THE SAFFRON HILL AFFAIR.

Marlborough Press, Volume VI, Issue 58, 22 July 1865, Page 3

THE SAFFRON HILL AFFAIR.

At the central Criminal Court, on April 12, Serafino Pclizzioni, who had been already found guilty of the murder of Michael Harrington and aftenvards pardoned, was again put on his trial for stabbing Rebbeck, the potman of the Golden Anchor, Saffron-hill, on the night of the fatal disturbance which has given rise to three trials and produced one of the strangest complications ever known in the history of criminal jurisprudence. The prisoner pleaded hot guilty, and elected to be tried by a mixed jury. For this the court, owing to some unexplained reason was unprepared. The prisoner again and again expressed his disinclination to be tried by an English jury, but ultimately yielded to the remonstrances addressed, to him by a Mr Negretti. The case for the prosecution was stated by Mr Giffard, and numerous witnesses, including llebbeck himself (who swore positively and distinctly that the prisoner was the man who stabbed him), .were called to prove the charge against the accused. The case had not concluded at the rising of the court.—On the following day the trial was resumed. The principal feature of interest in the proceedings was an attempt made by the counsel for the prisoner, Serjeant Ballantinc, to discredit the testimony of the policemen engaged in [getting up the case, by showing they kept back part of the evidence in their possession at Pelizzioni’s first trial, with a view to procure conviction against him. The first witness called for the defence was Gregorio Mognoi, who it may be remembered, is now undergoing a period of five years’ penal servitude for the manslaughter of Harrington. Mognoi swore positively that he himself stabbed Rebbeck, as well as 'wounded another man in the hand, having previously stabbed Harrington, and that the prisoner was not there at the time. Other witnesses followed but their evidence was unimportant. The case had hot closed when the hour of adjournment arrived, and the jury were therefore relegated to each Other’s society over Good Friday.—The trial was brought to . a close on the following da}% when several witnesses were examined for the defence Who stated that the prisoner was not in the house When the stabbing took place. The judge in Summing up, pointed to the difficulties of the case, "where on the one hand Rebbeck who was stabbed and w r ho had known the prisoner for years, positively swore that he was the person that stabbed him, while other witnesses, who knew the prisoner still better, swore that he w r as hot present in the fray. The jury returned a Verdict of “Not Guilty.” This announcement Was received with loud bursts of cheers from the people in the court. As it was agreed on all hands that the person who stabbed Rebbeck was also the murderer of Harrington, this is in effect a verdict of acquittal of a crime of which another jury found him guilty and another judge sentenced him to death. Pclizzioni has since been discharged from custody by order of the Home Secretary. THE ROAD HILL MURDER.

