The Sun.
London, England, 1860-08-14 00:00:00

THE ROAD MURDER.

TROWBRIDGE, MONDAY.
The prisoner, Edmund John, the assassin (ac-
cording to his own statemEnt) of the child Francis
Saville Kent, was brought up at two o'clock this
afternoon for examination at the Trowbridge Police-
court, before H. G. G. Ludlow, Esq. (chairman), W.
Stancombe, Esq., and Rev. It. Crawley. Mr. Clark,
clerk to the magistrates, conducted the inquiry; and
Mr. F. Wells, from the office of Mr. Dunn, solicitor,
of Frome, attended to watch the case on behalf of
the Kent family.
The effect of incarceration upon the prisoner seems
to have had a salutary effect. Throughout the
morning he was engaged in reading the Bible, and
he also declared several times that he knew nothing
of the murder. The impression which we formed
upon our first view of him, that the prisoner was
either a maniac or suffering from the effects of
delirium tremens, was confirmed by his appearance
and conduct to-day. It will be seen that he now
completely denies that he hp,d anything to do with
the murder. .j 7er '

The prisoner, in reply to 0. vestin by Mr. Lud-
low, said his name was Edn)und John.
Mr. Ludlow—Have you any Ether name besides
Edmund ?

Prisoner--Yes; but I should like to keep that
back.

Mr. Ludlow—Do you refuse to giire it ?
Prisoner—Yes, sir.
The depositions taken at the previous hearing
having been read,
Sergeant Royle added that he believed the pri-
soner, whilst in custody, was in a sane state of mind.
On Friday evening, after the prisoner was in his
custody, he said, " The agreement between us was
that when the child was killed, we should bury it
behind the hedge; but afterwards they changed
their minds, and we put it down the water•closet.
But I shall not tell their names at present."
Prisoner (on being asked if he had any questions
to ask) said—l am not aware that I said those
words. I only know that all the while I was in
the lock-up the officers were asking me questions.
But I can prove I was many miles away on the
night of the murder.

Henry Goodson produced the knife which the
prisoner had given to a mechanic at Wolverton,
While giving his evidence the prisoner said, "You
would sell my life if you could."
The prisoner, on being asked if he had any ques-
tions to put, said—He has told a great number of
untruths. I never said anything about Miss Con-
stance Kent.

The usual caution to prisoners was then read,
after which the prisoner said—l can only say that
it was circumstances that caused me to give myself
up. I can prove that I was in the Pratton-road,
Portsmouth, on the 28th and 29th June, and at Go-
dalmin gon the 30th. I have been so unfortunate
and out of work that my life became a burden to
me. What with being out of work and other cir-
cumstances, my wife leaving me and taking away
our three children, I did not care what became of
me. The two spots of blood on my trousers were
caused by my cutting my finger on the Thursday.
Mr. Ludlow asked the witness Goodson if the
blood appeared fresh ?

Goodson—No ' • the spots were quite black.
Mr, Ludlow—Was the prisoner quite sober when
he gave himself into custody ?
Goodson—Yes, sir, perfectly so. There was not
the slightest symptom of his being in liquor. He
was taken before the magistrates' clerk within half
an hour of his giving himself up.
Mr. Ludlow—You say on the 28th and 29th June
you were at Portsmouth. Can you bring any wit-
ness to prove that ?
Prisoner—Yes ; I could prove where I slept.
There was a review or something going on on the
28th, for the ships were firing, and it wa- pretty
well a general holiday.
Mr. Ludlow—Where did you sleep on the 28th ?
Prisoner—l will put it down if you will give me
a piece of paper.
A piece of paper having been supplied him, with
pen and ink, the prisoner wrote very freely as fol.'
lows :—The George and Dragon, or Green Dragon,
will not say which. There is a brick-field at the
back, and a sawyer's yard at the side. On the fol-
lowing day, the 29th, I changed caps with another
man for his. He was tipsy at the time ; but I don't
think he slept there."
In reply to the magistrates, he further stated that
the landlord and landlady would know him. On
the 30th he slept at Godalming ; he thought it was
at the Crown and Anchor. It was the first public-
house coming from Portsmouth down the road,
leading into the town of Godalming. He went
from London to Portsmouth and back again to
London, and it took him three days to walk it. He
went to Portsmouth in the hope of getting off on
board ship.
Mr. Ludlow—You need not answer this question
if you don't like ; but, having given yourself up,
we may ask why you charged yourself with the
murder ?

Prisoner—Because I was hard up and tired of
my life, and thought I might as well be hung as not.
Mr. Ludlow—Then why change your story now ?
Prisoner—Because I should not like the world to
think I was guilty. I wish them to know I, am
innocent.

Mr. Ludlow—Then cannot you tell us any one
to whom we may apply for information as to your
previous conduct and whereabouts ?

Prisoner—Yes I could; but I should not like
hem to know where I am and what I have done.
_ _

Mr. Ludlow—But if you can prove what you
have now stated to be true we should discharge you.
Prisoner—At the George and Dragon ; they
would know I was there on the 28th and 29th, be-
cause I had a large boil on the back of my neck,
and washed it with soap and sugar.
Mr. Stancombe—You have a mark on the back
of your neck ; how did you get that ?
Prisoner—l fell from a scaffold four years ago,
and was taken to the Westminster Hospital.
Mr. Stancombe—Did it hurt your head ?
Prisoner—Yes, sir.
Mr. Stancombe—Have you been in the hospital
since ?

Prisoner—Yes ' • for a carbuncle between my
shoulders, which was cut out by Mr. Barnard
Hope. I was in the hospital for three months. I
have not been in the hospital since. I obtained a
letter from the bank in Little George-street, by
which I gained admission to the hospital. When
I met with the accident I was at work at Pimlico,
for Messrs. Piper, builders, of BishopsgateAstreet
Without. I was on the scaffold repairing a house.
I have also worked for Messrs. Myers, and for Mr.
Macey, in the Strand.
By the Rev. Mr. Crawley—Neither of the public-
houses at Portsmouth or Godalming were houses of
call for masons. A young chap slept with me on
the nights of the 28th and 29th, I don't know his
name, but he now works at Cumberland Fort as a