CONSTANCE KENT'S CONFESSION

West Coast Times, Issue 78, 2 December 1865, Page 1 (Supplement)

CONSTANCE KENT'S CONFESSION

Dr. Bucknill, of Rugby, the medical gentleman who visited Constance Kent to give an opinion on the subject of her sanitj r , has published, at her particular desire, a confession which sho made to him of hor crime. On tho night of tho murder sho undressed herself and went to bed, because she expected that her sisters would visit her room. She lay awako watching until she thought that tho household wero all asleep, and soon after midnight sho left her bedroom and wont downstairs and opened tho drawing room door and window shutters. Sho then went up into tho nursery, took tho child from his bed, and carried him down stairs through tho drawing-room. Having the child in one arm, she raised tho drawing room window with tho other hand, wont round tho houso and into tho closet, lighted «i candlo which she had secreted there, and placed it on tho seat of tho closet, tho child being wrapped in tho blanket from his cot and still sleeping ; and whilo the child was in this position she inflicted the wound in tho throat with a razor of her father's, which sho had procured a fow days previously. Sho says that sho thought tlio blood would never como, and that tho child was not killed, and sho thrust tho razor into its loft sido, and put tho body with tho blanket round it into the vault. Sho went back into her bedroom, examined hor dress, and found only two spots of blood on it. These sho washed out in tho basin, and threw tho water, which was but littlo discolored, into the foot-pan. Sho took another of hor night-dresses and got into bed. In tho morning her night-dross had becomo dry where it had been washed, and sho folded it up and put it into tho drawer. Her thrco night-dresses wero oxaminccl by Mr Foley, the police-superintendent, and she believes also by Mr. Parsons, the medical attendant of tho family. • She thought tho blood stains had been effectually Avashed out, but on holding tho dross up to tho light a day or two afterwards, sho found the stains wero still visible. She therefore secreted tfc 0 dress, moving it from place to place, and she eventually burnt in in her own bedroom, and put tho ashes ortindcrintothe kitchen grate. As regards tho motive of the crime, says Di . Bucknill, it seems that, although sho entertained at one time a great regard for the present Mrs Kent, yet if a vemark was at any timo made which ill her opinion was disparaging to any member of tho first family, she treasured it up and determined to avenge it. She had no ill-will against the littlo boy, except as one of the children. Dr. Bucknill adds, " Sho told mo when the nursemaid was accused sho had fully made up her mind to confess if the nurse had been convicted, and that sho had felt herself under tho influenco of tho devil boforo she committed tho murder; but that sljo did not boliqvo, and had not believed, that the devil had moro to do with her crime than ho had with any other wicked action. Sho had not said her prayers for a year boforo the murder, and not afterwards until sho camo to reside at Brighton Sho said that the circumstance which revived religious feelings in her mind was thinking about receiving the sacrament when confirmed." The doctor does not believe Constance Kent is insane, but ho thinks from her peculiar temperament that solitary confinement would be very likely to mako her so. Of tho above confession tho Times says : — A moro horriblo story has seldom been placed beforo the Avorld. A description givon by a girl of 21,0f the way in which when only 15, sho murdered her little brother from no motives but thoso of tho most trifling spite, the horrible deliberation which ovory turn in the story displays, the indifference or tho still moro diabolical self-possession which it indicates — theso things combined form a picture which may well make us shucldor. It is evident, however, that wo havo not yet obtained a complete account of all tho circumstances, whothor from that obliquity of mind which scorns to prevent ovcry criminal from making a porfectly accurate confession, or from moro iuadvortanco or omission on tho part of tho narrator, it is impossible to say. Thero is somomystory about tho night drosses, and also about tho girl passings through tho houso at night without disturbing any ono, oven tho child. Let us hopo that tho mystery which romains may bo soon unravelled, and tho torriblo talocon&igned to a quick oblivion.

Mn. CirAHTiiw Diokknh. — Wo roared to lonrn Unit Mr. (Jli.ulos Dickons, who is now in Paris, lina had a Ntnißlioko. Ho was quito insoiisililo for somo hours, Imt wo nic linppy to Bay, spooJily recovoied, niul Is iiow quito well. — Court Journal,

