at Stockport.

Last evening a town's meeting was hold in the Court
House, Stockport, to consider the propriety of erecting a
memorial to the late Richard Cobden. The Mayor (W. L.
Eskrigge, Esq.) occupied the chair. There was a crowded
meeting.
The MAYon said that, when a memorial was presented
to him requesting him to call that meeting, he felt that he
could do nothing but cordially assent to it. Personally, he
should be exceedingly glad, with his fellow townsmen, to
contribute his quota to do honour to the memory of such
a great and good man as Richard Cobden, who had con-
ferred great benefits upon the commercial' community.
(Applause)
A telegram was read from Mr. Watkin, M.P., apologising
for his unavoidable absence.
Mr. Alderman Wil,LlA3fseN moved the first resolution,
which was as follows:

"That the inhabitants of Stockport, in public meeting
assembled, desire to express and record their deep sorrow
on account of the death of the late Richard Cobden, Esq.,
M.P. His disinterested patriotism, virtue, energy, and elo-
quence enabled him to lead and effect some of the greatest
commercial reformations of the age. That borough having
afforded him the first opportunity of expounding in Parlia-
ment, and carrying into law, the principle of his political
economy, always took a special interest in his life and mea-
sures, and the inhabitants now desire to join in the national
sorrow at his decease ; and at the same time to express grati-
tude for the great works which he was enabled to achieve."
He (Mr. Williamson) remembered well Mr. Cobden's early
career. His name was almost unknown until 1837, when
he first sought election as a member of Parliament for
Stockport. The inhabitants, at that time, however, did
not honour the man who wished to honour them, for Mr.
Cobden was rejected by a majority of about fifty votes,
the result of the polling being that Major Marsland re-
ceived 467 votes, Henry Marsland 467, and Cobden 412.
During the four years which elapsed between the election
of 1837 and that of 1841, Mr. Cobden was by no means idle,
for, with his friend Mr. Bright, he scoured the country,
enunciating, in the manufacturing and agricultural districts,
the propriety, justice, and honesty of the free trade prin-
ciples of which they were the great advocates. In 1841
Mr. Cobden again presented himself as a candidate for the
representation of Stockport, and the inhabitants on that
occasion did honour to themselves and to the man whom
they returned to Parliament. The late Mr. Andrew was the
mayor of Stockport at that time, and the late Sir Ralph
Pendlebury, with Mr. W. Nelstrop, were the proposer and
seconder of Mr. Cobden. In the conduct of that good
man there were many characteristics which every one
could not but admire. His replies to those who opposed
the principles of which he was so great an advocate
were, perhaps, the most withering ever uttered by any
man. Like many other great men, he was much calum-
niated, greatly misrepresented, and grossly abused.
That was the period (in 1841) when the Chartist agita-
tion prevailed, when the country was in continual ter-
ror and confusiott. Those misguided men on all occa-
sions opposed free trade, and one of the most success-
ful persons in replying to their arguments and refut-
ing their assertions was Richard Cobden. (Applause.)
His success in the House of Commons all would remem-
ber. Although the principles he advocated first met
with derision, he won the respect of the house, and was
eventually listened to with the greatest attention. His
greatest achievement was the conversion of Sir Robert
Peel; and he (Mr. Williamson) had often wondered which
of those two great men was most honoured—the Prime
Minister of the day, who acknowledged that he was in-
debted to Mr. Cobden for his conversion, or for the change
which took place in his views on commercial questions and
free trade, or Mr. Cobden, who had been the means of
securing that conversion. While he lived, in his day and
generation, Mr. Cobden did his duty ; and it was hoped
that the inhabitants of Stockport would feel bound to do
their duty. (Applause.)
Mr. E. WAL3IBLEY, in seconding the resolution, said the
great men of the present day were those who rectified the
mistakes of their predecessors. Richard Cobden had been
one of those—a man who had created his own fame, and
the inhabitants of Stockport might well feel proud of the
honour of having first sent such a man to represent them
in Parliament. (Applause.)
Mr. J. B. S muff, M.P., said that, inasmuch as they had re-
turned to the House of Commons Richard Cobden, and
thereby introduced him into that sphere of usefulness which
achieved for him such great renown, and conferred such
great benefits upon the country, it was peculiarly fitting
that the inhabitants of that borough should raise a monu-
ment to his memory—(applause)--for the name of Cobden
would be for ever associated with Stockport. (Applause.)
Twenty-eight years had elapsed since he (Mr. Smith) had
first the pleasure of Mr. Cobden's acquaintance, when ho
first connected himself with the anti-corn law agitation.
When Mr. Cobden became a total repealer, he adopted as
his motto, " A fixed duty is a fixed injustice." An Anti-
Corn-law Association was formed in Manchester, of which
he (Mr. Smith) had the honour to be chairman. He invited
Mr. Cobden to join that Association. Mr. Cobden did so,
and from that time things took a new turn. Devoting a.
very long portion of his attention to the question, Mr. Cob-
den infused into the Association that energy from which
sprung an agitation that lasted from seven to eight years,
and resulted so successfully. One of the first steps taken by
Mr. Cobden with respect to the corn-law question was to
invite the co-operation of neighbouring towns. He esta-
blished a journal, called the Anti-Corn Law Journal, which
was first published once a fortnight, and subsequently
once a week. He spent months in traversing from town to
town, both in England and Scotland, especially in the
agricultural districts. He thus created a sensation through-
out the country, and prepared the inhabitants of large
towns for that great organisation, the League. His gentle-
ness, extreme kindness of manner, earnestness, and love of
truth won all hearts, and created confidence wherever he

