James Kent

Rebecca Sarah Kent and her 10-month-old son James Kent were found dead in the River Thames near the Embankment.

The woman's 37-year-old husband was tried for their murders but acquitted. He was said to have thrown them in.

They had lived at Attneave Street, Clerkenwell.

It was heard that the affair took place about 11.30pm on The Embankment. A constable that had been on duty said he heard a splash and rushed to the spot but that when he arrived Rebecca Kent and James Kent had sunk.

Dragging operations were then carried out at the spot where they were thought to have gone into the water, which was noted as having been about 10 yards from the training ship President near Blackfriars Bridge.

It was thought that the bodies had been gripped by the ships anchor chains and before the bodies were recovered Rebecca Kent's husband was charged with their murders.

When he was charged with murdering them by throwing them into the river, he said:

He later said:

At the inquest on 21 June 1921 the jury returned a verdict of murder against the husband.

The jury initially said they were unable to agree. The foreman of the jury at the inquest on 20 June 1921 at Battersea said:

The Coroner then said:

Wehn the husband gave evidence, he said:

However, at his trial at the Old Bailey on 21 July 1921 the husband was found not guilty of murder and discharged.