COMMITTAL OF A REGISTRAR OF THE SUPREME COURT FOR MURDER. From tho " Southland News." Nov. 21. On Thursday, tho 16th, an inquest was held at the Golden Fleece Hotel, by. Dr. Deck, coroner, on the body of a female discovered dead on Wednesday morning in a whare off Spey-streot. Samuel Farrar was sworn, and stated : I am a labourer living, when at home, in Spey-streot. The body lying dead in my house is that of my wife. I have -boon at work at Oteramika, for the last four weeks. 1 used formerly to work cutting wood up tho North-road. Have been married 15 months ; knew deceased for 2 years previous. There are three children, two by her former husband and ono since our marrige. Her former namo was Armstrong, her maiden namo was Leahcy. JNovor know any thing wrong in her conduct. She did not drink and was not subject to fits. Sho never had any illness since I married her. I was sent for by a boy on horse back yesterday. Heard last of my wife on tho 11th when I sent for somo washing, Dora Walker next sworn : I live at Mr Bains' house, closo to deceased. Last saw her alivo at 9 p.m. of tho 17th in her own house. She was nursing her baby. Wo had tea together. Arranged to call one another in tho morning at 7 a.m. The following morning I went to her house and saw tho door ajar, and asked if sho was awake, and receiving no answer I pushed the • door a little moro open, and looking in, I saw the body lying on the floor with its feet towards the door, and closo to it. She had only her night-dross on. I called two persons and wo went in together and found tho three children asleep in bed. t I saw a hat on tho top of her bed, and a stiok under the sklo of deceased. I did not touch them. I did not hear any noise in the night. The bed-clothes were not disturbed. I never saw tho hat and stick before. Never knew her to be later than 9 o'clock in town, and never saw her intoxicated. Have known her two yearf. Sho had no bruises or marks on her face on tho evening I last saw her alivo. I never saw her with a black eye. I had been out washing on Tuesday, and sho took caro of my .baby Wo had ono pint of beer together. Deceased and her husband lived happily together. When I woko tho children tho boy asked if that was his mother. Could hear her baby cry in my house, but heard no noise that night. lam sure there were no marks on her face when I left her in tho evening. John Hart deposed, that about halfpast seven o'clock on Wednesday morning, tho last witness called him, saying, " She- is dead ; sho is dead !" and he went towards tho houso of deceased. When going they were joined by another femfdo, and all threo went in together. Saw tho body, and noticed a slight maik on tho nose. It was frothing at tho mouth ; ono of tho women wiped tho froth away. The body was just warm. Saw the deceased the previous evening, about half-past five, going into Boxall's store. She was well. Sho has lived in the samo wharo ever since witness came to tho colony, in October, 1859. Knew her well ; sho was often in witness' house, but not since her present marriage. Mr. M'Connell lodged in witness' houso for about fifteen months, but was not acquainted with deceased to his knowledge. Has seen deceased tho worse for liquor, but not during tho last two years. Never saw any rowdy or drunken persons about her house. Never saw her in a fit. Never saw Mr M'Connell speaking to deceased. Mr Commissioner Wcldon applied for an adjournment, which was granted to 11 a.m. on Monday (yesterday). Mr Harvey, retained to watch the proceedings on behalf of D. B. M'Conncll, who had be'en taken into custody pending the issue of tho inquest, applied for his discharge, there being no 1 evidence to implicato him. Mr Wcldon objected, and stated his intention to retain tho accused in custody and bring him before the Resident Magistrate in tho morning and then to apply for a remand. Tho Inquest was resumed on Monday, when tho husband of deceased being lecalled, swore that ho slept with twelve or thirteen others on tho night of tho Mth, at Mr Hamilton's Station, Oteramika. He turned in about nine at night,and got up at fivo next morning. Dora Walker, recalled — I found a night cap outside tho door of deceased's house. Deceased was in tho habit of sleeping with a nightcap on. Tho bed clothes were, as a person would throw them back to como out of bed. John Hart, recalled. Thero were somo matches on tho chair near the door, when I went in, and somo spilled on tho floor. I did not sco any Wood on tho floor. Bridget Buckley.' — I know tho deceased. Mrs. Walker called mo at about 8 o'clock on Wednesday morning to go to Mrs. Farrar's. I called to Mr. Hart who was passing. Wo all went together. Mrs. Farrar was stretched on tho floor, lying flat on her back. I did not look for any marks on her body, but when Mr. Wilson camo I saw ono on her nose. Sho was quite hot under tho arms. Her arm was not stiff. Froth was coming out of her mouth. I heard no noiso tho previous night.

