The Sun.
London, England, 1865-05-05 00:00:00

Sunday, the 15th July, 1860, in consequence of a communi-
cation that was made to the Home Secretary.by the magis-
trates of Trowbridge, I received directions from Sirßicharu
Mayne to proceed to Road to assist the local police in in-
vestigating this case. On my arrival there Mr. Stanton, one
of the magistrates, put me in communication with the late
Police Superintendent Foley, and I commenced my in-
quiries in conjunction with him. On the 16th July (next
day), while making inquiries at Road Hill House, I found
in a chest of drawers, in a bedroom occupied by Miss Con-
stance, the list of linen which I holdin my hand. I sent for
her, and showing the list to her said, "Is this the list of
your linen ?" She said " Yes," and that it was in her hand-
writing. I said, " There are three night dresses mentioned
in it; where are they ?" She replied, "I have only two.
The other was lost at the wash the week after the murder."
I asked her for the two, and she brought me the two night
dresses which I now produce. On the 20th July a warrant
(produced) was issued for her apprehension, and I proceeded
to Road Hill House about 2 o'clock on the same day to exe-
cute it. I sent for the prisoner into the drawing room and
said, " I am a police officer and hold a warrant for your ap-
prehension, charging you with the murder of your brother,
Francis Saville Kent." She cried, and said she was not
guilty. She was taken before the magistrates at Road, and
remanded for a week. At the next examination she was
discharged, her father entering into sureties of £2OO to pro-
duce her subsequently, if necessary. I made every search,
assisted by Mr. Foley and his men, of the grounds and pre-
mises at Road for the missing night-dress, but was unsuc-
cessful.

By the Chairman—l was engaged in the investigation
for some weeks, but never heard a word from Mr. Foley or
any one else of a blood-stained night-dress being found on
the day after the murder, and knew nothing of it until I
saw it in the newspapers.
The Chairman—lt is right to say that nothing of this
came to the knowledge of the magistrates until November.
The appearance of the next witness, habited in a long
black cloak, with a peculiar white frill up to the neck,
created some sensation. Being sworn, she stated her name
to be Catherine Ann Grtem, and that Constance Kent from
the first came to her as a daughter, and she wished that the
Court in questioning her should have respect to the confi-
dence naturally arising between mother and daughter. She
deposed—l am Lady Superior of St. Mary's Hospital, 2,
Queen-square, Brighton. I had not known the prisoner
before she came to me in August, 1863. She did not say
anything to me about the Road murder herself before the
statement made public that she wished to give herself up.
I had questioned her about it. The first time was in Holy
Week. On the Wednesday in Holy Week I said to her
that I knew of it (her -connection with the murder), and
asked her if she fully realised what it involved. By this
I meant the giving herself up to justice for the Road mur-
der. The Road murder was not mentioned, but it was un-
derstood between us. The prisoner, in answer to my
question, said she did not realise it. I think I said to her
that Mr. Wagner had spoken to me about it. This was all
that passed. The rest of the conversation was entirely on
religious subjects. I saw her again in the same week and
the conversation was then again entirely on religious sub-
jects. Shortly after, about the beginning of the next week
after, she spoke more fully to me. • I had her up first of all
to speak to her upon religious subjects, and something in the
conversation made her tell me that she had carried the child
downstairs while it was sleeping, that she had left the house
through the drawing-room window, and that she had used
a razor "for the purpose." (Sensation.) She said nothing
else about the actual deed. She said she obtained the razor
from her father's dressing-case. She spoke afterwards of
the night-dress that had been lost. I think she said that she
had taken it out of the basket again. I don't think anything
else passed. Nothing passed on the day I brought her to
town: She said it was not from any dislike to the child, but
that it was revenge on her step-mother. (Sensation.)
The Chairman—When did she say this to you ?

Witness—The third tithe, when she told me the other—
that it was no dislike to the child, but in revenge on her
step-mother. I am quite sure about the words "dislike to
the child," but as to the "revenge on her step-mother," I
am not sure she used those words or words to that effect. I
cannot recollect that she said anything more about the
missing night-dress. Referring to the first part of her evi-
dence, the witness said she told the prisoner soon after she
came to the hospital that she had heard from Mr. Wagner
about "it," but she never used the word murder. She was
talking to her about it, and asked her if the child had not
cried to her for mercy, to which she replied that it was
asleep, and that she had carried it downstairs asleep. She
did not say what she did with the razor. I tried to point
out to her (speaking of this murder) how the sin would be
aggravated in God's sight, and was pointing out to her what
would do so, when she made the statement about carrying
the child asleep downstairs. When talking on this subject
to her there was no occasion for me to mention the word
" murder "to her, because she knew what I meant. The
" sin " referred to was of course the murder. I think I have
now stated all the conversation that has taken place be-
tween me and the prisoner about the murder. Ido not
think the prisoner has made any request to me about her
confession being made public. When I spoke to her about
what aggravated sin, and about realising, she' said she
wished to give herself up.

