The Sydney Poisoning Case.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 77, 27 September 1895, Page 2

The Sydney Poisoning Case.

o STARTLING DEVELOPMENTS. | Per Press Association! Sydney, September 20. A Startling development bas taken plaoe in the Dean case to-night. For a few days past rumors were In circulation relative to a confession by Dean, but the Attorney-General, when questioned in the Council, deolined to answer. Later on, however, Mr Want promised to inform the Council what he knew, and to lay the documents on the table. This evening Mr Want referred to the unpleasant position in which he had been placed through having undertaken the prosecution of Dean, of whose guilt he was certain from the first. After the finding of the Royal Commission, on whose recommendation Dean was released, be felt uneasy, but he reoeived a communication some time afterwards from the Hon. Sir Julian Salomons, M.L.C, of a private nature, stating that be need not be uneasy, as Dean was guilty. He wrote to Sir J. Salomons, pointing out the position in which this placed bim, and stating that it was the duty of Sir Julian to disclose all he knew of the matter. The latter replied that he had consulted the Chief Justice, Sir F. M. Darley, who Agreed that it was his absolute duty to divulge what he knew. Sir Julian Salomons states in this document that in June Dean was released on the finding of the Royal Commission, and on July 16th, a paragraph appeared in the DailyTelegraph of Sydney which Mr Meagber thought reflected on him in regard to his defence of Dean. Mr Meagher consulted Sir Julian Salomons as to its libellous nature, and confided to bim that bis client was really guilty of theattempt to poison his wife. Sir J. Salomans then said he new Dean was guilty, but asked how could Meagher speak so positively. The latter said that while Dean was in gaol he (Meagher) informed him that the police had discovered the chemist who had sold poison to Dean. Accused on hearing the statement became much agitated, and nearly fell off his seat. He then confessed that he had committed the crime, and used strychnine and arsenic to get rid of his wife. Dean added that if the police had arrested him the day before they did they would have found poison on him, but this he had burned it the day before he was taken into custody. During the hearing of the case, the chemist who had sold tho poison was curiously enough never asked whether hc)sold such to Dean. After Meagher's statement, Sir Julian Salomans requested time to consider, aud after consulting a member of the profession confidentially, asked Meagher for the sake of Dean's wife— pointing out that Dean could not now be charged , with the crime, although he might have to leave the country— to make public his knowledge. Mea gher then referred to statements in the press that he had floated into Parliament on the strength of the Dean case, and said he could not make his knowledge known. Sir Julian Salomons then deemed it his duty to make the matter known.