EXECUTION OF MINNIE DEAN.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 7441, 12 August 1895, Page 3

EXECUTION OF MINNIE DEAN.

THE LAST OP THE BABY

EAEMEE

PEOTESTS HEE INNOCENCE

'OH, GOD, LET ME NOT SUEEEE."

[ran PBEsa association 1

INTKBOAiarLi., This day,

Minnie Dean was executed this morning. She ulept from 11.30 till 3 this morning, toott no breakfast, and only a sip fro 0» a giass of spirit gjvou her by the gaol surgeon At three miuutea tovigkt Jhs Sheriff demanded the body, and at two minuttia past eight Minnie bean was dead. "Don't let them keop mo in agony, doctor," were her parting words to tho surgeon. She marched from tho colla with bor arms piuioned behind, and up the step*) of the soatfold on to the trap <ioor. 3ho was apparently the moet seli-possossed of tho dismal prooeeaioa. nhe istood hatlesa and erect, facing the weat, a black board marking the grave of Walsh, the Waikawa murderer, directly ia front of her, while the hangman adjusted the rope and placed the white cap on her. Then her legs were pinioned, and for the first time the marvellous will power of the woman to a certain extent gave way. Bhe swayed back and forward, holding firmly the warder's hand.

In reply to a question of tho Sheriff, "Do you wish to gay anything before you leave this world," she said, "No, except that I am innocent." After her legs had been pinioned she Baid, " Oh, God, let me not suffer."

The hangman then drew the lever and all was over, death being instantaneous, Tho drop allowed was gaven feet nine inches, and the scaffold used was ona built for the execution oJ Oaptaia Jatvey, of Dunedin, who poisoned his wife about a quarter of a century ago. To the Hey. Mr Lindaay she stated that as far as the eyidence was oonoerned the sentanoe wis justified, but she protested her innocence as regards the iutention and fore thought. The only peraous present besides the gaol offioers, were the Sheriff, dootor, Magistrate, and the Press reporters. Tne body has been olaimad by the hugband, and will be buried in the Winton cematery. It is understood Minnie Dean left a written statement, which will be forwarded to the Government, placing a different aspect on the case from that inferred from the triaj During the elocution a boy fell from the roof of a building to the ground, !?, distance of fifty feet, fracturing his skull.