The Sun.
London, England, 1860-08-23 00:00:00

TI-1E ROAD CHILD MURDER.

TROWBRIDGE, AUG. 22.
This morning Edmund John Gagg, the prisoner
who gave himself up as the murderer of Francis
Saville Kent, was brought before Messrs. H. H. J.
Ludlow (chairman), the Rev. R. Crawley, and Mr.
W. Stancombe, magistrates of this division.
On being asked by the magistrates' clerk (Mr.
Clark) whether he had any evidence to produce in
corroboration of the statement he had made as to
being at Portsmouth on the night the murder was
committed,

The prisoner said ho had a letter from his brother,
who said he would attend. He gave the name of
his brother as Christopher Gagg.

By direction of the magistrates Christopher Gagg
was called, but did not appear.

In reply to Mr. Stancombe, the prisoner stated
that his brother lived at 13, Queen's-terrace, South-
sea, Portsmouth, as butler in the service of Admiral
Byn
Mg.
r. Clark then read the following letter :
" Tuesday, Aug. 17, 1860.
13, Queen's-terrace, Soithsea, Portsmouth.
"My dear Brother,—l received your kind letter yester-
day, of which I am truly sorry to hear of your being in such
trouble, but I hope with God's blessing that you will be
liberated, and then seek for work and go back to your own
place. I went to the police-station yesterday, and I saw
Mr. Barber, the superintendent of police, and I have seen
him again to-day, and he says that he has made inquiries at
the public-house, and they recollect your sleeping there,
and I will swear that you came to 13, Queen's-terrace on
the 20th of Juno last, and that is the last time I have seen
you. Mx. Barber wrote this morning by the early post, and
he is going to write by this evening's post again. The admi-
ral desired me to write hoping that you will soon have your
liberty. With kind love, believe me to ever remain,—Your
affectionate brother, " CHRISTOPHER GAGG."
Mr. Superintendent Wolfe produced two letters
from Mr. Superintendent Barber, of Portsmouth,
one written after he bad seen the prisoner's brother,
and the other after he had gone to the publichouse
referred to by the prisoner. A letter from Mr. Wil-
liam Kimber, landlord of the Anchor Inn, Godal-
ming, was also put in. The circumstances, to a cer-
tain extent, confirmed the account the prisoner gave
of himself after being brought to Trowbridge.
After an adjournment, for the purpose of waiting
the arrival of a train by which it was possible the
prisoner's brother might come from Portsmouth, and
it having been ascertained that be was not present,
Mr. Superintendent Wolfe identified the hand-
writing of the two letters from Mr. Superintendent
Barber.

Mr. Dunn, solicitor to Mr. Kent—ln order that
there may be no kind of misapprehension arising
from the story told by the prisoner, I ask the
Bench to put one or two questions to him, which
I now submit to them.

The Chairman (to the prisoner)—l am going to
put some questions on behalf of Mr. Dunn, who
appears here for Mr. Kent. Have you ever seen
Mr. Kent in your life ?
Prisoner—No, sir ; I never have.
The Chairman—Have you ever seen any of his
family ?
Prisoner—No, sir.
The Chairman—Previously to your apprehen-
sion had you ever been to Road ?
Prisoner—No, sir.

The Chairman—ls the story you originally told
the police as to your having murdered Francis
Saville Kent true or untrue?
Prisoner—Not true, sir.

The Rev. R. Crawley—What made you say so ?
Prisoner—l don't know what could possess me
to make the statement T have. I felt if I had not
done it I could not live, and that I could chuck
myself on the line when any train was coming. I
don't know what could possess me. My life seems
now, sir, to be a burden to me.
Mr. Stancombe—You gave some reason for it.
You told me it was in consequence of your wife
going away from you.
Prisoner—That is the principal cause. My life
is such a burden to me that I don't care about
living any longer.
The Chairman—l think it right it should be
known to the public that Mr. Inspector Whicher,
the detective officer in London, has made particu-
lar inquiries respecting your wife and family. He
has taken some trouble in doing so, and what he
has ascertained has been very satisfactory as re-
gards your wife. She appears to be living in a very
respectable and comfortable manner with her
mother, and from her industry—her own industry
—supporting her children, deriving no assistance
from you to enable her to do so.