The Chairman—After all the conversation that took place
between you, did you at any time offer her any inducement
to give herself up ?

Witness—No.

The Rev. Arthur Douglas Wagner, perpetual curate of
St. Paul's Church, Brighton, was next called. On entering
the witness-box he said ho wished, before the Court took his
evidence, to read a brief statement which he had committed
to writing, and which he thought essential.

The Chairman said he had better not read anything until
after he had given his evidence.
The deposition of this witness, taken at Bow-street before
Sir Thomas Henry, was then read, and the witness pro-
ceeded—l had not known the prisoner before she came to
the hospital. She came in the name of Emily Kent, in
order that people might not know who she was. She was
there about 21 months. All the communication I have had
with Miss Constance Kent was made to me under the seal
of confession, and therefore I must decline to answer any
question that would involve a breach of the secrecy. (Hisses.)
The Chairman—You have sworn to God to tell the truth,
the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
Witness—My duty to God forbids me to divulge anything
received in confession. She authorised me to communicate
with Sir Geo. Grey three or four weeks ago on the subject
of this investigation. I had not said anything to her to
induce her to do so. I do not recollect the words used,
but she requested me to communicate to Sir George Grey
that she was guilty of the Road murder, and that she
was willing to give herself up to justice, or to do anything
that he told her to do. She did not say anything more
at that time that I recollect. She spoke to me first about it.
I am unable to state anything further than I have done al-
ready. I could not do so without a breach of the seal of con-
fession. (More hisses.) I do not recollect that she gave any
reasons. She spoke to me first about giving herself up. It
was entirely her own voluntary act.

_ .
No further question was put to this witness, who then
retired. During his examination he kept his hands folded
across his breast.

Frederick Williamson, Inspector of the Metropolitan
Detective Police, was next called, and his depositions taken
at Trowbridge on the 26th ult., containing the prisoner's
confession, were read over to him. He made no addition to
his testimony, and added that this would be all the evi-
dence.

The depositions of the witnesses were then read over by
the magistrate's clerk, and signed.

When this formal matter had been completed, the prisoner
was requested to stand up, and the usual caution having
been given to her in the formal words of the act of Parlia-
ment, she was asked if she had anything to say.
The prisoner slightly shook her head, but no audible re-
ply was heard from her lips.
She was then fully committed for trial at the next Wilts
assizes.

On the conclusion of the case the prisoner walked quietly
from the dock. During the whole of the investigation she
hold down her head, and rarely raised it to look at the wit-
nesses as they came up. The inquiry was concluded about
6 o'clock. The prisoner remained at the police station,
which adjoins the court-house, for about an hour, and was
then driven off in a carriage and pair to Devizes. The wit-
nesses on passing from the Court-house were followed by
a large mob. The populace, however, both on this occasion
and during the inquiry, behaved in an orderly manner,
only giving vent to their feelings during the examination
of the Rev. Mr. Wagner.
The written statement of the rev. gentleman was not
read in court, but it is said to have been obtained privately
from him by one of the reporters.

SCENE IN A COURT OF LAW.—At the Leeds Town-
hall, on Monday, Joseph Padgett, clerk, was charged
at the instance of the official liquidator of the Leeds Bank-
ing Company with forgery and fraud. During the case a
"scone" occurred between Mr. Bond, the prosecuting at-
torney, and Mr. Blackburn, a barrister, who represented
the prisoner. The latter had characterised something in
which Mr. Bond was concerned as scandalous, whereupon
that gentleman interposed with the following burst of in-
dignation :—" I will not submit to hear any young jack-
anapes who appears hero say that anything that takes
place in my office is scandalous. Because a man wears a
wig and gown, does he think he is to talk in that manner
to me, a man old enough to be his father? If he was out
of court I would wrench his head off."—Mr. Blackburn
told Mr. Bond his age protected him, to which the latter
retorted, " Your insolence does not protect you," and it was
some time before the mayor could restore the quiet of the
court. The prisoner was ultimately committed for trial,
but allowed bail.

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