THE MURDER CHARGES

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIII, Issue 10654, 15 May 1895, Page 6

THE MURDER CHARGES

I THE WINTON CASES, f fPnrt Press Association,] I INVERCARGILL, May 14. _ 1 An inquest was formally opened this afternoon on tho bodies found at the place occupied by tho Deans, and was adjourned till "May 27 on tho application of the police. i THE SEARCH FOR THE BODIES. The special correspondent of the Otano f Daily Times says Tho police have ber-a very energetic in their search for the I bodies. On Saturday morning Detective ! Herbert, accompanied by Constables j M’Dcnough, Barrot. Burrows and M’llvgj noy, loft here by the morning train for | Wiaton, where they wero joined by Contains Rasmussen. The party then procured picks, spades and shovels, and proceeded to Dean’s land, thinking tho garden to bo an unlikely place. They first search , d through the bush and the open laud at the back of the property, They then turned their attention to the garden ia front of the house. One spot in a fiotvor-bod seemed darker than tha rest, and a closer examination showed a bunch of cut flowers stuck in the coil. Constable Barret, who had observed this, at once took a epade, and ia digging up tho soil came across a baby’s bate foot. Ho at onco informed his comrade?, who assisted him to clear the earth away, and the bodies of two babies were exposed to view ac a depth of about 15 inches below tho surface of tha ground. After the bodies had been recovered. Detective Herbert saw tha necessity of arresting Dean, and despatched Constables Rasmussen and M’llveney to the place where ha was known to bo employed. There the constables arrested him, and he was subsequently charged at Wixiton before two justices with tha murder of tha two children, aadl ssmandad to Invercargill, The polios afterwards continued thair digging operations with more vigour than before, but found nothing further that day. On i Sunday they again set to work, and ou continuing their operations on Monday Conetablo M’Donough, at 10.20 a.m., unearthed a child’s okull about two feat from the surface. On tho earth being cleared away tee skeleton of a child was revoaled, bub the police wero unable to recover it intact, only succeeding in getting tho bonce, which wore brought to Invercargill in the evening'.

Tho Beans have been living at Winton for over tan years. Some years ago they lived in a two-story house known as the Larches. This, however, was destroyed by fire, and they being in poor circumstances, were unable to replace it, but built, in ita stead a email two-roomed house with a lean-to. In this house they have barn residing for eome time. It .is situated within about a mile of tho town of Winton, on tho north side, and within something like 200 yards of the railway line running to Kingston. Tho ground belonging to the Desna contains an area of about forty acres, about half an cere of which is laid out as a flower garden, orchard and vegetable garden. A few sheep, a cow, a couple of pigs and some fowls constitute their stock. Tho furniture tuoy have in tho house is of tho poorest description, and tho whole surroundings of the place seemed to indicate that the owners were in very poor circumstances. Sira Dean, an adopted daughter, and an infant slept in one room, 7ft Sin by lift 4-ij-in. A girl fifteen years of age and four other children were accommodated at mghfc in the letm-to, fcba dimensions of which are lift Ajin by 7fb Gin; and the remaining room, which v/aa also a email one, wao occupied by Dean. The house is situated in rather a lonely place, no other residence being nearer than half a mile, and tho Winton cemetery is within a few yards of the boundary of the Deans’ section. The property is held in tho name of Mrs Dean. It is said to be heavily mortgaged, and that tho Desna were pressed for money. By Monday evening’s train Detective Herbert brought from Winton six illegitimate children who had been adopted by Mrs Dean. Tho eldest ia v. girl about fifteen years of age, and tho youngest ia a baby about five weeks old. Thera are also two little boys and two little girls, the whole four being nearly of one «ge—between five and oix years. Tho children have bean comfortably housed ia Invercargill pending efforts being made to find their parents. If the police are not successful in their search, the children will probably be committed to the Cavoraham Industrial School. Great sympathy is folk for the poor little creatures, and great attention v/aa ehown them in tho train on the way down from Winton by the passengers, who provided them with cakes and eweotmseta, and otherwise obowed a Madly interest in them. The children ceamoti quite happy and contented. 'They do not appear to bo vary well provided with clothing, but were strong and healthy-looking, and Eeem to have been well fed.

Tha Tinia.ru Herald states that Mrs Dean’s arrest was partly brought about by a report, dated April 28, furnished by Detective Livingstone to Inspector Broham. The detective’s attention was drawn Ito tho following advertisement which I appeared in tha Herald on April 24 end ;25 Wanted—A lady, country resident, i wants infant to adopt. Comfortable home. Address * Mator,’ Herald Office.” The offico supplied tha addroos of the j advertiser us follows Miss C&maroa, | The Larches, East Wiatoa, Southland,” j and the detective afterwards ascertained ! that tho person eo advertising was hire j Dean. Aa a result of their inquiries so | far tho police have already received one letter, sent, by Mrs Dean to a resident in | South Canterbury. In the letter Mrs I Dean writes in the meet gashing terms of | her fondness for children, but as tho | premium which abe demanded, .£ls, was i considered too high, no transaction re- | suited ia this case. Mrs Dean’s advor- | tisemonts produced four answers, which | were forwarded to Tha Larches, according | to her request.