The Sun. — 1829-06-01 (London, England)

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 huffpast eleven o'clock. She saw a sentinel, who was on duty, and Birmingham, in the yard of the barracks. 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 without 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 considered 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 immediately • 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 quitted 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 barracks, and that she remained with hint until Thursday, 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 continued with her. Such is the substance of the statement 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 deceased a strong affection, and had actually promised her marriage.