The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-05-04
DEFINING GUILTY.
The Death Sentence Pronounced-His
Rambling Speech.

MELBOURNE, May 2.-The trial of Deem
ing was resumed this morning. The first
witness called was Dr. Springthorpe, who
related Deemirg's explanation of how his
wives disappeared. Deeming said that
while he and his first wife were living at
Rain Hill, near Liverpool, a man
named Ben Young had told him
that mis- (Deeming's) wife would leave
him for fifty pounds, He paid the money
and his wife left him. He supposed that
Young had killed her while he (Deeming)
was coming to Melbourne with his second
wife Miss Mather), for whose murder he
is now on trial. His second wife, Deeming
said, confessed that che was already mar
ried and she left him in Melbourne be-
cause she was afraid of being implicated
in the murder of his first wife.
Deeming is noted for being a notorious
liar, and the above is a fair specimen OF
his ability in that line.
After the evidence was all in Deeming' 8
counsel appealed to the jury to give the
prisoner the benefit of any doubt that it
might entertain as TO his sanity or INSANITY.
The announcement of the verdict was
greeted with expressions OF general salts
faction, for no one believes there is a par
ticle of doubt as to Deeming's guilt not
only of the murder here, but those com
mitted at Rain Hill, near Liverpool.
The prisoner in speaking said: "I re-
member no incident which would lead to
this awful crime with which / am charged.
l know that the people of Melbourne are
so infuriated against me that they would
lynch me- if they had a chance. That,
however, would not settle the
question of my guilt or innocence.
The statement that the body in this city
was that of Emily Mather is lie. My
one comfort is the knowledge that Emily
Mather is alive. The newspapers nave
ruined my life forever more. IL l were
freed tonight l would drown myself.
fought the blacks on the Zeambezi and
have encountered lions single handed.
do not fear death. 1 do not expect justice
from either the Judge, the jury or the public
Instead of the trial being postponed, so as
to enable my counsel to collect evidence
showing my innocence of the horrible
crime for which L am being tried for my
life, it was fixed to occur when the public
was enrsged against me-"
Deeming minutely criticized the evil
dence and declared that verdict of guilty
would be the greatest relief to him. He
said that his use of assumed names was a
fad with him.
After the verdict was announced Deem
ing asked the judge to refrain from the
usual exhortation. The Judge complied
with the prisoners wish and simply an
nounced the sentence of death Deeming
composedly responded. Thank YOU"
When the sentence Of death had been
pronounced Deeming said that after his
death the public would soon know his real
history. 1t was better that the law should
destroy him than that he should destroy
himself. He would only like to know
that Miss Rounsevell believed him limo
cent. In a strong voice he con-
tinued to ramble in a similar
strain for a long time. Reaching the rails
for support he concluded by swearing
that be was innocent. He spoke altogether
an hour, giving no sign of hesitation or
nervousness. The judges summing up
was strongly against the prisoner.
While Deeming was speaking the scene
was a weird one. Owing to the fading OF
daylight gas and candles had to be lighted.
LONDON. May 2.-Deeming can delay ex.
ecution by an appeal from the verdict in
the colonies, which appeal must be heard
by the judicial committee of the privy
council. II the judges accede TO the peti.
ton to rehear a further inquiry will oc.
cur. The last instance of an appeal was
the release Of the Canadian rebel, Louis
Reil.