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Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2949, 29 July 1878, Page 3

CONSTANCE KENT. The Bill Mall Gazette states that Dr J. Bucknill, in closing tlie second of his Lumloian Lectures on "Insanity in its Illegal Relations," before the Soyal College of Physici»us, said : —lt is a happy circumstance "for us professionally that we hare not often to give direct evidence of crime. It is painful enough to have to give negative evidence which is incriminating. The most remarkable case in which I have been concerned, not except- j ing that of Victor Townley, was the case of Constance Kent, who murdered her young brother and escaped detection. After an interval of several years a truly conscientious motive led her to confesi; and the most painful and interesting duty fell to my lot of examining her for the purpose ascertaining whether it would be right to enter the plea of " not guilty on the plea of insanity." I was compelled."to' ..advise against it, and her counsel, Mr (now Lord) Coleridge, on reading the notes of my examination, admitted that I could not do otherwise. ■, By her own wish, and that of her relatives, I published a letter in the Times, describing the- material facts of the crime; but, to save the feeling» of those who were alive at the time, I did hot make known the motive, and on this account it has been that the strange »orjfcent baa remained in the history of our ..^social life, that a young girl, not insane, should have been capable of murdering her beautiful boy-brother in cold blood and without motive. I think the right time and opportunity has come for me to explain away this apparent monstrosity of conduct, h real and dreadful motive did exist. Tho girl's own mother, having become partially demented, was left by her husband to live in the seclusion of her own room, while the management of the household was taken over the heads of grown-up daughters by a high-spirited governess, who, after the decease, of the first Mrs Kent, and a decent interval, became Constance Kent's step-mother. In this positici she was unwise enough to make disparaging remarks about her predecessor, little dreaming, poor lady, of the fund of rage End revengeful feeling she was stirring-up in the beart of her young step-daughter. To escape from her hated presence Constance once ran away from home, but was brought back; and after this she only thought of the most efficient manner of wreaking her vengeance. She thought of poisoning her step-mother, but that, on reflection, she felt would be no real punishment, and then it was that she determined to murder the poor lady's boy, her only child. A dreadful story this, but who can fail to pity the depths of household misery which it denotes ? At her arraignment Constance persisted in pleading " guilty." Had the plea been "not guilty', it would, I suppose, have been my most painful duty to hare told the Court the tragic history which I now tell you, in the belief that it can give no pain to those concerned in it, and that it is mischievous that so great and notorious a crime should remain unexplained.

Government Notifications PUBLIC NOTIFICATION. B Y DIREi TION of The Honourable The Native Minre^er I beg to notify for general information that a! 1 persons are hereby cautioned from dea^ng for, or accepting Transfers relat'ig to, any lends under negotiation for prrcha-e by the Crown. A list o". Mich landt situate in the Thames and Patetere Distiicts -was published H The Eyehino- Stab of the 22nd March last, and the same was proclaimed in pursuance of the" prev'sions of'" The Government Native Purchaia Act, 1877j" ia. the . New Zealand Gacelts of the 25th April and 16th May, 1878. ' It is hereby further notified that caveats in respect of such lands have been lodged on behalf of Her Majesty the Qucon, Her heirs and successors, as provided by the fourth eection of the said Act. J. W. Pbsece, Laud Purchase Office?. Thames, July 2.7,1878. 2881 General Notices Notice of Removal. HENRY HAWKBS, HAVING REMOVED to more Suitable Premises, directly Opposite his Old Shop, has OPENED it with a SPLENDID ASSORTMENT'of Ladieß', Gents' and Childrens' BOOTS and SHOES, got up expressly to big order for the Season, and which he is determined to sell at the LOWEST REMUNERATIVE PRICES. Boots and Shoes Of Jfiiwy Description, either Btitcbed or ' pegged, made on the premises. . 'he net hawkes, BOOT AND SHOE MAKEK, OwrN Stebbt, Gbahamstowk. [Established on the Thames, 1867 J is- IMPORTANT TO BUSHMEN AND ;, OTHERS^ H.H. would strongly recommend th« Se»m---lEBS Watebtxoht — his own make —as a Great Improvement on the ordinary common *r: " Watertightß. A Pebeect Fit Guanas ebd. ":' '[. : - ■"■-: ■;' '■''•-. ■■:;'"".;'■■'■■ .■' :2875 JNJ" E f ■;■:.;;F }> ; S .: ■■'■•■■• '- at .■..,;.■' MEA E S AND C O.'S, * POLLEN STREET. THAMES VISITORS TO AUCK,,;'liANI>'' •,■-.■..■ ....: CAN be accommodated with Comfortable PRIVATE BOARD and RESIDENCE upon moderate terms at—- / Mas John Oashel's, ; Upper Hobson street, Auckland. - Opposite Auckland Western Academy. GAEDS, ■'Circulars (on note or letter paper in: plain and fancy type. Carters' Receipts printed, bound and perforated at the