Prisoner—l have not had it in my power to give
it to her. I did so when I could.

The ReY. R. Crawley—Did she run away from
you, or did you desert her ?
Prisoner—She ran away from me.
The Chairman—l am prepared to state that that

is untrue, and that there is nothing to justify what
you have said of her. She is living in a creditable
manner, and everything you have said against her
character is totally untrue. She states that she is
quite afraid to live with you in consequence of your
conduct, and never will do so again. You put your-
self in your present position voluntarily ; you have
caused an immense deal of trouble and also an
immense deal of expense to the county by tell-
ing the untruths which you did respecting the
murder. The Bench only regret exceedingly
that it is not in their power to give you any
severe punishment for your conduct. Had they
the power to do so you would have had it to
the full extent, and would richly deserve it.
The determination we have come to is to pay your
railway fare back to London and to give you
sufficient food to maintain you till you get there.
Your parish is in Westminster, and you will be
returned to your parish, and of course left there on
your own resources.

- The Chairman (to Captain Meredith).—Have
you any information to communicate before the
meet 'g closes ?
C - Meredith, chief constable.—l have no-
tbiL,

T; r was then taken back to his cell,
and v despatched to London per railway to-
morrow (Thursday).
It was stated by Mr. Dunn that the family of
Mr. Kent feel very strongly the imputations which
have been cast upon them, and which they attri-
bute to all the inmates of the house not having
been examined at the time of the inquest. On their
behalf an application was made to Sir G. C. Lewis,
Home Secretary, for permission to hold a second
inquest, but it was discovered that a second inquest
could not be held unless the first were set aside on
the ground of informality or illegality. This course
not being deemed practicable, the Home Secretary
was then requested to appoint a special commis-
sion to investigate the whole matter, and it is
stated that a County Court Judge volunteered to
act as commissioner. Sir G. C. Lewis, however,
declined to comply with the application, on the
ground that it was unusual to grant such commis-
sions, and that he saw no necessity for so doing in
this particular case. Mr. Dunn also intimated his
intention of applying to Captain Meredith, chief
constable of Wilts, to examine Mrs. Kent in the
presence of the superintendents engaged in the in-
vestigation, and stated that if this course were pur-
sued he should request permission to publish Mrs.
Kent's evidence.

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, WEDNESDAY MORNING.
THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.

