THE DEAN MURDERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15655, 8 July 1914, Page 10

THE DEAN MURDERS.

OLD CRIME RECALLED. DISAPPEARANCE OF CHILD. POSSIBLY ANOTHER - VICTIM." ~~~~~ / [bt TELEGRAPH.— association.] Wellington, Tuesday.. The Dean murders of, 1895 were recalled by a case hoard in Chambers at the Supreme Court this afternoon before the Chief Justice, Sir Robert Stout. Under the will of. the late Colin McLachlan, contractor, of Oamaru, who died in 1894, certain money was left to a child named Colin Scoullar McLachlan, believed to be identical with a child known as Scoullar, who was in-the custody of Minnie Dean, and who disappeared about the. time that cortain , infants were murdered by her. The estate was insufficient to pay all the legacies in full, and application was made on behalf of the surviving legatees that the amount reserved'for the child be available for payment; to them. The plaintiffs wore: Sarah McCarten, wife of Joseph McCarten, metal merchant, of Ibrox, Glasgow, and Agnes Dallas, wife of, Robert Dallas, of Maryhill, Glasgow. The defendant was the Public Trustee, as executor of the will and codicil of the j testator.

McLachlan, the child, was the subject of special inquiries by < the police when searching for the bodies of the other children who were done away with. The circumstances wore described in an affidavit sworn by Detective-Sergeant Mc* Ilveeney, who, at the time of the investigation was a police' constable in Invercargill. Minnie Dean conducted a "babyfarming" establishment at Winton, Southland, and in May, 1895, was arrested on a charge of murdering two infants named Hornsby and Carter. The remains of the child Dorothy Carter were exhumed by Detective Mcllveeney at Mrs. Dean's premises at Winton, and on the charge of having caused • its. death she was found guilty and executed. During tho search a letter was found dated February 28, 1895, addressed to the accused from (Helen Scoullar, then in Wellington, announcing the death of Colin McLachlan and expressing wishes for the welfare of the boy iScoullar or McLachlan. At .the inquest, evidence was given as to the child having been brought to Mrs. Dean's about five years previously,* from Oamnru, $nd as to the name of the child's mother being Helen Scoullar, and of its father, being McLachlan. The child disappeared about two years beforo the inquest, and the excuse ■ given by Mrs. Dean at the time was that it had been_ taken to some other people The clothing of the child, however, was seen in Mrs. Dean's house after its disappearance, and it transpired that it was customary , for her to keep tho. clothing Qf infants sho had done away with. In tho opinion of the principal witness, the. child . Scoullar was identical with Colin Scoullar McLachlan, referred to in Helen Scoullar's letter and mentioned in the codicil to Colin McLachlan's will. The case concerning the will having been presented by counse}, His Honor made an order declaring that the gift to the child never took effect, the child having died boforo tho codicil/ was made. No doubt, ho added, tho infant was murdered by Mrs. Dean. ,