went. When the League was established, he (Mr. Smith)
had the honour of being the chairman, which office
he continued to fill until a delicate state of health com-
pelled him to resign it to Mr. George Wilson, who
had conducted that organisation, as all knew, with much
ability to the completion of its work. Richard Cobden,
their friend, was one of nature's nobles. God gave him
a great mission—a mission of peace and love ; and
when he had accomplished his work, He took him home to
dwell with the spirits of the great and good men who MO
gone before him. (Applause.)
Mr. J. WALTIEEW supported the motion. He said that
the whole tenour of Mr. Cobden's life—every action of his
publiclife—was to still the roar of the cannon,to unshackle
the commerce of the world, and to make men freer than
they had ever been—free to work, to live, and to worship
like men, so that they might grow strong and stalwart as
Englishmen had the pride and consolation to be. (Ap-
plause.)
The motion was passed with acclamation.
Mr. H. Corroex, town clerk, moved the following
resolution :

" That, in the opinion of this meeting, a statue of the
late Richard Cobden would constitute a suitable memorial
of his eminent services to the country generally, and to
this locality in particular."

Mr. Alderman CHAPMAN seconded the motion.

Mr. F. HOWARD, in supporting it, said—That inasmuch
as it was proposed to erect a new Town Hall, nothing
could be more fitting than that the statue of Richard Cob-
den should be placed in front of that building. This, how-
ever, was for after consideration, but ho could not refrain
from making a suggestion which he thought appropriate.
He would ask the working men to subscribe their mites
towards the accomplishment of this noble object. A sub-
scription of a penny per man would in the borough pro-
duce a very large sum of money ; and, indeed, the working
classes had received more benefits from Mr. Cobden's ser-
vices than any other portion of the community. (Hoar,
hear.)

Mr. Alderman AT.r.EN moved that a committee should be
appointed to obtain subscriptions, and to carry out the last
resolution.

The motion was seconded by Mr. Alderman Wmu, and
supported by Mr. Alderman LONGSON.

The meeting was concluded with the usual complimen
to the Mayor for presiding.

The Road Murder.

TROWBRIDGE, Wednesday, April 26.
This afternoon Miss Constance Emilie Kent was brought
up before the magistrates sitting in petty sessions, charged
on her own confession:with the wilful murder of her step-
brother, Francis Saville Kent, on the 29th of June, 1860.
The magistrates present were Messrs. H. G. Ludlow, C,
F. D. Killard, J. H. Webb, John P. Stancombe, and Thos.
Clarke, Captain Meredith, the Chief Constable, and Supe-
rintendent, of the county police, were also present.
The prisoner was undefended.
The business was delayed for some time in consequence
of the absence of the Rev. Arthur Douglas Wagner (of
Brighton), and upon his arrival the prisoner was brought
into court. She was accompanied by Miss Green, the Lady
Superior of the " Home" or "Hospital" of St. Mary, and in
charge of Inspector Frederick A. Williamson and Sergeant
Thomas, of the Metropolitan Detective Police Force, Scot-
land-yard. Miss Kent was dressed in deep mourning, and
wore a thick veil, but she looked very much flushed on en-
tering the justice-room, and this was increased upon her
taking her place at the bar, where every person in a most
densely-crowded court had an opportunity of gazing at
her. Several ladies were accommodated with seats on the
bench, and during the progress of the inquiry they watched
with eager anxiety every particle of the very small amount
of evidence which was adduced.
It may be stated that Inspector Williamson and Sergeant
Thomas took charge of Miss Kent after the examination at
Bow-street, and conveyed her to the Paddington Station of
the Great Western Railway, whence they proceeded by the
810 p.m. train to Chippenham. From Chippenham they
went in a postchaise to Trowbridge, a distance of 15 miles,
and during the entire journey Miss Kent did not say a word.
Miss Green, the Lady Superior of St. Mary's Hospital at
Brighton, was with them, and on Miss Kent being taken to
the police-station at Trowbridge Miss Green applied to be
allowed to remain with her during the night. This was
refused, and Miss Kent was committed to the care of Mrs.
Harris, the wife of the inspector on duty, who behaved
with the greatest possible kindness to her.
The prisoner was placed at the bar this morning.
The Chairman, addressing her, said—You are brought
on a warrant from Bow-street, where you appeared yester-
day, and the evidence then taken will be read to you.
The warrant, however, on which she appeared was in the
first instance formally produced. It was as follows :--
"Police-court, Bow-street, Metropolitan Police District
to wit.—To all and every the constables of the Metropol
tan Police Force.
"Whereas Constance Emilie Kent hath this day been
charged before the undersigned, one of the magistrates of
the police-courts of the metropolis, sitting at the police-
court, Bow-street, in the county of Middlesex, and within
the Metropolitan Police District, for that on the 29th day
of June, in the year of our Lord 1860, she did feloniously,
wilfully, and of malice aforethought, kill and murder one
Francis Saville Kent, at Road-hill-house, in the county of
Wilts, and whereas I have taken the depositions of the
Rev. Arthur Douglas Wagner, a witness examined by me
in this behalf, but inasmuch as I am informed that the
principal witnesses to prove the said offence against said
Constance Emilie Kent reside in the county of Wilts,
where the said offence is alleged to have been committed,
these are therefore in her Majesty's name to command you
or one of you, the said constables, forthwith to take and
convey the said Constance Emilie Kent to the said county
of Wilts, and there carry her before some justice or justices
of the peace for that county, and near unto the parish
where the offence is alleged to have been committed, to
answer further to the same charge before him or them, and
to be further dealt with according to law. And I hereby
further command you, the said constable, to deliver to the
said justice or justices the information in this behalf, and
also the deposition of the Rev. Arthur Douglas Wagner
now given into your possession for that purpose, together
with this precept.
" Given under my hand and seal this 25th day of April,
A.D. 1865, at the Police-court, Bow-street, aforesaid.
" THOMAS Hzxay, Chief Magistrate."
-Mr. H. Clarke, the clerk to the magistrates, then read to
the Rev. A. D. Wagner, who was present, the following
statement :
" The Rev. ArthurDouglasWagner, clerk in holy orders,
on his oath saith as follows :
" ' 1 am perpetual curate to St. Paul's Church, Brighton.
I have known Constance Kent abouth 21 months. She was

