A Crime Recalled

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 40, 8 July 1914, Page 5

A Crime Recalled

THE DEANS BABY MURDERS.

DISPOSAL OF A LIjCACY.

By Telegrapn—Press Association. Wellington, Lust Night.

Tim Di'aiis murders of 1805 wore refailed by a ease heard in Chamber* sit tlu> .Supreme Court this afternoon before His Honor the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Ktont) Under the will of Colin MoLaJ-'hlan, contractor, late of Oainuni, who died in 1894, certain money was loft to a child named Colin Scouil«r MtfLacMun, believed to be identical with a child known as Scoullar, who I was in the custody of Minnie Dean, .and who disappeared about the time tint certain infants were murdered by lier. The estate was insufficient to pay all the legacies in full, and application was made on behalf of the surviving legate « that, the amount reserved for t'he child be available fo r payment to than. The plaintiffs were Sarah McCarten, wife of Joseph McCarten, metal merchant', of Ihi'ox. Glasgow, and Agues Dallas, wifj of llobert Dallas, of Man-lull, Glasgow. The defendant, was the Public Trustee as executor of the will and codicil of the testator McLacMan.

The child was the subject of special injuries by the police when search in;; for the bodies of the other children who were done away with, The circumstances were dcscribd in an affidavit* sworn by Detective-Sergeant McTlveney, who at the time of the investigation was a police constable in Invercargill. Minnie Dean conducted a "baby farming'' es tablishment at Winton, Southland, and in May, 1895, was arrested on a charg; of murdering iwo infants, named Hornsby and Carter.. The remains of the child Dorothy Carter were exhumed !>»• Detective Mcllvcney at Mrs. Deansi' premises at Winton, and on the clhargp of having caused its death she wis found guilty and executed. During the search: a lctlc r was found, dated February 28th, ISfto, addressed to the accused from, Helen ficoulter, then in \ Wellington, announcing the death of I Colin McLachlnn, and expressing wishes j for. the welfare of the boy Scoullar, or McLaeWan. At the inquest evidence I was given as to the child having been ' broirght to Mrs. Dean about five years j previously from Oamaru, and as to the. ! name of the child'? 1 mother being Scoullar, and its father McLachlan. The child disappeated about two years before the inquest, and the excuse given by Mrs. Dean at the time v,-as tliat it had been taken to some other people. The clothing of the child, however, was seen in Mrs'. Dean's house after its dissippearance, and it trans-pii-ed that it 1 was customarv for her to keep the l clothing of infants she had done away with. In tfhe opinion of the principal witness, the child Scoullar was identical with Colin Scoullar McLarihian, referred to in Helen Sfcoullar's letter, and , mentioned in the coditil to Colin Me- j . Lnchlan's; wi!\ His Honor liuule an I i order declaring that the gift to the ) ■ ..child never took effect, the child having ! < died before the codicil was made. No (j doubt, he adr'ed. the infant was mur- r. dered by Mrs. Dean. j,