Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-05-05
Great Murder Trial Ends at Mel
bourne with a..Vetdiet Of
iuilty.
Connection with Whitechapel Crimes
Hinted 10 Give Color 10 Iu-
sanity The ~.
The Prisoner Breaks Down After thss
Verdict of the Windsor
Jury.

MELBOURNE, May s.-Deeming's
trial for the murder of his last wife,
formerly Miss Mather of Rainhill,
ended to-day in a verdict of guilty and
the imposing of the death sentence ON
the prisoner. The attorneys for tho
defense devoted all their energies to at.
tempting to prove that Deeming was
insane. The latest testimony for tho
prisoner was that of DIR. Fishbourne,
who was called to give evidence as to
the prisoners sanity. He swore that
he had examined Deeming and found
symptoms which indicated disease of
the brain.
Deeming and his consul encouraged
the idea that he was the Whitechapei
tiend in order to sustain the theory OF
uncomfortable homicidal mania.
During the early days of his imprison-
ment Deeming was defiant, and even
affected to laugh at the charges against
him, and boasted of the libel suits he
would bring against the English and
Australian newspapers after his ao-
quittal, but after the coroner's jury
found him guilty Of the Windsor
murder he was very much changed.
showed signs of breaking down and
finally confessed the crime for which
he has been sentenced to die.
The crown counsel contended that there
was not a particle of evidence of the ln-
sanity of the prisoner. at this point
Deeming interrupted the crown counsel
Ii was not the law, he said, but the press
that was trying him. If he could bring
himself to believe that he had committed
murder he would plead guilty rather than
submit to the gaze of the people IN court
tie ugIiest race he had ever seen. Some
witnesses against him deliberately lied.
Whatever be could say would be disbeljeved.
His witnesses had been kept out of the way.
People had sworn to seeing him whom
he had never seen In his life. No time
has been allowed him to communicate
with witnesses in England and India. 1t
is not pleasant 10 conf, IS to disease, men
tai or otherwise, but he had determined
to do SO in justice to himself and the com
munity For weeks together be had suf-
fered from lapses Of memory. In his own
mind he knew he was not guilty. So
long as Emily Matthers had been his wife
he dealt with her as gently and affection
ateiy as it was possible for any man TO do.
The prisoner continued: IL remember
no incident which would lead to this
awful crime with which | am charged.
The statement that the body found in this
city is. that of Emile Matther is lie. My
one comfort is the knowledge that she is
alive. The newspapers have ruined my
life forever. If | were freed tonight
would drown myself. do not fear death.
! do not expect justice from either judge,
jury or public.
DENIM infinitely criticised the evil
dence and declared that verdict of guilty
would be the greatest relief to him. He
said the use Of aliases was fad with him.
A fter The verdict was announced Deeming
asked the judge to refrain from the usual
exhortation. The judge complied, and
simply pronounced the sentence of death.
Deeming responded cnmposedly, ''thank
you"
Afterwards Daeming said the public
would know his real history after his
death 1t was better that the law should
destroy bin than that be should kill him
self. He continued to ramble
In similar strain for some time, and
concluded by swearing that he was jnno-
cent. He spoke altogether for an hour,
giving no signs Of hesitation or nervous
ness. The judges summing up was
strongly against.the prisoner.