THE DEAN CASE.

Te Aroha News, Volume XII, Issue 1778, 12 October 1895, Page 2

THE DEAN CASE.

ANOTHER SENSATION. .. : Sydney, Thursday.. ' Another sensation, probably the final, was sprung upon the public this afternoon by the Attorney-OeneralSproduc-ing the confession made by Lean. The latter admitted his guilt of per, ury, and that he did attempt to _ kill his wife, and that he obtained both arsenic and stryhnine from the chemist Smith who, Dean says, withheld his (Dean’s) guilt at Mr Meagher’s instigation. Subsequently Fean confessed to Meagher in the comdor of the condemned cell, and adds that no one except Meagher and Green (clerk to Crick and Meagher) knew of the confession. r . Later.

The confession was obtained by Goddard and .Moodie, members of the;' Defence Coinmittee, who visited Dean in gaol early in the morning, impressed upon him that the Committee had done all they could, and in justice to them he should tell the A most affecting scene followed. Hitherto under all circumstances Dean has conducted himself as an innocent man# but’when this appeal was made: he completely collapsed. The veins stood out on his forehead like whipQ irdsy and perspiration poured down his face. For a moment he looked bewildered, then in a gasp of agony said solemnly, “lam a guilty man, and described how he procured the poison, and said that he placed each in a bottle of lemon syrup, but denied putting any into his wife’s tea or groats. On being asked the reason for putting it in the syrup he said he really could not Say. The remainder of the poison he placed in a match dox, and threw it a waV when he made the confession to Meagher; The latter asked him to keep it a secret. Meagher on his part voluntarily promising not to divulge it as long as he lived. It is understood that notwithstanding Meagher’s confession the Crown will proceed with the case against Crick. . ’ ‘ The question has arisen that Dean having obtained a pardon through fraud it is not void. The matter has been referred to several ■ eminent . lawyers, and upon their de6ision it will probablyj depend whether the pardon shall be reviewed, and Dean left. to serve'out his life sentence, to which the death penalty was commuted by the executive. . ' - Meagher utterly denies Dean’s statement that he kept silence in reference to the confession at the instigation of his lawyers. He says' it was -exactly the other way about. , The electors, have asked Meagher to allow himself to be re nominated, but he replied irrevocably, ‘ No.’ Crick denies that any clerk of the name of Green was employed in his office. A man of that name sometimes eolle 1 to see Meagher, but for reasons of his own Crick declined to allow him to enter liis office M Green is the fourth man to be arrested, but tho police have been unsuccessful in tracing him. ' . < < . Latest.

Te h appeared at the Police Court to-day on remand on the charge of perjury. Smith, the chemist, was examined. H ; e deposed giving Dean about half an ounce of arsenic, the latter asking for it in order to make cepient to fix a bicycle tyre Witness said that to the best of his bblief he never gave him strychnine; ' The case was further adjourned until to-monw. ■ -

The Cabinet is. discussing its ability to revoke Dean’s free pardon.