The Sun.
London, England, 1818-10-21 00:00:00

DEAN, THE MURDERER.

SURRENDER OF THE MURDERER, HIS EXTRAORDI-
NARY CONFESSION, C4RONER'S INQUEST, &C.
UNION-HALL.—At an early hour yesterday
morniug a report was spread throughout the Bo-
rough, that Robert Dean, the murderer of Mary
Halbert, was in custody, and would undergo an
examination before the Magistrates. An immense
crowd of persons assembled about Union-HMI
Office, under that expectation, and the public
road in front was so excessively thronged that
malty lives were hazarded by the attempts of
driiteri'df coaches and carts to force a passage for
their vehicles. About five o'clock yesterday
mOrning, a young man accosted Joseph 'Myatt,
constable and
.watch-house- keeper of St. An-
dretV's, Holborn; stating that he was a inurderer,
and was desirous of surrendering himself into the
hands of justice ; the constable was astonished at
the application, and for a few moments hesitated
how to act. He requested the applicant to be more
explicit ; the young man then said, that on
day evening he murdered a child at Newington.
" Your name is Dean," said the watchman ; " I
am that unfortunate man," he replied. He was
then taken into the watch-house and properly se-
cured. During his continuance there lie was
asked by Myatt, whether at the time of the tour-
' tier committed he was in a.state of intoxi.,
Cation, tri which he answered he was never more
sober in his life. At seven he was taken toGiltsptir-
street Cotupter, and information of his surrender
was-sent to May, the Officer, who had been par-
tictilarly active in his eodeavours to apprehend
him. May waited upon the Lord :Mayor about
eleven o'clock, and received the directions of his
Lordship to take the prisoner to this office, in
order that the business might be investigated
by the Magistrates.. of the district. C. Jetutnett,
Esq. The Coroner and Jury bad in the
gotao time assembled at the Rockingham At'ms,
Nt!wington, to take an inquisition on the body of
the murdered child, and the Sitting Magistrate
being iutortned that the prisoner did not deny hav-
ing committed the murder, considered that the niost
expeditious and satisfactory mode of proceeding
would be tO send him immediately before the Co-
roner, in order that he might be committed for
trial upon the evidence adduced to that gentleman
and the Jury. It was also thought that the public
[mind would be more speedily tranquillised, and
the cramd of persons would disperse, and the par-
ties tetite peaceably to their respective homes,
when it was known that his final commitment
had taken place. At nom' the coach arrited at
Milan-hall office, containing May, the prisoner
Dean, and Myatt the constable, who, receiving
the order of the Magistrates as above stated, pro-
ceeded, with the addition to the party of Hail
the officer, to the Rockingham Arms, followed
by about 2000 persons. It was not observed by
the officers that the unhappy parent of the mur-
dered child was standing at the door of the Rock-
ingham Arms when the prisoner descended from
the coach, but he soon became known ; the mo-
ment his eyes were fixed on the person of the pri-
soner, his countenance grew pale with rage, his
eyes flashed fury, and with the rapidity of light-
ning lie darted upon the culprit, and but for the
timely interference of the offieets would have
avenged oft the spot the immolation. of his child.
One hand of the prisoner was fastened to May's,
and with the other lie covered his eyes, nor once
dared to meet the glance of the wretched fatter. At
the period when the coach arrived, the Coroner
was taking the evidence of Mrs. Halbert, the mo-
ther ; the moment that the announcement of his
arrival reached her ear she fell into a convulsive
fit, and was taken to an adjoining chamber that
proper assistance might he administered. She
unfortunately fell against one of the windows,
.and was very much cut about her arms and hands.