John Dean

221

D Wong on 25th October 2016

1858: Married Sabrina Foote at Launceston - 4 children listed. 31/12/1884 Launceston Examiner: DEATH FROM POISONING. An inquest was held at the Royal Oak Hotel yesterday 'morning, before Mr. H. T. A. Murray (Coroner), upon the body of John Fitzpatrick Dean, who died from an overdose of ludanum on Monday morning. The following jury were empanelled: Messrs. George Hubbard (foreman), George Best Dean, James Smith Kerr, Robert Harris, John Roles, Robert Edwards, and James M'Lennan. The jury having viewed the body, the following evidence was taken : Sabrina Dean deposed that she was the widow of the late John Fitzpatrick Dean; her husband had been in the habit of taking doses of laudanum for the last five years to produce sleep; if he took a glass of spirits, or after illness, he always resorted to laudanum; five years ago he took a heavy dose of laudanum, and lay for twelve hours unconscious; on Friday morning she saw her husband drink some dark-looking fluid, and shortly after he became unconscious; he remained in this state until night; when,not liking the long continued torpor, Dr. Stewart was sent for; he arrived shortly after 9 o'clock; just as Dr. Stewart knocked at the door her daughter roused the deceased to consciousness; at Dr. Stewart's suggestion deceased had a glass of water and two cups of coffee; he then spoke reasonably, and said they were foolish to get Dr. Stewart; about half an hour after he took fits, and they sent out for doctors, but none came that night; her sons tried to walk the deceased about, but he never roused; on Saturday morning Dr. Hatlowes arrived, and continued to attend deceased until his death on Monday morning at half-past 2 o'clock; on Sunday the deceased roused and became sensible at short intervals. In answer to questions put by the jury men, Mrs. Dean stated that laudanum was not kept in the house, and that for some years the deceased had not worked, she being the bread-winner of the family. Herbert Chaborth Hallowes deposed that he was a licensed medical practitioner, and was in attendance upon the deceased during his last illness; he was called to the deceased shortly before nine on Saturday morning, and found him lying in an insensible condition and unable to be roused; he had all the symptoms of laudanum poisoning; he was shown two bottles at the house,one labelled "laudanum" and the other without label, both of which had contained laudanum; he tried the appropriate remedies as far as he was able, with the effect that deceased was partially restored to consciousness on Sunday morning; the effects of the opium were beginning to wear off on the Sunday, and he left Dean with instructions to be sent for should any relapse occur; he never saw accused again alive; he considered the bottles not properly labelled; one was not marked "poison;" he considered the deceased had taken a wineglassful of laudanum. Sabrina Houghton deposed that the deceased was her father, and was in the habit of taking laudanum to produce sleep; he had been in the habit of taking as much as 2oz. for this purpose for the last four or five years; the deceased was in the habit of drinking rum, and was often intoxicated; on Friday morning she found the small bottle by the side of the deceased, and he said he had taken the contents, but it had had no effect; on Boxing morning he had half a pint of rum, and that was the last thing she saw him drinking; on the afternoon of the 26th she found the larger bottle on the shelf with the cork out, near where he lay in sensible. This being all the evidence taken, the Coroner briefly summed up and the jury returned a verdict that the deceased died on the 29th inst., at Launceston, from an overdose of laudanum, taken by him to induce sleep.

221

D Wong on 25th October 2016

Old Bailey: JOHN DEAN, Theft > pocketpicking, 20th September 1847. Offence: Theft > pocketpicking Verdict: Guilty > Punishment: Transportation JOHN DEAN was indicted for stealing 1 half-crown, and 4 shillings; the moneys of Henry Howard, from his person; having been before convicted of felony. HENRY HOWARD. I live at Bushey, in Hertfordshire. On the 2nd Sept., I was in the King's Head, Knightsbridge—the prisoner was there—we were standing at the bar together—there were others there—I was the worse for liquor—I was going to pay for what I had had—I missed four shillings and half-a-crown, which was safe when I went there—I had not been there ten minutes. Cross-examined by MR. HORRY Q. Did not you draw the lining of your pocket out, and let the prisoner search for your money? A. No—he did not go away. ELIZABETH NORRIS. I am a servant at the King's Head, Knightsbridge. On the 22nd of Sept., near twelve o'clock at night, I was coming down stairs, and saw the prisoner turning Mr. Howard's pocket out—I did not see any money. Cross-examined. Q. You saw the pocket out, did not you? A. No, I saw his fingers in the pocket—I took no notice, supposing them to be friends. WILLIAM LOCKHART (policeman.) I was called to the King's Head about twenty minutes to twelve o'clock—the prisoner was given into my charge—I asked him if he had any money—he said 3 1/2d. was all he had—I searched him, and found three shillings, half-a-crown, and five pence—he said he did not know how he came by it—Howard was the worse for liquor. Cross-examined. Q. Did not the prisoner look as if he had been drinking? A. Not at all. MAURICE MULCAHY (policeman.) I produce a certificate of the prisoner's former conviction—(read—Convicted Dec., 1846, and confined three months—I was present at the trial—he is the man. GUILTY.— Transported for Seven Years. John Dean was 22 years old on arrival, he was 5' 10 1/4" tall, could read and write, single, RC, fresh complexion, brown hair and eyes. Father: James Brother: James Sister: Katherine - all at his native place of Chelsea. 11/11/1850: TOL 12/4/1853: TOL revoked for absconding. 20/9/1854: Free Certificate

6

Julian Dean on 25th October 2016

Born John Fitzpatrick in Chelsea, Middlesex, England (now considered part of London)