THE DEAN CASE

Temuka Leader, Issue 2876, 3 October 1895, Page 1

THE DEAN CASE

Sydney, Oct. 1. Great interest centres in Mr Meagher's statement in the Legislative Assembly to-night re the Dean case. It is expected that Sir J. Salomons will make a rejoinder in the Legislative Council tomorrow, when he will give a complete and circumstantial account of what passed. Dean has made a statutory declaration denying absolutely that he ever admitted his guilt, and strenuously affirming his innocence. The Assembly was densely packed tonight to hear Mr Meagher's reply to Sir J. Salomons' statements. He said that he had not spoken before because he desired to answer fully, explicitly, and dispassionately. Dean never in his life made any confession to Sir J. Salomons. He denied the statement categorically as a false and wicked fabrication. He did not believe that Sir J. Salomons would wilfully, calmly, and sanely endeavor to set up a fabrication, and therefore could only say that the statement was that of a man who was a creature of an uncontrollable mental impulse, the outcome of mental affliction which it was well known periodically took possession of Sir J. Salomons' prolific brain. Mr Meagher said that he thoroughly believed that t Dean was innocent, and that what he already had done for him he was prepared to do again, in the interests of justice and humanity. The Attorney-General had stated that he believed from other information he had received that Sir J. Salomons' statements were true, and that Dean was guilty. It was the AttorneyGeneral's duty to produce this evidence, and, said Mr Meagher, if he did not do so, he would denounce him as an archconspiratoi 1 . In reference to the interview in Sir J. Salomons' office, .during which the alleged confession was made, Mr Meagher read a written statement to the effect that he went to consult him about the proposed action for libel arising out of the Dean case. After discussing this, Sir J. Salomons asked how Deans was getting on, adding that he was an arch-Bcoundrel, and fortunate in getting off bef>re the Commission. Mr Meagher asked if an innocent man was not entitled to get off? Sir J. Salomons replied that if all the angels in Heaven came down and swore that Dean was innocent he would not believe them. It was suggested to Mr Meagher that he had purposely omitted asking one of the chemists who was examined in Court whether he had supplied Dean with poison. Mr Meagher denied this, and Sir J. Salomons pressed him to tell the troth, saying that he held a solution of the case. He also enlarged on the terrible issues involved, and said that Judge Windeyer would have the stigma of judicial murder on him. Mr Meagher reasserted Dean's innocence. Sir J. Salomons said it was sheer nonsense, and then asked for another interview. At this he again asked Mr Meagher to clear up the mystery. He was very excited, ind in a dramatic manner went into a long dissertation on conscience, soul, and destiny. He pointed out the great possibilities awaiting Mr Meagher if he would speak out, but threatened that if he would not reveal the terrible secret, and do justice to those concerned, that he would be buried under mountains of remorse. It made his blood run cold to see the unthinking public giving Dean receptions and otherwise showing their sympathy. Sir J. Salomons added that if Dean would leave the colony and go to South America, or elsewhere, he would receive £SOO, and another £SOO would b§ forthcoming after he had been away a while. He asked Mr Meagher if he would try and induce Dean to leave the country. Mr Meagher replied that he saw no reason why he should leave, and would not make any such suggestion. He throughout spoke to Sir J, Salomon s with a full belief in Dean's innocence y and did not give him the least grounds for his subsequent statem'eut, Mr Meagher supplemented this written statement by saying that if he had any confession to make he would have given it to Mr Piloher, who defended Dean, and with whom he had friendly relations. Sir J. Salomons' close intimacy with Judge Winedyer made it impossible for him (Mr Meagher) to communicate the least information of importance to hhu, As a further propf that the alleged confession was a fabrication, he said it was a well-known fact that, after a long estrangement Judge Windeyer and Sir J. Salomons became as thick as thieves over the Dean case, and were always consulting together, while the Attorney-Genera who had made every effort $q injure Mr Meagher, was in daily communication with them, and 'shrieked for Dean's blood. Mr Meagher considers that ho would have been a butchering idiot, a gibbering lunatic, had he placed himself in the hands of this trivia alliance by making any confession.