THE WINTON MURDER.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIV, Issue 10728, 13 August 1895, Page 5

THE WINTON MURDER.

EXECUTION OF MRS DEAN. [Per Press Association.] INVERCARGILL, August 12. Minnie Dean was executed this morning. She slept from 11.30 last night till 3 o’clock. She took no breakfast, and 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 minutes past eight Minnie Dean was dead. "Don’t let them keep me in agony, doctor,” wero her parting words to the surgeon. She marched from the cell with her arms pinioned behind, and up the steps of the scaffold on to the trap-door, apparently the moat self-possessed of the dismal procession. She stood hatless and erect, facing the west, a black board marking tha grave of Walsh, the Waikawa murderer, being directly in front of her, while the hangman adjusted the rope and placed the white cep ou her. Then her legs were pinioned, and for the first time the marvellous will power of the woman to a certain extent gave way. She swayed to and fro, holding firmly the warder’a hand. In reply to the question of the Sheriff, “Do you wish to say anything before you leave this world?” She said, “No, except that I am innocent.” After her legs were pinioned she said. “Oh, God, let me not suffer.” The hangman drew the lever, and all was over, death being instantaneous. The drop allowed was 7ft 9in, and the scaffold was the one built for the execution of Captain Jaryey, of Dunedin, who poisoned his wife about a quarter of a century ago. To the Rev Mr Lindsay Minnie Dean stated that as far as the evidence was concerned the sentence waa justified, but she protested her innocence aa regarded intention and forethought. The only parsons present, besides the gaol officers, were the sheriff, the doctor, the magistrate, and the Press reporters. The body of Mrs Dean has been claimed by her husband, and will be buried in the Winton Cemetery. It ia understood that Minnie Dean left a written statement which will ba forwarded to the Government, placing a different aspect on the case from that inferred from the trial.

During the execution a boy fell from the roof of a building to the ground, a distance of thirty feet, fracturing his skull.