The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. SATURDAY, SEPT. 28, 1895. THE DEAN CASE.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 78, 28 September 1895, Page 2

The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. SATURDAY, SEPT. 28, 1895. THE DEAN CASE.

• The Dean case in New South Wales is a remarkable one. It will be remembered that the learned Judge in his address to the jury was reported to have said that he was as certain the accused was guilty as if he had seen tbe poison administered. There was much public comment on this and general indignation expressed against the Judge because it was considered the evidence before the court then did not justify this conclusion, a view which was supported by an influential section of the press. In response to the public demand a commission was set up to practically try the condemned man again, with the. result tbat he was released from durance vile, and again took his place among bis fellows as an innocent and an injured man . Then his wife, who— had brought the charge against him of trying to kill her by means of poison, brought an action against Dean for tbe maintenance of herself and her child, in which she succeeded. Now we are told that new developments have appeared. It is said that Dean actually confessed to the attempted crime, and had he been arrested one day sooner strong evidence against him in the shape of the poisons, would have been found in his possession. Accepting tbis as true then the Judge was not so far wrong as has been assemed and had this newly alleged discovered evidence been disclosed to the commission the result very possibly would have been somewhat different. No doubt many of the statements telegraphed are not altogether in accord with the real facts of the case, yet we have a right to believe that in the main they are nofc inaccurate. In one place it is alleged that Dean's so-called confession of guilt was known to Mr Meagher, wbile the commission was sitting, and to other professional men engaged in the early stages of the case. That may or may not be true, for Dean denys it emphatically saying he intends to " sift the matter to tlie bottom." In that case whatever he or the others interested may do will remove all doubt. The case is interesting not only irom the issues involved, but from its singular surroundings. The outcome no man can foresee, but the complications will be considerably augmented by the objectionable fact that a political element has been allowed to be introduced which will, doubtless, prove difficult to eliminate.

There is no likelihood of the Government undertaking any responsibility as regards tbe projected railway line between Levin and Great ford, and tbe Premier has written to Mr J. G. Wilson, the member for Otaki, to that effecfe. It remains to be seen whether the promoters will move any further in the matter, but under the circumstances it would be better to abandon the scheme for a while until the increase of population iastifies it.