“THE LARCHES” HORRORS.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XXVII, Issue 1361, 21 May 1895, Page 5

“THE LARCHES” HORRORS.

(Riverton Star.) Six years ago Mrs Dean appears to have started baby-farming at Winton. She had then two children in her care, but subsequently she obtained possession of thirteen children, all of whom, with two exceptions, were infants, the ages of which ranged from four weeks to nine months. The exceptions referred to are a young woman of 20 and a girl of 15, both of whom were living with Mrs Dean up to the time of her arrest. The former of these states that she knew of 22 chil-. dren, who, at one time or another, were in Mrs Dean’s keeping. Of this number, 14 have been accounted for in some way or other, including the children whose bodies were found in the garden at The Larches. One of the children, who died on March 23rd, 1891, formed the subject of a coroner’s inquest, in connection with which it was thought advisable to have a post mortem examination of the body made before taking evidence. The jury also visited the premises, and, after witnesses had been examined, Mr Coroner Rawson said he thought the jury would find no difficulty in arriving at a verdict, as the doctor’s evidence proved conclusively that the child died from natural causes. He, however, was of opinion chat the house was too small for the number of children it contained. If the jury had any recommendation to make .vith regard to giving the police more control over such establishments, he would bo glad to forward it to the Governmont. The inquiry resulted in die jury returning a verdict of “ Death from natural causes,” but a rider was edded to the verdict recommending that, something should be done in the way of legislation to restrict persons who adopt <uch a means of living as Mrs Dean, to a certain number of children according to the accommodation provided, uid also that they should be under inspection. In consequence of the ecommedation the Government passed ‘ The Infants Life Protection Aci, 1894,” which provides for the registrat on of premises where children under two years of age not belonging to tbc owner of the premises are kept. The condition of Mrs Dean’s house, it may be stated, formed, about the time of the inquiry, the subject of a good deal of comment, and the matter found its way into the Horne newspapers, a paragraph (writes the special correspondent to the Dunedin Times) about the matter appearing in the Yorkshire Weekly Post of May 30th, 1891. The inquest had the effect of causing one of the mothers of the children to withdraw the child from Mrs Dean’s care and since then the children have gradually decreased in numbers until at the time of arrest there were only five children in the house, besides the yonng woman of 20 and the girl of 13 already referred to. The former is usually away from home in the day time, and was absent for two months prior to *lrs Dean’s arrest, and consequently knew nothing of the two children whose bodies wore found. Those who have come a good deal in contact with Mrs Dean say that she always appeared to have an affectionate regard for the children m her care, and after the death of one of them she had a memorial card printed, which was framed, and always stood on the mantlepiece in the principal room of the house. The lines on the card are said to be of her own composition and read as follows ‘‘ln loving memory of May Irene Dean, died October 10th, 1889, aged six months. To those who mourn her here below this consolation’s given ; she’s from a world of woe relieved and blooms a rose in heaven.” It may be mentioned that Mrs Doan received a premium of £3O with this child when it was about five weeks old. All of the children who were in her charge at the time of her arrest are said to be wellmannered and show signs of having had some religious training.