Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-05-17
RICHMOND WHIG.
MORNING. MAY II, 1865.
THE ROAD HILL MURDER-C0NFEsSloN
OF MISS CONSTANCE KENT.


Our readers have probably not forgotten the
| Road Hill murder in England on the 9th oil
| June, 1860. in the family OF Mr.. Kent Mr.. Kent
| had been twice married. His family by the hrst
wife consisted of three Daughters and son, the
two elder daughters heing grown up. young
women, and the third Constance, girl OF six
| teen; the son, William was about fifteen. BY
the second wife he had three Children daugh-
| ter, five years old; son. Francis Sayille Kent,
nearly four years old, and another daughter still
younger.
On the night of the murder the inmates of the
house were Mr.. and Mrs. Kent, the seven chill
dren we have mentioned and three servants-a
cook, house maid, and Elizabeth Gongh, the
nurse. During the night the child Francis was
taken out of his cot strangled stabbed, his
throat cut, and his body wrapped In
blanket which had been dra Nn ont from over
MIN, was thrown down n privy belonging TO the
hou.e. 1t was very evident that the murler was
committed by some on> in the house. But nd-
withstinding every effort was made to discover
the mystery, the murder has remained secret
until now Suspicion was directed towards Miss
Constance Kent, but, an investigation Gbsoved
her. Suspicion then fell on the nurse, and there
were not wanting those who set up theory
which involved even the father of the child in
the guilt of the murder. The coroners II quest
did not satisfy the public, and the cOroaer was
loudly blamed
Slowly the public curiosity subsded, but not
without that feeling Of disappointment which
follows the unsuccessful attempt TO penetrate
mystery The Kent family broke up their es-
| Enlistment and quilted the neighborhood
Nothing more Of a reliable character was heard
of the case until the 23d OF April. when the start
ling intimation was conveyed TO the Chief Ma
risira:e at Bow street that Miss Constance Kent
was in custody upon her own confession upon
the terrible charge, having been accompanied
TO London by the Rev. Mr.. Wagner. OF 81.
PauVs, Brighton. 10 whom she h ad revealed her
guilt.
though not signed, is as follows
/, Constance Emile Kent, alone and unaided,
on the night # the sSth June, 1860, murdered at
| Road.Hll House, Wiltshire, one Francis Saville
| Kent. Before the deed none knew OF my inten.
| ton; nor after it of my guilt No one assisted
ne in The crime, nor in my evasion tf dis
covery.
The London Star says OF Miss Kent's appear
ance in court
Miss Constance Kent was brought into court
| amid the husled silence Of those present. She
was attiod in deep black, and walked into the
| dock with firm step. She was accompanied
| bv Miss Green, who was allowed 10 occupy q
| seat near her in the dock. Although Miss hent
/ wore thicl; vei her countenance could beseen
| very plainly, and these who remembered Miss
/ Constance Kent as the slender girl OF sixteen,
| could scarcely recognize the same person in the
/ robust and healthtul form Of Miss Constance
i Kent of tWenty-one. She had wonderfully
i changed. and in i've years had grown into wo.
| manhood and seemed the very pictuIe Of health
4 and good living. Her conduct in the dock was
/ at first marked with great compOsure, and her
replies to tile questions addressed to her by the
| clerk 10 the mag strat6s were given in clear
| and firm tone of voice; when, no ever Inspec
tor williamson was giving his evidence and read
| out her written confession OF the nlu der OF her
| brother she could no longer restrain her feelings
| and bursting into food Of tears, she sunk into
| a seat and bari d her face in handkerchief on
| the breast Of Miss Green. Her sobs were loud
and bitter, and as nay be well i'm Igined this
scene created no little sensation and excitement
| in the crowded court. Miss Green, who had at
Glst assumed an almOtt masculine sternness,
| could not remsi unconcefned when this event
took place, aud she, too, indulged in cOpious
flow of teas. Ultimately, Miss Kent regained
her composdTe, and nothing afterward occurred
| 10 outwardly mark her sense Of the awful posi-
ton in which she is placed.
The Rev. Mr.. Wagner of Brighton, who came
| to London viii Miss Kent, testified that he had
| known herabOut twenty-Ono months. Ia regard
| TO his acquaintance with her, he said
As far as | can remember, an English family
| wrote 10 rle, asking for her admission TO st.
| Mary's Home or Hospital in consequence of her
| having no home, or Of some difficulty respecting
her The Home" or rather Hospital" as it
Is no called, is house for religious ladies, and
| is attached to st. Mary's Church. she came
about that time as visitor, and has b. en- there
ND TO the present day.
The confession is entirely her own voluntary
act. to the hest OF my belief. 1t was about n
fortnight ago, as far AS can lecOllect that the
/ circumstances first came TO my knowledge. 1t
Wa eatirely her own proposition that she should
/ he taken before LontOn Magistrate. Size her.
| self proposed to come to London for the pur-
nose. The nature of the confession she made to
| me was the same, substance, as the statement
produced in her own writing, and copied upon
| the charge sheet.
wish 70 mention that many are in the habit
Of coming TO confess 10 me as religious exer.
| else but / never held olt any inducements TO
| her 10 make public confession. did not GEEK
| her ont, or in any way ask her to come TO con-
fassion. She herself wishe to do so.
The prisoner was removed from tee dock and
remanded 10 jail, to be arraigned on the 4th OF
NAV. The greatest excitement prevails in Eng
land in regard TO this case. Tho public feeling
was crested only by news Of Mr.. Lincoln's as
sassination.
n