The Sun.
London, England, 1860-11-06 00:00:00

THE ROAD CHILD MURDER.

ROAD, Nov. 5.
The extraordinary and extrajudicial inquiry com-
menced on Saturday by Mr. T. B. Saunders, equity
and conveyancing barrister of London, and magis•
trate for the county of Wilts, was adjourned till this
morning at 11 o'clock. At that hour Mr. Saunders
appeared at the Temperance-hall, Road, and there
were also present Superintendents Foley and Wolfe
and some other members of the Wilts constabulary ;
a few reporters, and three or four members of the
public. Mr. Saunders then stated that he had been
waiting at Bath expecting despatches which had

not arrived. He had, therefore, at once proceeded
to Road, and was there punctually at the hour ap-
pointed by Greenwich time. As some gentlemen
who were expected to take part in the inquiry had
not yet arrived he should adjourn till 12 o'clock.
At 12 o'clock Mr. Saunders again appeared,
but stated that the gentlemen he was expecting
had not yet arrived, and that one person who was
prepared to give evidence was detained by a
domestic affliction. He should therefore wait
a further time .before taking the chair and com-
mencing proceedings.
By half-past 12 the Temperance-hall only con-
tained a scanty company, which did not half fill
the small apartment of which the building consists.
The majority of the company present consisted of
women and children, and curiosity was evidently
the motive which had caused all, or nearly all, to
be present. The remarks indulged in before the
proceedings commenced plainly indicated that but
little reliance was placed on this investigation as
tending to elucidate the mystery which still hangs
over the murder of Francis Saville Kent.

At a quarter to 1 o'clock Mr. Saunders came
again into the hall and took up his position at the
upper end. He commenced by expressing his regret
that some brother magistrates and the chief con-
stable of Wilts, whom he had expected were not
present, and went on to state that the chief of the
Bath police' (Mr. Hughes) was now engaged on
special service in making inquiries into this most
mysterious case which happened on the 29th or
30th of June last at Road-hill House. He (Mr.
Saunders) repeated what he had said on Saturday,
that he was acting with the concurrence of several
magistrates, some of whom belonged to the coun-
ties of both Wilts and Somerset. Mr. Hughes was
acting with the sanction of the proper authorities
at Bath. At present there were locked up in his
(Mr. Saunders's) breast many circumstances of a
private nature which he could not, consistently
with the interests of public justice, divulge. All,
however, should be divulged at the proper time ;
but at this moment, if anybody asked him a ques-
tion, whatever might be thought by any person of
this plan, he would say that he was of opinion
that it was one which would tend to elucidate this
most mysterious affair, and he was there ready to
receive any information on the subject openly,
plainly, and in the face of day. After ordering the
removal of some children who were making a noise
at the bottom of the hall Mr. Saunders said he was

now prepared, from private information received
during three nights and days, to go on with this
case in any way that the interests of public justice
might demand. He had not had time to look
through the evidence and he took no notes on
Saturday, but he had the satisfaction of knowing
that what had then taken place had gone forth
through the press. He read a letter which he had
received from Mr. G. W. Sheppard, of Frome, a
magistrate for Somersetshire, who was present on
Saturday, in which that gentleman said that he
sincerely hoped that by the examination now
entered upon some cue might be found to this mys-
terious affair, but at the same time expressing a
fear that he (Mr. Saunders) had no ground to
build upon. Having given a short resume of the
proceedings on Saturday Mr. Saunders went on to
say that he began the investigation by endeavour-
ing to get at certain facts from the Sunday pre-
vious up to the day of the murder. Now he believed
that a statement was made on Saturday that Mr.
Kent was at church on the previous Sunday with
the little boy who was unfortunately afterwards
found murdered in the latrine. The persons name
by whom that statement was made was Webley,
and he now inquired whether she was present.
Mrs. Webley was called, but ao answer was
made.

Mr. Saunders went on to say that he should re-
quire the presence of Mrs. Webley, and also of Mrs.
Lelen and Mrs. Orchard, who, he understood, could
afford certain information. He had endeavoured
to find out where Mr. Kent was on the Monday
and Tuesday and other days of the week preceding
the murder, but up to the present moment he had
failed in doing so. It was suggested that Mr. Kent
was engaged on a visit of factory inspection, at or
about that time, avid the coachman was sent for,
but not by him, because he had not intended to
have any single person there who lived or had lived
at any time upon the premises at Road-hill House.
It was here announced that Mrs. Webley was in
attendance, and in compliance with an invitation
from Mr. Saunders,

Mrs. Webley came forward and stated that she
saw deceased with Mr. Kent at church on the Sun-
day morning previous to the murder.
Mr. Saunders then asked —ls there anybody here
who can give me any account of Samuel Saville
Kent's proceedings on the Monday after Midsum-
mer-day ? (No answer.) Is there anybody in this
room who saw Mr. Kent on Monday, the 25th of
June ? (No answer.) Is there anybody in this room
who knows any other person who saw Mr. Kent
on Monday, the 25th of June ? If so, let them
speak out without fear, favour, or affection. (No.
answer.) Perhaps you will make inquiry about
it among your friends. Is there anybody here
who saw him on Tuesday ? (No answer.) Let
them make a like inquiry among their friends.
Is there anybody here who knows anything
about Mr. Kent's proceedings on the 27th of
June, or is there anybody here who knows any-
body that does ? (No answer.) Now, then, is there
anybody here who saw Mr. Kent at home on the
28th ? Let the people say. (No answer.) Mr. Saun-
ders proceeded to recapitulate the statement made
by Holcombe, the gardener, on Saturday, stating
that he did not intend to request his attendance
again for private reasons, as he believed it would
not be conducive to the ends of justice. After some
further observations,
Mrs. Silcox was called, and stated that on the
morning of the 30th of June Urch, a policeman,
came to her house and told her that she was wanted
at Mr. Kent's house; this was between four and
five on Saturday afternoon, the 30th of June last.
She went to Road-hill-house, and was told by Mr.
Parsons to assist Mrs. Holcombe in laying out the
child. The nurse was also to assist, but she did
not ; she never came near the place.
Mr. Saunders—That I consider an important
fact.

Witness—l believe all the other servants came
into the room where the child was, but I don't
recollect seeing the nurse there.
Mr. Saunders—Now I must ask you who do you
mean by the person whom you call the nurse ?
Witness—Why, the person who nursed the
child. I think I should know her again if I saw
her. On the Monday night I was sent for again,
to put all things in place. The nurse was with me
then. She did not say anything particular to me.
She and the housemaid took the remains of the

V.+
child upstairs. v The body was in a shell. I have
told all that I have now stated to Mr. Slack. Mr.
Foley also came to me with Mr. Wolfe, and I be-
lieve I told them what I have now stated. I have
never been examined in public before.
Mr. Superintendent Foley, being appealed to by
Mr. Saunders as to whether the evidence of Mrs.
Silcox was true or false, stated that the body of the
child was in his custody, and that he saw the nurse
and the other female inmates of the house come and
kiss the body. After the inquest he gave up the
key of the room ix. which the body had been lying,