NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8758, 21 April 1890, Page 2

NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS.

W.W. (New Plymouth). — What loas Icnoion ut the time as " the Road " murder took, place on June 29, JS6O. at a place called Road, in Welts. Frances Snvilli Kent, aged 3 years and 10 months, was found ivith his throat cut wuipped in a blanket in the hole of a closet in the garden. The nursemaid, Elizabeth Gough, was first accused, then tlus father lay vnder general suspicion owing to his hurried departure to Troxobridge, ami finally Constance Kent, aged 16 years, a step-sister of the murdered boy. The latter was arrested, oioing to one of lier nightdresses being missing. Conitance Kent ivas, on being charged with the murder, acquitted by the Magistrate, and the detective got himself into disgrace over the arrest. Five years aftertoards, on April 25, 1865, she confessed to having murdered the child, and gave herself into custody. On July 21 the same year, the case came on at tJie balisbury Assizes, wJien she pleaded guilty, and Mr Justice W'dles passed the sentence of death on her, which ivas aftarwards commuted to penal servitude for life. Constance Kent is now nearly 46 years of age, and lias been in 'prison 25 year 8.