ECHOES FROM A BABY FARM

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 20121, 8 July 1914, Page 5

ECHOES FROM A BABY FARM

AX OLD SENSATION REVIVED

AN INFANT"S DEATH IN QUESTION. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July 7. The Dean murders of 1895 were recalled by a case heard in Chambers at the Supreme Court this""afternoon, before His Honour the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout). Under the will of Colin McLachlan, contractor, late of O-aniaru, who died m 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

* custody of Minnie Dean, and who ■disappeared about the time that certain infants wero murdered by her. The estate was insufficient to pay all tho legacies in full, and application was made on behalf of the surviving legatees that the amount reserved for tho child be available for payment to them. The plaintiffs were SarahMcCarten, wife of Joseph McCarten., metal merchant, of Ibrox, Glasgow, and Agnes Dallas, wife of Robert Dallas, of Maryhill, Glasgow. The defendant was the Publics Trustee, as executor of the will and codicil of the testator McLachlan. The child was the subject of special inquiries by the police when searching for tho bodies of the other children who were done away with. The circumstances wero described in an affidavit sworn by Detective-Sergeant UVlellyeney, who. at the time of the investigation, was a ■police constable in Invercargilh Minnie Dean conducted a "baby farming" establishment at" Winton, Southland, and in May, 1893, was arrested on acharge of murdering two infants named Hornsby and Carter. The remains of tho child Dorothy Carter were exhumed by Detective Mcllveney at Mrs. Dean's premises at Winton. and. on the charge of having caused its death, she vras found guilty and ex'ocuted. During the search, a, letter was found, dated Feb. 28th. 1895, addressed to the accused from Helen Scoullar; then in Wellington, announcing the death of Colin JMcljaclilan, and expressing wishes for the welfare of the boy Scoullar or McLachlan. At tho inquest, evidence was given as to tho child having been brought to Mrs. Dean's about live years previously from Oamaru, and as to the name of the child's mother being Helen Scoullar, and Us father McLachlan. The child disappeared about two years before the induest, and the excuse given by Mrs. Dean at tho 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 v transpired that it was customary for her to keep the clothing of infants she had done away with. In tne opinion of the principal witness, the child Scoullar \va« identical with Colin Scoullar McLachlan referred to in Helen Scoullar's letter and mentioned in the codicil to t>6lin McLaehLan's will. Tho case concerning the will having been presented T>v counsel. His Honour inado an order declaring that the gift to tho child never took effect, the child having died before the codicil was made. No doubt, he added, the infant was murdered by MYsTr Ceo.n.