THE EXECUTION OF MINNIE DEAN.

Waikato Times, Volume XLV, Issue 3606, 13 August 1895, Page 5

THE EXECUTION OF MINNIE DEAN.

SHE PROTESTS HER INNOCENCE. (BY TELEGRAPH.-PRESS ASSOCIATION).' /'> INVERCABGILL, ; La9t Night. Minnie Dean, was executed this morning, She slepifrom 11.30 .till' 3 this morning., She took no breakfast and only had a sip: from a glass of spirits given her by the gaol surgeon,,. r>l , V} ■„■,/..> ■,; ; y>,> /'..-(v.; ' At three minutes to eight the Sheriff demanded the body, arid at' two minutes past eight, Minnie Dean said—"Don't leMhem ,kee'p.''me. in agony, doctor."', These' were iher last,wordsto the surgeon.' I * l ' *' ' She marched from.the cell with her arms pinioned behind her, and up to the steps of the scaffold.on to the trap-door,'apparently the,mqßt, self-possessed of pro- / •9BBIOD. " ' "'J.' ....... She stood hatless and t erecfc, facing the west, a black board' marking the grave of Walsh,;. directly in front of her, while the hangman adjusted the rope and placed the white cap on her. Then'her legs were pinioned, and •for'the first time .the marvellous' willpower .of the woman'to a certain 'extent 1 gave way, and she swayed back and, forward, holding firmly'to the warder's h'arid.v."" \; ! ■;- ; .'lnreplylto the (question of the sheriff, fJDo.youwishtosay anything before'you leave this world ?" she said " No:! Except that I am.innqceDt.(' ;, '■: , -,; i.. .: wAnV After her legs'were pinioned, she, said; "0h,..G0d1, let me not suffer." The hangman drew the lever and all was over,'death' bflirigins'tantaneous. The drop, allowed was, seven feet nine inches, and the-?caffold/was the onn built for the execution of Captain Jarvey, of D|inedin, who, poisoned* his wife, about a ofta century'agi»J / 1 j/, 1 To "the Rev. Mr Lindsay she statod that as far as the evidence was concerned the Bentencexwas' justified,;• but: she/protested Her innocence as regards intention and forethought. .The.iouly pefsons^iprese'nt'besides u'ih gaol officers were the sheriff.doctcr, magistrate, and' Press reporters, The body has be«n claimed by her busbandi'l'an'd will' be buried id ! the!Wiriton cemetery..,;j, i,\ ,v;;,;U f *-■*.?;; -■'"i■'. : *

It is understood that Minnie Dean left a written statement, .which will be forwarded to the .Government', placing, a different aspecton the case to that inferred from the iriai;;' :"'■,;' : ; ;"' ; ';";".'.'".'";:...' ' I)'urmg ! the execution a boy fell from the root bf a building to the of fifty feet, fracturing his knee. 1 ;