THE DEAN CASE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2171, 3 October 1895, Page 19

THE DEAN CASE.

STAETLING DEVELOPMENTS.

A CONFESSION BY DEAN.

PF.AN DENIES HAVING CONFESSED. Btdnet, September 26. Startling developments have taken place In die Dean oas« to-oight. For a few days past vague rumours have been in circulation relative to a confession by Dean, but tbe Attorney- general, when questioned in the Council, declined to answer. Later on, however, Mr Want promised to inform tbe Council what he knew and lay the documents on the table. This evening Mr Wast referred to tho nnpleaeant position in whioh he was placed through having undertaken tbe prosecution of D«an, of whose guilt he was certain from tha first. After the flndicg of the Royal Commission, on whose recommendation Dean was released, he felt uneasy, bat received a communication some time afterwards from Sir Julian Salomons; of a private nature etating that he seed not be uneasy, as Dean vtBB Ruilty. Ho wrote to Sir J. Salomons pointing out the position ih which this placed him, and stating that it was the duty of Sir Julian to disclose all he knew of the matter. The latter replied that he had consulted tho Chief Justice, who agreed it was his ahf ' lute duty to divulge what he knew. Mr W«nt then laid Sir J. Salomons's statement on the table. Sir J. Salomons saya :—: — "In Jute Dean was released on the finding of the Royal Commission. Ou July 1G a paragraph appear- d in tbo Daily Tolcgrapb, of Sydney, which Mr Meagher thought r<. fl-o'«d on htm in regard to his defence of Dean. Mr Meagher consulted Bir J. Salomons as to its libellous nature, and cor-fided to Sir J. Salomons that hi-? client was r-sally guilty of tbe attempt to poison bis wife. Sir J. Salomons then said he knew Daan was guilty, but asked how could Meagher speak so positively. Tbe latter said that while Dean was in gaol he (Mr Meagber) informed him that the police had di<;overed the chemist who had sold the poison tc D.-an. Aoomed on bearing the etatement was much agitated, and nearly fell off his eeat. He then confessed that he had committed tbe crime, and had u%ed both strychnine and ar^eiosic to get rid of his wife. Dean added that if tbe police had arrested him the day before tb«y did they would have found the poison on him, but this be had buried the day before he was taken into custody. During the hearing of tbe case, the ohewist who had Bold tbe poison was cudouely enough never s&k«d whether he had sold such to Dean. Af f er Mr Mesgher's statement Sir J. Salomons requested time to consider, and after cor suiting n. member of tbe profession CODfideiM.-Ty asked Mr Me;)gh«-r— for tbe cakb of D an's wif«, pointing out that. Daan could not now be charged with tbe orime, although he might have to leave the country — to make public bis kuowledge. Mr Mcaghtr then referred to the statements in tho pre^s that be bad floated into Par".i--rnynt on the strength cf tbe Dean cast<, but laid he oould not ruake his knowlc g.i known. Sir J. Saltm job then decided iG was hia duty to make the matter known." September 27. In tbe Assembly, upon the motion for aojournrcent, Mr Crick referred to tbe developments in the D«-an case, and made a hot attack on Sir Julian Sjiomons and tbe Attcrnej-geueral for not divnJglng the knowledge they had pospestcd for two xnoutbs and while the commission was Bit'irg. Sir Julian Salomons had accepted L 660 from tbo Government to prove Dian guilty, yet never said a word to the defending lawyerp, and at the same time ho -was prepared to accept their writ in an action for libel which they intended to bring agiinst the Premier for bis utterances upen the m&Vter. Mr Crick denied Sir Julian Salomons's statement that be knew Dean was guihy. He was still TiECnivir ced, and i»t ended to have tbe whole matter threshed out in the courts. He had nted language to Sir Julian S-lo-znons which entitled him to issua a writ, a&d he challenged him to do it. If there vras to be any dirt throwirg he would opea bis mouth iv a way that would make these concerned wish he had kept it shut. He was prepared to bite, and would bite eevejxely. The Minister for Lands (tbe Hon. Mr Carrutbers) said that the matter should be terted to the fulkst ieeue. He bad no deeire to purchase silence. He advised Mr Crick to carry the whole matter to tbe court. Mr Crick stated that Mr M^Hgher denies that he made any statement to Sir Jalian Salomons in reference to D an's guilt. He also raid that Sir Julian Salomons bad posFC-sed knowledge of the confession for two months, bub not during the sitting of the commission. Dean, en being interviewed, said that the alleged confession waa an infamous falsehood and a series of scandalous lies. He had never said a word to Mr Mengher which could be construed into a confession of guilt, or anything about obtaining, administering, or destrojing by poison. Mr Meagher, be cays, always treated him as if he considered bim innooenfc, and their relations throughout were most cordial. The statements were completely inexplicable to him, and there was some bad business at the bottom— a whole pack of lies, which he intended to sift thoroughly. In an interview with Mesdames Dean and Seymour, bo»h asserted that they knew tbo truth would come out, and while they do not wish to see Daan again in gaol, they hop« his guilt will be proved beyond doubt. Mrs Seymour remarked that while she had not always been what she ought she had to thank God ber conscience was clear. The chemist mentioned in connection with the sale of the poison denies positively that lie sold Dean any. Mr Meagher gives his version to the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday. September 28. Mr Meagher characterises Sir Julian Salomons's assertions as outrfigeous, v and says that his (Mr Meagher's) statement in Parliament will Dotadiflwreat light on the atxango §tory.

September 29. Mr Meagher interviewed, said Sir J. Saloraona's statements were utterly and absolutely without foundation. He doQB not regard them as serious, but the machination* of a crafty or dlsordemi brain. The only alternative of stating that Sir J. Salomons con cocked the confession, be says. was to find him not guilty on the grounds or insanity. Dean, Mr Meagher cays, never mado any confesaon, and maintained his lnnooenoe throughout Mr Meagber gays he firmly believes in Deao'a innooenoe. Sir J. Salomons had booked a passage to Melbourne, but haa now decided to stay, pending Mr M«agher*s statement to the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, and should he think it neoessary he will reply in the Council. Mr Meagher hints that there will be some peculiar revelations when ho talks. It will be remembered that George Dean was arrested for attempting to poison his wife. He was tried, found guilty, and sentouced to death. The action of Mr Justice Windejer in, as it was alleged, browbeating the jury, caused much comment. An agitation followed, and, giving way to pressure, the Government appointed a Koyal Commission to investigate the ca*e. The two medical numbers of the commission repotted that in their opinion Deau was in&oosnt of the dturge, but tbe report of the legal member of the commission was unfavourable, as he thought it highly improbable that a young vromau would wilfully poison herself in the manner that Mrs Dean mu't have done if htv husband was innocent. The Government »f»er receiving the report release i Dian, h'io recaiveel a public welcome and wain.ins^a'r i>i tbe portion he held prior to his ftrrc"', ■ -j master of a ferry steamer.