ECHO OF DEAN MURDERS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14339, 8 July 1914, Page 3

ECHO OF DEAN MURDERS.

BABY PAHMING HORRORS RECALLED. (Per United Press Association.) Vv ELLINGTON, July 7. Th Dean’ murders of 1895 were recalled by a case heard in chambers at the Supreme Court tins afternoon, before his Honor tbs Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout). Under the will of Colin McLacnlan, contractor, late of Oamaru, who died in 1894, certain money was left to a, child named Colin Sconllar McLachlan, believed to be identical With a child' known as Sconllar, who was in the custody of Minnie Dean, and who disappeared about the time that certain in-’ fans were murdered by her. The -estate 1 was insufficient to pay all the legacies in full, and application was made,on behalf of the surviving legatees that the amount reserved' for the* child, be available for payment t’o them. The plaintiffs were Sarah McCarten, wife ' of Joseph McCarten, metal merchant, of Ibrox, Glasgow, and Agnes Dallas, wife of Robert Dallas, of Maryhill, Glasgow. The defendant was the Public 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 the bodies of the other children who were done away with. The circumstances were described in an' affidavit sworn by Detective-Sergeant Mcllveiiey, who, at the 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. The remains of the child Dorothy Carter were exhumed : by Detective Mcllveney at Mrs Dean’s premises at Winton, and on the chargD 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 Sconllar, then in Wellington, announcing the death of Colin McLachlan, and expressing wishes for the welfare of the boy Sconllar or McLachlan. At the inquest evidence was given as to the child having been brought to Mrs Dean’s about five years previously from Oamaru, and as to the name of the child’s mother being Helen Sconllar, and its father McLachlan. 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 Mis Dean’s house after its disappearance, and it transpired that it was customary for her to keep the clothing of infants she had done away with. In the opinion of the principal witness, the child Sconllar was identical with Colin Scoullar McLachlan referred to'in Helen Scoullar’s letter and mentioned in the codicil to Colin McLachlan’s will. The case concerning the will having been presented by counsel, his Honor made an order declaring that the gift to the child never took, effect, the child having died before the codicil was made. No doubt, he added, the infant was murdered by Mrs Dean.