THE WINTON MURDER.

Evening Star, Issue 9782, 12 August 1895, Page 2

THE WINTON MURDER.

EXECUTION OP MINNIE DEAN.

INSTANTANEOUS DEATH.

INVERCARGILL, August 18. Minnie Dean was . executed this morning. She slept from 11.30 last night tiU3a.m, She ate no breakfast, and took only a sip from a glass of spirits given her by the gaol surgeon. At three minutes to eight the sheriff demanded the body, and at two minute* past eight Minnie Dean was dead. " Don't let them keep me in agony, doctor,” were her parting words to the surgeon. She marched from the cell with her anna pinioned behind, and up the steps of the scaffold on to the trap-door, apparently the most self-possessed of all who were in the dismal procession. She stood hatless and erect on the scaffold, facing west, and, being in that position, a black board which marks the grave of Walsh, the Waikawa murderer, was directly in front of her while the bang* man'adjusted the rope and placed the white cap over her face. It was when her legs were being pinioned that for the first time the marvellous will power of the woman gave way to a certain extent, and she swayed backward and forward, holding firmly a warder’s hand. In, reply to the question of. .the sheriff “ To you wish to say anything before you have this world?” she said: “No, except that 1 am innocent.” After her legs were pinioned she said: “Ob, God, let me not suffer.”, The hangman then drew the lever; and all was over, death being instantaneous.

The drop allowed was 7ft 9in, and the scaffold used was the one built for the execution of Captain Jarvey, who poisoned bis wife and was executed at Dunedin.

To the Rev. Mr Lindsay the condemned woman stated that as far as the evidence was concerned the sentence was justified, but she protested her innocence as regards intention and forethought. The only persons present besides the gaol officials were the sheriff, the docthr, thj magistrate, and the reporters. The body has been claimed by Mr Dean, and will be buried in the Winton Cemetery.

It is understood that Minnie Dean has left a written statement, which will be forwarded to the Government, placing & different aspect on the case from that which was inferred from the trial.

During the execution a boy fell from the roof of an adjacent building to the ground; a distance of 30ft, and fractured his skull.