THE ROAD-HILL MURDER.

West Coast Times, Issue 52, 3 October 1865, Page 2

THE ROAD-HILL MURDER.

Constance Emilio Kent was indicted at Salisbury Assizes, on Juno 21, for the wilful murder of Francis Savillo Kent, at lioad-hill-houso, on Juno 29, 18C0. Mr Karslako, Q.C., and Mr Lopes appeared for the prosecution, and Mr Coleridge, Q.C., Mr Edlin, and Mr llevenhill for the prisoner. At 9 o'clock, Mr Justice Willes took his seat on tho Bench, and tho prisonor was placed at tho bar. She appeared dressed in Mack, with a thick laco veil, which was lifted when placed in front of tho dock. Sho stood firiniy but meekly, with her eyes cast down and her hands clasped in front of her. Silenco having been proclaimed, tho Dopuly Clork of Arraigns said — Constance Emilio Kent, you aro charged with tho wilful murdor of Francis Savillo Kent, on tho 29th of Juno, 1860. Are you guilty or not guilty P Prisoner (in a low tone) — " Guilty." Tho Judge — Aro you aware that you aro charged with having wilfully, intentionally, and with malice and murdorod your brother P Are you guilty or not guilty P . Tho prisoner made some answer, but in so low a tone, that it could not bo heard. Tho Judge — I must repeat the question —You aro charged with having wilfully, intentionally, and with malice killed and murdered your brother. Are you guilty or not guilty P The prisonor (in a low tone) — Guilty." Tho Judge — Tho plea must be recorded. Tho plea was accordingly recorded. Mr. Coleridge said — Bcibro your lordship passes sentence I desiro to say two things — First, solemnly, in the presence of Almighty God, tho prisonor, as a person who values her own soul, wishes mo to say that tho guilt is hers alono, and that her fathor and othors, who havo so long suffered most unjust and. cruel suspicion, aro wholly and absolutely innocent; and, secondly, that sho was not driven to this act by unkind treatment at homo, as sho mot with notliing thoro but tender and forboaring lovo ; and I hope I may add that it gives mo a melancholy pleasure to bo tho organ of theso statements for her, becauso, on my honour, I bolievo thorn to be tsuo. Mr. Justice Willos thon assumed tlio black cap, and said — Constance Emilie Kent, you havo pleaded guilty to an indictment charging you with tho wilful murder of your brother, Francis Savillo Kent, on tho 29th of Juno, 1860. It is my duty to receive that plea which you havo deliberately put forward, and it is a satisfaction to know that it was not pleaded until aftor having had tho advico of counsel who woidd havo freed you from this droadful chargo if you could havo been freed thorcof. I can ontertain no doubt, aftor having read the depositions, together with tho confession of your crime, that your plea is thoplearof a really guilty porson. Tho murder was one committed undor cirouinstancos of general deliberation and cruelty. You appear to havo allowed your fcolings of jealousy and angor to havo worked in your breast until at last thoy assumed ovor you tho influence and the power of tho Evil Ono. Whether hor Majosty, with whom alono tho prerogative of morcy rests, may bo advised to oxerciso it by tho fact of your youth at tho time when tho murdor was committed, and tho fact that you wcro conviotod chiefly upon yoiiv own confossion, which removes suspicion from othors, is n quostion which it would bo presumption for mo to answer here. It well boliovos you to livo what is loft of your lifo as ono who is about to dio, to scok a moro enduring morcy, by sincoro and deep contrition, and by & rolianco upon tho only redemption and satisfaction for all sins of tho world. It remains for mo to dischargo tho duty which tho law imposes upon tho Court without alternative, and that is to pass upon you tho sontonco which tho law adjudges for wilful murdor— That you bo taken from tho placo whero you now stand to tho placo whenco you came, from thonco to tho placo of execution, and that you bo hanged by tho neck until your body bo

tload, and that when your body bo dead it Vio buried within the precincts of tho gaol in which you wore last confined, and may God have mercy on your soul ! While tho judgo was addressing tho prisoner ho was deeply affected, and when ho came to tho part at which ho alluded to tho Evil One naving moved her to tho deed, ho entirely broke down and shed tears. At this point Miss Itont also burst into a flood of tears, and sobbed audibly. During tho delivery of tho judgment thoro was a breathless silonco in court, and after it was delivered thoro was no movenient for a minuto or two. After a short time the governor of tho gaol intimated to tho prisoner that sho might rotiro, and blio was at once convoyed to tho cells beneath tho court. Within 10 minutes afterwards, Miss Kent was placed in tho prison van and convoyed to the Wiltshire County Gaol. It has transpired that tho prisonor has made a detailed written confession of tho murder, which possibly may bo made public. In it sho gives as her motivo for the dreadful crime — hatred of her mother-in-law and disliko of her brother.