THE DEAN CONSPIRACY CASE.

Evening Post, Volume L, Issue L, 3 December 1895, Page 2

THE DEAN CONSPIRACY CASE.

EVIDENCE AS TO CHICK'S COMPLICITY. fPBEBS ABBOCIATiOK 1 Stdnkt, 2nd Deoember. The trial of the five who are accused of conspiracy in the Dean case began to-day. Dean's counsel pleaded the pardon as a bar, but this was overruled, and in common with the others the plea of Not Guilty was entered. The question of admitting the depositions in the preliminary cose against Dean, in order to show that Meagher failed to aßk Smith, the chemist, the vital question as to tbo poison, was raised by counsel for the defence, who oontended that the evidence was immaterial Mr. Justice Owen held that Meagher was perfectly right in not asking a dangerous question. He deoided, however, to admit the depositions, because they most be taken in ooDJunotion with the facts whioh came out later on in the case. Right up to the time of Dean's conviction, bo far as guilty knowledge was concerned, it did cot matter whether Meagher knew anything about it or not, them waß no conspiracy. The Crown was conducting Dean's prosecution in the original instance, and surely it was their duty to ask the question of Smith. Affa ; rs took a eeneational turn when Mr. Norton, journalist, went into the box. He admitted that he was not friendly with Crick. Detailingat length certain convocations with Meagher, he said he asked tbo latter how be came to allow Crick to crawl to the top and extort a sworn confession from him, to whioh Meaeher said, "I have been damnably or diabolically trapped." The witness, continuing, said that Meagher then told him that he had vißited Crick after the exposure*, and asked him how he felt. Criok said, •' Don't ask me. I'm nearly dead. I have had an awful night, and felt lika blowing my brains out." Crick was lyiDg in bed in the morning groaning, and saying " We Bhall both be sent up." Meagher tuggested that an information should bo laid again&t Sir Julian Salomons for endeavouring to bribe a guilty man to heoome «. refugee from justice. Crick replied, " No use, we're both bagged." Next day Ciiok went into Meagher'e office and said— " it's uo uao being at variance — one or both will have to go up," adding, "If you don't help me to get out of this I'll go to Darlinghurst (the gaol) and admit the whole truth. I will not be chained to a murderer, but if you get me out I will deal fairly with you in the partnership aooounts. If you don't, yon won't gel a ponny." Meagher admitted, said the witness, that Crick knew of Dean's guilt many weeks before 29th April. Criok is not allowed bail.