TRAGEDY IN ABEL SMITH STREET.

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 9107, 2 October 1890, Page 3

TRAGEDY IN ABEL SMITH STREET.

A CHILD KILLED BY ITS FATHER. An intense sensation was caused all over the city yesterday morning by a rnmour that a murder bad been committed in Abel Smith street. Unfortunately this rumour was only too well founded, for shortly after 11 o’olook an expressman named George Doan—being for the time, at ony rate, insane —killed hie own daughter Lily, a little girl only two years old. Dean is a young man who has plied ae an expressman in this city for some time, and has always borne ah excellent character. Mot long ago ho went out on strike with other men in the same business, and daring the last few days his circumstances have caused him snob anxiety as to induce a sort of melaneholia. On Monday last, as Dean rambled in conversation and otherwise gave indications ot unsettled mental condition, bis wife consulted Dr Rawson, who told her to watolx him carefully. Until yesterday, however, be had not been at all violent. At about U o’olook bo was sitting rooking bis youngest child, an infant, when be gat ap and went ont into theyard where the little girl Lily was playing, A few minutes later he oamo in and said to his wife in a matter-of-fact tone, “Jessie, I’ve killed Lilly.” Mrs Dean did not suspect that ho spoke seriously, and replied, "Oh no, you’ve never done that George,” “ Yes 1 have,” he said, n I did it with an axe. She's ont in the woodshed, dead!" Mrs Dean at once ran into the shed ; and there, sure enough, was tho little child dead—killed by a heavy blow on the left temple from an axe. The axe with which the blow bad been given lay beside the body, its edge stained with blood. Apparently the man held tha child down on tho ground and attempted to ant its head off, Mrs Dean at onoo gave ad alafm to her neighbours, and Dr HaWsOa was sent for. It was, of course, tor late for him to give any assistance. Information was immediately given to the police, and before ■ midday Dean was arrested by Sergeant Manning and Ferma. ment Artilleryman Jones. He was taken to the police station, whom he is now in custody. There aannot be any doubt of the unfortunate man’e insanity. After killing bie child yesterday he went upstairs and laid down on the' bod. When he was arrested bo made no resistance at all, and later in the day be remarked that "he didn't know what he was there for.” The condition of Mrs Dean is, as may Well be imagined, a terrible one. She has three children besides tha ona which was killed yesterday. The body was removed to the morgue, whore an inquest will be held on it at 9 o’clock to-morrow morning.