THE MYSTERY OF THE ROAD MURDER EXPLAINED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume II, Issue 534, 29 July 1865, Page 5

THE MYSTERY OF THE ROAD MURDER EXPLAINED.

MISS KENT A GR \>'D D?.UGHTER OF THE ! DUKE OF KENT. j The Daily Herieu- in the following short reve- j iation clears up much of the mystery which has j shrouded this most extraordinary murder, j living at once a motive for the commission of the crime, and a cause for the strange idiosyncraer tvliich characterises the alleged murderess The confession of Constance Kent, and the other circumstances brought to light in connection with this j extraordinary case, leave the mystery still, in great j measure, unexplained. There is an explanation current in the locality which certainly gives a more con- j ri-tcnt account of the dreadful tragedy, but which we 1 have hitherto refrained from publishing, on account ot the painful delicacy of the disclosures it makes. A? the story h s'.ire, hovever, to come abroad sooner or inter, v.-can find no good reason for longer withholding it. The circumstances as tney are reported to u-, are these. Mr. Kent, who is an illegitimate son of 1F."R.11. the l.ite I'uke of Kent, was jn-/vided for by an appointment as Inspector of Factories. While goina his rounds, he formed an intimacy wi'h a fa'jtory irirl of sinsular personal attractions, and hav ns hud her educated as a governess for his children, he male her Mrs. Kent after the death of his first wife. The .'top-mother, it is said, tixhibiW even k-.-s oonvderation for the children of the lir.it rnamage thr.n is ordinalily expected in like circumManeus, humidating them by roquirii:-; of them the ninst menial domestic duties. Constan.-o Kent, who bad been brought up at a boarding fcchoul, was of a more stubborn .spirit, and rebelled against the regimen presciibed for her. The conflict ca-oe to a crisis on the day preceding tho murder, when, it is - : od, Mrs. Kent whippet her severely ; and it was while finarting under the pain and indignity thus • ri'li; ted, that she conceived the fell revenge of j murdering her stepmother's darling child. As tho got-s, a dome.-tic, to whom local suspicion has *11 along btan atta .-hed, met Constance on her return from committing the frightful crimc, and then became aware of what had been done. She was included to keep the secret, and the father and mother bad each of cmrso, their own reasons for adopting the same It is frightful to think that tho seli-aecuscd inurd-:ress, known to be such by'her own father and other two members of his household, should have been living in the family with them so long- after, her daily pr-senec attuble constantly reminding them ot the a .vf.i! ,-eeret they held in common ; ard if this account i, tru.-, it certainly cannot be wondered at that they took tin-- eailiest opportunity of getting her removed out of their sight.