introduced to me for the purpose of being admitted into St.
Mary's Hospital at Brighton, which is connected with St.
Paul's Church, and she came there about that time, and
has resided there ever since. I have not in any way in-
duced her to make any confession to me, and to the best of
my belief the confession she has made has been entirely
by her own free will. About a fortnight ago it first came
to my knowledge, and it was entirely her own proposition,
that she wished to confess and give herself up, and it was
her own proposition to come to London for that purpose.
She stated to me, or in words to this effect, that she had
alone and unaided, on the night of the 29th of June, 1860,
murdered, at Road-hill-house, Wiltshire, one Francis
Saville Kent. I have never said anything to Constance
Kent to persuade her to confess, nor have I said anything
to dissuade her from doing so, but I have been perfectly
passive in the matter, feeling that she was doing the right
thing. It is entirely her own free act. She thought of it
herself without my suggesting it to her.

" 'A. D. WAGNER.' "
The Chairman (to Mr. Wagner)—Is that true ?
Mr. Wagner—Yes.
The Chairman (to Miss Kent)—Have you any question
;o ask the witness ?
Miss Kent—No, sir, I have not.

The Chairman (to Mr. Wagner)—You may retire.
The Clerk to tho Magistrates (to Miss Kent)--I will now
read over the statement which you made to the magistrate
at Bow-street. It is thus :

"I, Constance Emilie Kent, alono and unaided, on the
night of the 29th of June, 1860, murdered, at Road-hill-
house, Wiltshire, ono Francis Saville Kent. Before the
deed no one knew of my intention, nor after it of my guilt.
No ono assisted me in the crime, nor in tho evasion of dis-
covery."

Mr. Frederick Adolphus Williamson, who was then
called, said—l am an inspector of the Metropolitan Detec-
tive Force. Yesterday afternoon, the 25th April, I went to
Bow-street Police-station, where I found the prisoner. She
was undergoing an examination before Sir Thomas Henry,
the chief magistrate, and this paper (the confession) was
handed to me. (During the reading of this confession the
prisoner burst into tears—the first time she had exhibited
any emotion.) The prisoner was handed into my custody
at Bow-street, and I conveyed her down here last night to
Trowbridge.
The Clerk—That is all thd evidence that can be adduced
in the case to-day.
The Chairman—Miss Kent, you will now stand re-
manded on this charge until to-morrow week, at 11 o'clock
in the forenoon. Until that time you will bo taken care of
in the County Gaol at Devizes.

The prisoner then left the court in the custody of Inspec-
tor Williamson and Sergeant Thomas, and was conveyed to
Devizes, Miss Green being allowed to accompany her.
It was expected that Mr. Kent, the father of the prisoner,
would be present, but he did notappoar.
The town was thronged with people during the morning,
in the hope that they might be able to catch a glimpse of
the prisoner.

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