VOLUNTARY CONFESSION AND SURRENDER OF CONSTANCE KENT. [From the ‘ Times,’ April 26.] Yesterdav afternoon, Sir Thomas Henry, the chief magistrate of Bow street, received information that Miss Constance Kent, formerly of Road-hill House, near Frome, had arrived in London, from Brighton, for the purpose of surrendering herself to the officers of justice as the perpetrator of the above memorable crime. The circumstances of this mysterous murder have never been forgotton—how nearly five years ago, the body of a male child, which had been missed from its cot, was found in a privy outside the house, and how, suspicion having been directed towards Miss Kent,the eldest daughter of Mr Kent by a former wife, she was examined before the local magistrate, at the intigation of Inspectors Whicher and Williamson, of the London Detective Police, and acquitted of the charge. It is hardly a secret that nearly a year afterwards, in consequence of an alleged confession of the crime by Miss Kent to one of her relatives, another attempt to investigate the matter was made by the detective officers, who had incurred the censure of a large proportion of the press and the public for their proceedings in the case. They found it unadvisable, however, to act upon the fresh information which had reached them, and it subsequently transpired that Miss Kent had been sent to a convent in France. Nothing more of a reliable character was heard of the case until yesterday, when the startling intimation was conveyed to the chief magistrate that Miss Kent was in custody upon her own Confession upon the terrible charge, having been accompanied to London by the Rev. Mr Wagner, of St.. Paul’s, Brighton, to whom she had revealed her guilt. Shortly before 4 o’clock, Mr Superintendent Durkin and Mr Williamson, chief inspector of the detective force, conducted their prisoner to the private room of Sir Thomas Henry. Mis* Kent was attired in deep mourning, and wore a thick fall, which almost screened her face from view. She is slender, and taller than she appeared to be when before in the custody of the officers. She spoke firmly, though sadly, and occupied a seat during the inquiry. She was attended by the Lady Superior of St. Mary’s Ilosr pital, Brighton, in which establishment she had been a visitor during the last two years, and she appeared about 21 years of age. The following is the confession made before Sir Thomas Henry, Police Magistrate of Bowstreet : “ I, Constance Emilie Kent, alone and unaided, on the night of the 29th of June, 1860, murdered at Road-hill House, Wiltshire, one Francis Saville Kent. Before the deed was done no one knew of my intention, nor afterwards of my guilt. No one assisted me in the crime, nor in the evasion of discovery.” AMERICAN TELEGRAMS. General Augur, military commandant at Washington, has offered a reward of 10,000 dols. for the apprehension of the assassin. Booth, supposed assassin of President Lincoln, has been arrested. Secretary Seward’s condition is unchanged ; that of his son Frederick critical. Vice-President Johnston received the oath ofoffice as President of the United States from Mr Chase at eleven o’clock. He simply said, “ The duties are mine ; I will peform them, trusting in God.” , . New York, 14th April, Evening. Grant has removed his head-quarters to Washington. Lee has arrived at Richmond. The Confederates report that Lee’s surrender was compelled by the wholesale desertions of bis troops, the Virginians refusing to leave the State. The ‘ New York Times ’ ssys that Lee after the surrender, announced that be woidd exert himself to bring about a complete cessation of hostilities. W, 11. F. Lee has not been killedi, but was captured at Selma. Jt in considered reliable that Sherman was to

remove on the lltli from Goldsboro in mai cliing It is reported that the Federal navai force will be immediately reduced. The ‘ Herald ’ states that the French Consul at Richmond lias left for W ashington, to submit a Claim to the Government for the tobacco burnt at the former place. Mr Adams lias given notice to the British Government of the termination of the Reciprocity Treaty on 17th March. The receipt was acknowledged on the same day. New York, 15th April (Noon). General Sherman moved in three columns from Goldsboro’, on the 9th. Johnstone evacuated Raleigh, and moved west of the tov n, leading it in possession Hampton’s caxalry. Johnstone is reported to have gone to Greensboro . New York, 15th April, Noon Wilkes Booth, the assassin of President Lincoln, is the brother of Edwin Booth, and is known as a rabid Secessionist. According to the latest reports he had been arrested, and Mr Frederick Seward is dead. Business is almost entirely suspended on account of Lincoln’s assassination. Ihe stoex and gold boards will not meet to-day. Gold is selling in the streets at 151 £. OCCUPATION OF RICHMOND. The New York papers supply numerous incidents in regard to the occupation of Richmond and Petersburg. One correspondent, writing on April G, from the former city, says:— In St. Paul’s Church, which stands on Ninthstreet, next to the site'of the War Department building, President Davis was sitting, at the time Lee’s telegram, announcing the turn of the Confederate right on White Oaks road was received. The clergyman had nearly finished his sermon, wlieu an orderly entered the church, passed straight to the President’s pew, and handed to him the fatal despatch. Mr. Davis immediately proceeded to the War Department, thence to the Capitol, and thence to the Richmond and Danville Railroad depot, where he made the necessary preparations for the oonveyance of his family to a place of safety. He remained in the city until near nightfall, when he left in the 5.30 train. Very little baggage was taken with him, but much of his personal property had been previously removed. An hour after Mr. Davis received the above information it was known throughout Richmond, and from that time until the Federals took possession of the greatest confusion prevailed, and all kinds of goods were moved towards the Southside and the Danville depot. Thousands of excited individuals rushed headlong with arms.full of portable property towards the vital avenue of escape, whilst others took the matter coolly. The banks were open all night, and crowded with depositors anxiously waiting their turn to withdraw theit specie. Millions of dollars in Confederate and State notes were cut into pieces and cast into the streets by order of the Government officials and hank directors. There was nothing like the indiscriminate plundering which might have been expected in a city left to its more lawless population took place. The Confederate authorities took the wise precaution of destroying all the spirituous liquors they could.