Yesterday's hope of a favourable change turned
out to be delusory. It kept fine during the
whole day, but last night the rain returned and
came down in torrents, which lasted up to five
o'clock this morning, when there was a partial
truce; but up to this hour the sky is overcast, and
there is nothing in the aspect of the atmosphere to
warrant a belief that we have done with foul
weather. The Evening Post publishes remarks
from a correspondent, who has had the best oppor-
tunity for personal observation and inquiry in some
of the midland and southern counties, in reference
to the crops, and full reliance may be placed on his
accuracy. The Post is still of opinion that, not-
withstanding the long-continued rains and unseason-
able weather, there is still a prospect of a pretty
fair general harvest. In any case the harvest will
be unusually late, but if there were a few weeks of
fine weather the results would be far less unsatis-
factory than had been anticipated :
" WATERFORD, Aug. 20.
" I have been for some days anxiously engaged
in inquiries regarding the crops in the counties
between this and Dublin, and in a wide district of
country, in Wexford in one direction, and to the
south-west of this place in another. I have care-
fully examined for myself; and I have had the
opinions of experienced farmers and other persons.
It is certain that considerable injury has been done
by the heavy rain and cold weather, but it is much
less than might have been expected under the cir-
cumstances. To some extent the grain crops, and
wheat in particular, have suffered from a want of
fulness and healthy formation in the ear; and some
fields in various districts are still prostrated, but
beyond that, and the delay of the ripening process,
I can see no damage. On Thursday morning last,
owing to the terrible rain, very many of the
corn fields had been as flat as if a heavy stone
had been rolled ever them ; but the strong winds
that since prevailed have raised the crop, and,
with comparatively few exceptions, the corn
fields are once more erect, and present a
fine healthy aspect. Almost all the fields
are very backward, but yesterday and to-day seem
to have caused a very favourable change, and in
several places the colour of the straw is deepening,
and the grain is beginning to ripen. There is a large
extent of wheat more than the average—the
breadth planted has been more than in ordinary
years. I think it likely that the produce will be
somewhat deficient, owing to the causes to which I
have referred ; and that a good deal of this grain
will be nothing to boast of in quality; but, on the
other hand, I have seen many very fine fields which
promise well in every respect. With regard to oats,
I have to report that the crop promises very well in
all the places I have visited ; and I heard very few
complaints or apprehensions about it. Barley is
poor in some places, but very good in others; and
it is rather extensively planted in Wexford and in
some parts of the counties of Kilkenny and Water-
ford. The result as to barley as well as wheat will
mainly depend on the weather between this and the
end of September. In reference to the potato crop,
there are many fields, especially in Wexford, in
which the blight has already caused much injury.
In other places, where the disease has not yet ap-
peared, the root is affected by the excess of moisture,
and presents a half-boiled soapy appearance when
prepared for table ; in fact, it,is not ripe enough to
eat. There, however, are exceptions. In general,
the potato crop, notwithstanding. the very unfa-
vourable character of the weather, is in good condi-
tion. I have seen good potatoes every where, and
more good than bad, except in some parts of Wex-
ford, and there is a fair promise of a good crop,
only requiring the same sunshine and warmth
which, thank God, prevail here to-day. With re-
ference to the green crops, turnips in particular, the
appearances are excellent. Hay has, of course,
suffered greatly from the wet and the flooding of
the fields ; but there is a great deal of it—some
already well saved ; and much more that will be
secured in pretty good condition, if fine weather
ensue. Altogether, I think that there is a reason-
able prospect of a fair harvest, all things considered,
and allowing for the drawbacks of one of the wettest
summers ever known in Ireland."

A letter from Clonmel gives a deplorable account
of the destruction of property in that quarter by
late rains. The writer says :
" On the estate of Mr. Walpole, in the parish of
Whitechapel, in the immediate vicinity of Cahir, a
small inland river overflowed its banks on Thurs-
day, and covered the lands adjoining, to the extent
of five acres on each side. This land was princi-
pally under grass, potatoes, and a small breadth of
corn. When the water drained off on Friday
morning, it was discovered that the entire five acres
were covered, on an average to the depth of two
feet, with a deposit of gravel and stones, many of
the latter being upwards of a quarter of a ton in
weight. About 30 feet of the road from Michels-
town to Clonmel, which runs through this locality,
was torn up to the depth of nine feet ; and, as 200
feet of it are still under water, it is impossible to
ascertain the exact amount of damage it has sus-
tained. The small bridge which spanned the tail-
race of Mr. Walpole's flax mill was also broken
down. and the bed of the stream choked up with
the fallen material. At Rehill, a place about five
miles west of Cahir, the three arched bridge which
crosses the river proved inadequate to give passage
to the water, which completely choked it up, and,
bursting its banks, inundated the lands at both
sides to a considerable extent. A field of splendid
wheat ready for cutting, and about two acres of
potatoes. were completely ruined by this disruption.
The soil is thickly strewn with a hard concrete,
consisting of sand and stones, among which were
found great numbers of dead trout. Close to the
bridge the house of a shoemaker named White was
suddenly surrounded by the flood on Thursday. It
poured into the house, and he was obliged to place
his family on an upper loft while he ran to call as-
sistance. In this quarter the course of the river
has been totally diverted, and it now flows along
the road, which for a time was rendered useless for
all purposes of traffic. The fine modern bridge at
Burncourt has been extensively damaged. The
floods burst the right arch, and carried it
away totally, after which they rolled into the
wheat and potato fields over the embankments,
and ruined them completely. These are only
a few instances of the immense destruction of