Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-07-05
THE EVENING STAR.
The oRoad,, Murder Explained-How
Constance Kent's secret was Kept.
-iFrona the Norwich Chronicle. june 81

from the NOCW1CQ SnTOnlcle. Jnne 81
The confession of Constance Kent, and the
nection with this extraordinary case, leaves
the mystery sti1, In great meas ure, unex!
planned: There is an explanation current in
the locality, which certainly gives more con-
sistent account Of the dreadful tragedy, but
WHICH we have hitherto refrained from pub
fishing on account of the painful delieacy of
the disclosures it makes. As the story assure,
however, 10 get abroad, sooner or later, we
can find no good reason for Withholding it,.
The circumstances, as they are reported to
rs, are these:-Mr. Kent, who is an illegitimate
son Of H. r. H., the late Duke Of Kent, was
provided for by an appointment as Inspector
Of Factories. While going his rounds he
formed an intimacy with a factory girl Of sim
gular personal attractions, and having her ed
heated as governess for his children. he made
her Mrs. Kent after the death of his first wife.
The stepmother, il is said. exhibited even less
consideration for the children of his first mar
rage than is ordinarily expected in like cir
cumstances, humiliating them by requiring Of
them the most mental domestic duties.
Miss Kent was of a most stubborn spirit, and
rebelled against the regimen prescribed for
her. The conflict came to q crisis on the day
OF the murder. when, it is said, Mrs. Kent
whipped her severely: and it was while
smarting under the pain and indignity thus in
ficted that she conceived the full revenge of
numbering her stepmother's darling child. AS
the story Coca a domestic, to whom local sus-
picion has all along been attached, discovered
the frightful crime.
She was induced to keep the secret, and the
reasons for adopting the same course. 1t is
frightful to think that the self-accused mur-
deress, known 10 be such by her own father
and two other members Of the household,
should have been living in the family with
them so long after, her presence at the table
constantly reminding them of the awful secret
they held in common; and, if this account is
true, II certainly cannot be wondered al that
they took the earliest opportunity of getting
her removed ont of sight.
GET OFF THAT STUMP.-Among the paroled
rebel prisoners who came up on the steamer
Lady Gay on Tuesday, was man a little over
seven and half feet in height. He started out
with the Missouri troops at the commencement
of the war, and stuck to them until the ssdog
was dead and never received q scratch. Soon
after he was mustered into the rebel service,
the regiment to which he belonged appeared
before the Colonel on dress parade, and the
Colonel, who prided himself on a fine appear.
ance and good size of his men, cast his eyes
along the line with a smile of satisfaction,
until they rested on the towering form Of the
tail Missourlan, when he knit his brows, and
called out fiercely in thunder tones, sect off
that stump, you impairment scoundrel, or 1'l
order you under arrest" The soldiers looked at
each, other wondering what the Colonel meant,
but no one moved. Finding his authority
treated with disrespect he fairly boiled with
claimed, What in the ID are you standing
on!' The soldier respectfully REPLIED Son
my feet, Colonel" The Colonel was com.
pletely taken back rs he surveyed this speci-
men of humanity from head to foot in blank
amaZement; he mumbled an apology for his
rude remarks and fastened away. leaving his
men convnlsed with laughter. s'Get off that
stump" became by word with the Missouri
rebels, and it will no doubt live as long as the
long Missouran.-Cdir0 Democrat.