The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-04-08
HE DEFINING INQUEST,

OECMilNO llNk2OGSls
MELBOURNE, April Notwithstanding
the fact that the jury that WAS investigat-
ing into the death of Mrs Deeming, who
was murdered at her home at Windsor. a
suburb of this city, yesterday returned a
verdict of willful murder against her hus-
band, Deeming today showed the same
character that has marked him since his
arrest. The verdict does not seem to affect
him in the least, and he is, in turn, Jocular
or insolent.
During the inquest yesterday the coro-
ner read a note signed Lilly T. The
writer said that the coroner must treat
Deeming with greater lmpartlallty; for II
he did not get Justice the writer would
take the coroner's life in open court. The
letter is supposed to have been written by
u crank or TO be hoax.
Despite his semblanCe Of ease, Deeming
in his periods of abstraction is visibly hag-
gard He has lost flesh and his features
are becoming pointed. The Jail wardens
keep a close watch upon him at all times,
for it is beived that he will kill himself if
he gets a chance.
Despite all the precautions taken, many
believe that Deeming. who is as cunning
us weasel, will yet 90 away with him
self. That his vanity Is overwhelming was
shown during the inquest. During the
reading of the evidence against him, every
word of which led him nearer to the gal
lows, he INDUCED in a prolonged scrutiny
of the public who filled the court room,
and then, turning TO those near him, he
Rudibly remarked, "Those are all good
looking girls in front" He then straight
ened up. adjusted bis collar and necktie,
and said: Il wish had better clothes;
would be more presentable.
When the taking of testimony was con-
cluded the coroner asked Deeming his
name, but he refused TO answer. Mr..
Lyle, his solicitor, addressing the coroner,
said that Deeming refused To answer any
questions The coroner was proceeding
TO sum up, when he was interrupted by
Mr.. Lyle, who said
This abnormal offspring of mothers
womb has q defense which will open n
question the whole English-speaking race
must face. and which has already been
dealt with by some European countries.
In the mean time my first dutyls to secure
him fair trial.
The coroner, resuming, said that the
evidence against the prisoner was entirely
conclusive and clearly pointed to his guilt
oi the terrible charges against him. The
jury was out half an hour, during which
lime Deeming laughed and chatted gaily
with those around him. When the jury
returned and announced that Deeming
had been found guilty of willful murder,
the accused man never faltered.
Deeming was then taken back to Jail.
When he entered his cell Deemiug appear
ed TO become unnerved and was in state
of utter collapse Stimulants were inn
mediately administered, and under their
influence the prisoner gradually revived.
The remarks made by Deeming's solici-
tor in court in regard to the question
which the defense would open, and the
lawyers minute inquiries as to the prison
er'S birth and early chiidhood, are taken bv
many persons as foreshSdowing the line OF
defense which will be adopted at the trial,
namely. that Deeming's nature received
malignant impress prior to his birth,
which had influenced and marked all his
actions during his life, and had left him
mentally incapable of overcoming the
homlcidal impulses with which he was af-
Hicted-in fact, that he was what the
prisoner himself haddescribed as "a moral
mOnStroSity."
LONDON, April 7.-The Globe today SAYS
that dreSsmarker living in the east end
Uf London has recognized a portrait of
Deeming As that of man who courted her
under the name of Lawson in the autumn
of 1855 She states that they were walking
together on the night o. Sept. ~, and
parted from each other at IL O'Clock The
following morniug the shockingly mutil-
lated bodies of the women Stride and Ed
doves were found in the Whitechapel
district.
Considerable speculation has been in
dulged in as to the possibility of Deeming
being the notorious Whitechspel Jack
the Ripper In the statement published
in the Globe the dressmaker says that she
met Deeming, or Lawson. AS be was known
10 her, on the afternoon of SepE 30 They
had a long conversation on tie subject OF
the Whitechapel murders, and Deeming
showed that he was conyersant with every
one Of the horrible details. A remark WAS
made concerning suggestion in the news
papers that the murders OF Whitechapel
were committed shortly after midnight
Deeming ssmed to forget TO whom he was
talking. and said 10 the girl: Look at
the time-l could not have committed the
murders" Though the remark inadvert-
emily dropped by Deeming and his subSe-
quent actions aroused a suspicion in the
girls mind that Deeming. perhaps, was
the murderer. she did nos until now COM
municste her suspicious 10 the police.
The Globe concludes its article with the
statement that the police have been un-
able TO trace Deemin2's exact whereabouts
at the time these murders were committed
in Whitechapel.