Constable Wilson deposed : I went on 15th inst. to houso of deceased, and found her lying in front of door, with her feet about two feet apart, her hands by her side. Her arms and legs were cold, but her body warm. Thero was no particular disorder about the houso. The only mark I saw on tho body was on the right side of the noso. Sergeant O'Kcefo corroborated the statement of previous witness, and said : at about half-past twelve the hat and stick produced were pointed out to mo by tho witness Walker. Tho stick was under tho body, tho hat was on the roof of tho bed. I identified them as Mr. M'ConnolFs and took posession of them. I subsequently, in company with detectivo Thompson, saw Mr. M'Connell at tho Prince of Wales. Ho denied being at Mrs. Armstrong's the previous night. I said,l found your^hat and stick there ; he again said he was not there. I said I know them, and he said " Right, right, I was there, has anything wrong there occurred V I said she was found dead, lie said " Good God, you don't say so." Ho said ho had been there about five minutes, and sho was all right when ho left. Ho said it was between twelve and one when he was thero, that Mrs. Armstrong opened the door, with a lighted lamp in her hand, that ho laid down his hat to get a light,- that the lamp went out and Ids stick fell clown ; he could find neither hat nor stick, and wont homo without either. There was no ono in charge of tho body from nine to twclvo o'clock. Detective Thompson corroborated that portion of Sergeant O'Keefe's evidence, relative to tho conversation between himself and M'Conell, at the Prince of Wales Hotel. The following day he arrested Mr. M'Connell on tho charge of wilful murder. Thomas Middleton visited the house between eight and nine on the morning of tho 15th. The evidence was confirmatory of tho other witnesses as to tho position of tho body. Ho noticed a stick under tho body, and said " What does this stick mean?" Tho witness Walker said sho had not seen it before. Told her not to move it. Tho stick might havo been thero without being noticed. Dr. Monckton said — I am a surgeon, resident in Invercargill. About noon on the 26th instant I received a coroner's warrant for a post mortem examination of tho body of a woman found dead the previous day in Spey street, I called at tho Police Station on my way, and went up to the houso. Sergeant Morton Mr. Thompson, and Dr. Deck wero thero. The woman was lying on hor back. Thore wero bruises about her shoulders, and a bruise inside her thigh. I saw a bruise on the bridge of the nose, which I found was recent, a swelling on the top of the head, and another above tho right ear. I cut across tho scalp from car to ear, and found extravasated blood at both swellings on tho surface of the bone, thereby showing that blows of great violence had been inflicted. I removed tho upper part of the skull, and found extravasated blood on the dura mater, showing rupture of a vessel or vessels by violence. On tho surface of the brain itself, I found extravasated blood also. The brain was perfectly healthy. Had death resulted from apoplexy, the brain would have been congested, which was not the case in this instance. On opening the chest and examining the heart and lungs, I found nothing unnatural. There was nothing unhealthy in tho appcaranco of the stomach and intritones beyond showing that the woman had at ono time been addicted to liquor. Tho death, I believe, to have been caused by compression of the brain, proceeding from blows on tho head, caused by any blunt instrument. The stick beforo tho jury might have caused such appearances. Bruises on the skin given after death will show below tho skin, but not on the surface ; given beforo death, they will show afterwards on tho surface. My opinion is that the bruises on the head were produced shortly or immediately boforo death. They could not havo been .produced by falling against a table. I prosumo deceased fell at onco on being struck. W. Wilkinson, landlord of the British Ilotol, Esk-strcet, said — Mr M'Connell was at my houso on the evening of the Uth. Ho left about half-past 11. Ho was not sober, but knew what ho was about. On the morning of the 16th, I saw him in Deo street, when ho said — " I have got into a mess through my hat and stick being found in tho house where tho woman was found. I called on my way homo to light my pipe, and tho wind blow tho light out and my hat off. I leant my stick against tho houso, and could not find my hat. Two witnesses, who wore in M'Connell's company at the British Hotel, gave evidence, which was immaterial. It. Bernard Wotton said — On the afternoon of tho ICth inst., MrM'Connoll camo into Mr Munro's shop and said, "I am a very unlucky fellow, I Avas going homo late last night up Spey street and called at Mrs Armstrong's to get a light, as my pipo had gono out, and she brought me a lamp or light, and the wind blew it out, and my hat off. Neither bl\o nor myself could find my hat, and I lot my stick fall, and she has been found dead of apoplexy this morning." I said, "You must havo been drunk." 110 said, " I was tight." Ho said it was an awkward thing, as he expected ho would bo a witness on tho case. I said I hoped ho would be nothing more.

Win. Young deposed — I sold M'Connell a hat, and trimmed it for him. That produced is like it, but I cannot swear to it. On the 15th I calle.l about 6 p.m. on M'Conell on my way home, and told him that his name was connected with tho death of the Avoman found that morning. He said ho had called there to get a light, that he had often been there, that she used to do his washing previous to his marriage, that, when there, his hat was blown off, and in putting up his hand to save his hat he lost his stick, ami he had told his servant girl in the morning to go for them. William Martin proved that Farrar, the husband of the deceased, slept at Mr. Hamilton's station, at the Bight, on tho night of tho 14th instant, on which the death of the deceased occurred, distant from Invercargill twenty miles. On tho request of the jury Dr. Grigov was called, who being sworn, said .- — ■ I saw tho body of the deceased after tho post mortem examination. A person falling with all his weight upon the handle of the stick produced, would leave a mark or abrasion of the skin. The body would of course fall accordingly to tho position in which it was when it received the blow. The appearances described by Dr. Monckton on the head are not consistent with any disease. The jury, after 4111 hour's deliberation returned the following verdict: — " Catharine Farrar met her death by extravasation of blood on tho brain, caused by a blow or blows, and that the suspicion pointed to David Bennett M'Connell as implicated in the death of the deceased." M'Connell was then committed on the coroner's warrant, charged with wilful murder.