The Sun.
London, England, 1829-06-01 00:00:00

THE KENSINGTON MURDER.

It appears that the girl Susan Bennett, since her
examination at Bow-street on Thursday, has made
a full confession of all the circumstances connected
with the conduct of Birmingham on the night of
the murder, which came within her own observation.
Her statement, which of course will be received
with great caution, not only in consequence of her
abandoned character, but her former prevarications,
is to this effect :—She says that on the night of
Wednesday, the 16th of May, she was walking up
and down in Kensington-road without having tasted
any food during the day. Having neither money
nor a lodging, she climbed over the Palk wall into
the Kensington barracks. It was then about huff-
past eleven o'clock. She saw a sentinel, who was
on duty, and Birmingham, in the yard of the bar-
racks. The latter asked the sentinel if he knew
who she was, and the soldier replied that he did not
know. The prisoner Birmingham then came up to
her, and said, " If you like to go into the barracks,
you may lie in my room." She consented, and
accompanied Birmingham to his room, and being
greatly fatigued, she lay down upon the bed with-
out taking off her clothes. Birmingham did not
take any liberties with her, but remained in the
room until it had gone twelve o'clock, soon after
which he dressed himself in a brown fustian stable
dress, and put on a sort of foraging cap. He then
went to the table and took a knife from thence,
which appeared to be a common dinner-knife, and
then left the room without saying a word. She con-
sidered that Birmingham thought she was asleep
when he went away. Not having been in bed for
several nights, and having fasted the whole of that
day, she thinks she must have fallen asleep imme-
diately • after Birmingham went away, and she
did not wake until five o'clock,. in the morning,
when Birmingham returned in the same stable
dress which he put on when he went away. Site
asked if she should get up and leave the barracks ;
but he said " No; you had better lie still until six
o'clock, and then I will show you the way out."
At six o'clock site accordingly got up, and upon
going into the yard she saw a setjeant sitting on a
seat, who appeared as if he had just got up. The
serjeant must have seen her go out. 'laving quit-
ted the barracks she wandered about all day in the
park, and also in the neighbourhood of Kenshigton.
On the morning of Friday, she was lying asleep in
the open air, near the magazine, when a solJier
awoke her, saying she must go along with him to
the barracks, and if she would say that Birmingham
was with her all night of Wednesday in the bar-
racks, and that she remained with hint until Thurs-
day, she would get him out of trouble. The girl
then went on to state that Birmingham's master
offered to reward her handsomely if she would get
him off. F,he consented to do so, and told the
'
Coroner that Birmingham was with her all n ght,
and that she never slept during the time he con-
tinued with her. Such is the substance of the state-
ment which the girl has made.
The conduct of the soldier who was on duty
when the girl climbed over the wall of the barracks,
and permitted Birmingham to take her to his room,
has been the subject of a court-martial, at which the
accused was found guilty, was sentenced to 300
lashes, which sentence was carried into effect on
Saturday last.
If Birmingham be the murderer. which of course
at present is only conjecture, it is difficult to account
fir the motives by which he was influenced, as it is
well known that he professed for the unfortunate de-
ceased a strong affection, and had actually promised
her marriage.