The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-05-16
DAILY LEADER.
AN EXTRAORDINARY OAsE OF
CRIME. e.
A kurderess Takes Refuge In
q Convent.
The Deed Concealed Five Years--.The
Hurder at Last confessed.

: The London Times, of April 26, contains
, the following remarkable narrative of
: events, rarely equaled in the annals of
crime:
Yesterday afternoon Sir Thomas Henry,
the chief magistrate of Bow street received |
information that Miss Constance Kent, for
nerly Of Road Hill House near Frona |
had arrived in London from Brighton, for
the purpose OF surrendering herself to the
omcers OF justice as the perpetrator of 3
murder have never bean TO -potteu-bov.
nearly five years ago, the body of q male
enid, which had been missed from its cot.
was found in privy outside the house and
how, suspicion having been directed } Miss
Kent, the eldest daughter of Mr.. Kent by
9 former wife, she was examined before the
local magistrates st the instigstion of In
specton Whicher and Williamson, of the
London Detective Police. and aequi ted of
the charge. It is hardly s secret that
nearly year sfterward, in consequence of
an alleged confession Of the crime by Miss
Kent TO one Of her rel4tives, another at
tempt to Investigate the matter was made
by the detective officers, who incurred the
censUre of large portion of the press and
the public for their proceedings in the case.
They found it unadVisRble, however to act
upon the fresh information which had
reached them, and it subsequently trans
pired that Miss Kent had been sent 70
convent in France. Nothing more of n
reliable character was heard of ti1e- -Uzsu Il
until yesterday, when the startling intima-
tioR was conveyed to the chief magistrate
that Miss Kent was in custody upon her
own confession upon the terrible charge,
having been accompanied TO London BY &
the Rev. Mr.. Wagner, OF St Psuls, Brigh- =
ton, to whom she had revealed her guilt.
Shortly before four o'clock, Mr.. Super
intendent Duncan and Mr.. Willismson. &c
Chief Inspector of the Detective Force,
conducted their prisoner to the private
room Of Sir Thomas Henry. Miss Kent
wss sttired in deep mourning, and wore a
thick vail, which almost screened her face
rom view. She is slender, and much tall
Or than she appeared to be when before in
he custody of the officers. She spoke
irmly, though sadly, and occupied q seat
turing the inquiry. She was attended by
he Lady Superior of st. Mary's Hospital,
Brighton, in which establishment she had m
,een visitor during the last two years,
nd she appeared about twenty-five ears
f age.
The charge had been taken in the usual
Drm. SI
Sir Thomas Henry, addressing the pris-
ner, said: Am 1 70 understand, Miss
lent, that you have given yourself up of
our own free act and will on this charge ?
Miss Kent; Yes, Sir. .
Sir Thomas Henry: Anything you NAV
BY here will be written down, and may be
sed sgsinst you. Do you understand ri
nat VI
Miss Kent: Yes, Sir.
Sir Thomas Henry: Is this paper now
reduced before me- in your own hand tt
riting, and of your own free Will7 ehes
Miss Kent: II is, sir.
Sir Thomas Henry: Then let the charge +,
, entered IN her own words.
The charge vas then entered as follows
Constance Emile Kent, of No. Queen
lusre, Brighton, charged upon her own
with having, alone and unsided, 70,
the night of the 25th of June, 1860, GI
urdered at Roadhil House, Wiltshire,
e Francis Saville Kent
Sir Thomas Henry: Have you any OBJ
'tion to sign the Statement you have
re msde2 must sgsin remind you
at 1t is the most serious crime that can
cOmmHteQy ana that Your State -
ant will be used against you at your PC
al have had the words written copied
on this chsrge-sheet, but do not wish lSo1
u TO sign It unless 5ou desire to do SO.
Miss Ksnt4- I will do - Il nooOssa4y, kRE
Sir Thomas Henry: Now, Mr.. Wagner,
is my duty to ask ynn if any induoa- q d
mt hss been made TO the prisoner In any
y 10 make this confession -
Witness None whatever has been made enc
me. The confession is entirely her own ,r.JD
luntsry act 70 the best Of my belief. It
5 about a fortnight ago, as far as can
ollect, that the circumstance first came
my knowledge. 1t was entirely her EAst;
n proposition that she should be taken West
ore London magistrate. She herself sand
posed to come 10 London for the pur- Oinoi
q.
Che warrant was then made out and 3
lded, with the depositions, etc; to In HAhO
ctor Williamson, who removed the ss Esd
soner in q cab TO the railroad station RooE,
t is alleged that, before making her s
itession, Miss Kent had written to her SAIr @
her, announcing the decision which she
arrived at, with view, it is supposed, AAH
saving him the sudden shock of learn LeEk,
1t first from the newspaper reports. EAI
g father, with the other members Of the ES5 P
lilly, is residing we believe, in Wales. .I-,a "a
t is well known that the first project of IA
conspirators, of whom Booth was the and