The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-08-17
CONSTANCE KENT.

| itiuAi, iOl tlO plNSSiitf NiiS Va 49, $1,000
rem nrkable in criminal Jurisprudence.
1t was fiendish crime to which she
pleaded guilty, and the court sentenced
her to execution; but the humanity OF
the Crown intsrposed, and the Queens
prerogative consigns her to one of the pc
nal colonies for life. We hope this act
of clemency on the part of Queen Victo-
ria is not intended as rebuke to the
American government for executing a
woman; though the probabilities are
that, had Mrs. Surratt escaped the hal
ter, Constance Kent would have been
hanged We would not for the world
|.insinuate that England's sensibilities,
when woman is the object, are not far
greater than our own; but have her
sovereigns not frequently permitted
gentle women, such as Lady Macbeth is
| supposed to have been, to suffer the ex-
IRENE penalty of the law? And might
she not again have done so, but for the
sudden discovery thatas America had ex-
ecuted woman, and all old womandom
| was Mortified thereat, an excellent OPP
portunity was afforded to make all odious
comparison between the magnanimity
or civilization of England and that of
America?
As the crime to which this fiend
pleaded guilty-prompted by an unjust
and sleepless conscience to make full
confession-was committed some five
years ago, and as the main facts are not
likely to be fresh in the minds of our
readers, the particulars may not be unin-
teresting. The tendency Of courts, ju-
ries, executives, and the people, seems
now to be in favor of establishing a new
principle in legal liabilities. That is,
| that man and woman are not upon an
elualityin law. Nomatter how atrocious
or fiendish the crime woman may
| commit, she is not to be commensurate
| ly punished, or punished at all, just as
the caprice Of those in power may deter
mine; while man, unfortunate man,
finds no sympathy anywhere, particu-
iarly if he be poor man. We don't ex-
pect to change these notions Of legal ac-
countabilty, nor do we know that we
would five could; for after all, it may
be d kind of compliment to the Steiner
sex to be told that they alone are ac-
| countable beings, while the weaker YES
sells are the insane and irresponsible.
But let US see what Constance Kent did
20 commend her to clenaency. We take
the following from the New York Com
nereidf 44doertiser
The plea or guilty presented by Miss Constance
Kent for the murder of her little brother of which we
have news by the English papers, will probably mitigate
the sentenced death which has been pronounced upon
her and abae somewhat of the severity of pubic opn.
ion in reference to the horrible crime which she lcknow.
lodges to haze committed.
1.-THE case, however, will long stand out as most re.
mskable in the annals of crime There appears to
be always sort Of popularity idioyncrasy In every
criminal act and this 10 stand alone for it's
strange and unaccountable developments No human
mind could have predicted that shocking and atrocious
murder could have originated from those ial affections
that are the finest and purest IN the human heart We
cen probably never know the strange silent by
which these feelings became perverted in Miss Kent un
til they at last eliminated in the murder of her brother
II belongs only to Shakespeare to depict the transaction
from thought to action which made young lady care.
fully and deliceely reared imbrue her hands In bro.
thers blood In order to rival In her fathers af
fections and win back the love which she jealousy fam
cied che had lost -
1.-THE murder, 1t will be remembered, was committed
i've years ago She then only sixteen years of age
The little boy the child Of her father by second wife
was taken outof the bed In which he was seepne with
his governess and another child and conveyed in blan
ket to the pry where his throat was cut and the body
thrown into the vault skful detectives worked up the
case In vain.
"a nightshift belonging to Mise Kent was withheld
from the wash and found scullery stained with blood
This circumstance excited suspicion against her. and she
was arrested But it appeared probable that the
ment had been withdrawn by other parties she was dis
charged and the event remained shrouded in impenetra-
BILE mystery, until few weeks ago when the public was
astounded by the that Miss Constance Kent had
come forward and confessed the terrible crime.
The confession appears to have been induced by re-
hsioua considerations Miss Kent having attached herself
70 sort Of Protestant nunnery Of which the Rev Mr.
wagner was the chief The murder and the strange cir.
eunsnees attending the confession naturally excited
.inmsnse interest in England When the trial came of
hiss pleaded guilty aud was sentenced to DEATH Her
sentence VIII probably be committed in view Of her youth
and voluntary confession /"