A WILL CASE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 144421, 8 July 1914, Page 3

A WILL CASE.

CHILD’S DEATH PRESUMED. PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, July 7. Tho Doans murders of 1895 were recalled by a case 1 heard -in Chambers at tho Supremo Court this afternoon before liis Honour the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout). Under tho will of Colin M‘Lachlan, contractor, late of Oamaru,- who died in 1894, certain money, was left to a child named Colin Scoullar M'Lacidan, 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 . certain infants were murdered by her. The -estate was insufficient to pay all tho legacies in full, and application was mado on behalf of the surviving legatees that tho amount reserved for the child be available for payment to them. The plaintiffs were Sarah M*Carton, wife of Joseph M’Carten, metal merchant, of Ibrox, Glasgow, and Agnes Dallas, wife of Robert Dallas, of Marybill, Glasgow. Tho defendant was the Public Trustee, as executor of the will and codicil of the testator M'Lachlan. The child was the subject of special inquiries by the police when searching for tho bodies of tho other children who were done away with. The circumstances were described in an affidavit sworn by Detective-Sergeant MTlveney, who at tho time of the investigation was a police constable in Invercargill. Minnie Dean conducted a “baby farming” establishment at Winton, Southland, and in May, 1895, was arrested on a charge of murdering two infants named Hornsby and Carter. Tho remains of the child Dorothy Carter were exhumed by Detective MTlveney at Mrs. Deans’ premises .at Winton, and on tho charge of having caused its death she was found guilty and executed. During the search a letter was found, dated February 28, 1895, addressed to the accused from Helen Scoullar, then in Wellington, announcing the death of Colin M'Lachlan, and expressing wishes for the welfare of the boy Scoullar, or M'Lachlan. At tho inquest evidence was given as to the child having been brought to Mrs. Dean about five years previously from Oamaru, and as to the name of tho child’s mother being Helen Scoullar, and its father M'Lachlan. The child disappeared about two years before 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 the clothing of infants sho had done away with. In tho opinion of the principal wetness, the child Scoullar was identical with Colin Scoullar M'Lachlan, referred to in Helen Scoullar’s letter, and mentioned in the codicil to Colin M'Lachlan’s will. His Honour made an order declaring that tho gift to the child never took effect, tho child having died before the codicil was, made. No doubt, ho added, the infant was murdered by Mrs. Dean.