EXECUTION OF MRS DEAN

West Coast Times, Issue 10181, 13 August 1895, Page 4

EXECUTION OF MRS DEAN

|Pek United Press Association.]

Intercergill, Aug. 12.

Minnie Dean slept for three hours last night. She took no breakfast and only sipped from a glass of spirits given her by the gaol surgeon. " Don't let them keep me in agony doctor" were her last parting words to the surgeon. She marched from the cell with her arms pinioned behind and up the steps of the scaffold on to the trap door, apparently the most selfpossessed of the dismal procession. She stood listless and erect facing west while the hangman adjusted the rope and placed the white cap on her head. Her legs were now pinioned and for the first time the marvellous will power of the woman to a certain extent gave way. She swayed back and forward holding firmly to the Warder's hand. After her legs were pinioned and she had answered the Sheriff's question she said " Oh ! God let me not suffer." The hangman then drew the lever and all was over. The drop allowed was 7 feet 9 inches and the scaffold used was the one built for the execution of Captain Jarvis, of Dunedin, who poisoned his wife about a quarter of a century ago. To the Rev. Mr Lindsay the prisoner stated that as far as the evidence was concerned the sentence was justified but she protested her innocence as regards intention and forethought. The only persons present besides the goal officials were the sheriff, doctor, magistrate and press reporters. The body has been claimed by her husband and will be buried in Winton cemetery. It is understood Minnie Dean has left a written statement which will be forwarded to Government placing a different aspect on the case from that infeired from the trial.

During the execution a boy fell from the roof of a building to the ground, a distance of thirty feet, and fractured his skull.