Frederick Bailey Deeming

Infobox Criminal
subject_name = Frederick Bailey Deeming

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image_size =
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date_of_birth = birth date|1853|7|30|df=y
place_of_birth = United Kingdom
date_of_death = death date and age|1892|5|23|1853|7|30|df=y
place_of_death =
alias =
charge =
conviction = Murder
penalty =
status = Executed by hanging
occupation =
spouse =
parents =
children =

Frederick Bailey Deeming (30 July 1853 – 23 May 1892) was an English-born Australian murderer.

Deeming was born in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire, England, son of Thomas Deeming, brazier, and his wife Ann, née Bailey.cite web |url=http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A080288b.htm |title=Deeming, Frederick Bailey (1853 - 1892) |accessdate=2008-09-15 |author=Barry O. Jones |work=Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 8 |publisher=MUP |year=1981 |pages=pp 268-269] He ran away to sea at 16 years of age and afterwards began a long career of crime, largely thieving and obtaining money under false pretences. Most of his time was spent in Australia and South Africa, but he was in England in February 1890, when he contracted a bigamous marriage with Helen Matheson whom he afterwards deserted; he already had a wife and three children. A fourth child was born and in July 1891 he murdered his wife and children at Rainhill, Merseyside, buried the bodies under the floor of the house he had rented, and covered them with cement. Deeming explained their disappearance by saying that his wife was his sister who had been staying with him, and had now gone to join her husband at Port Said.

In September Deeming married Emily Lydia Mather and took her to Melbourne in the "Kaiser Wilhelm II" where they arrived on 15 December 1891. He rented a house at 57 Andrew Street Windsor (a suburb of Melbourne), murdered his wife on about 24 December 1891, buried her under the hearthstone of one of the bedrooms and again covered the body with cement. He paid a month's rent in advance, early in January spent some time in Melbourne and Sydney, where he became engaged to be married to another woman, and then went to Western Australia with the understanding that she would follow him. On about 3 March 1892 a new tenant at the Windsor house complained of a bad odour, the hearthstone was raised and the body found. In the meantime by means of forged testimonials Deeming had obtained a position at Southern Cross, and as part of the preparation of his house for his new bride, had purchased a barrel of cement. He was traced to Southern Cross, arrested and taken to Melbourne. Furious demonstrations against him were made on the journey to Perth, and again on the way to Albany. Tried at Melbourne on 21 April 1892, with Alfred Deakin as his counsel in spite of a plea of insanity he was found guilty. The sentence was confirmed by the Executive Council on 9 May 1892 and the judicial committee of the Privy Council refused leave to appeal on 19 May 1892. Deeming was hanged on 23 May 1892. An autobiography which Deeming wrote in jail was destroyed.

References

*Dictionary of Australian Biography|First=Frederick Bailey|Last=Deeming|Link=http://www.gutenberg.net.au/dictbiog/0-dict-biogD.html#deeming1

Additional sources listed by the "Australian Dictionary of Biography"::"The Windsor and Rainhill Murders" (Melb, 1892); J. A. La Nauze, "Alfred Deakin" (Melb, 1965); J. S. O'Sullivan, "A Most Unique Ruffian" (Melb, 1968); "Ex parte Deeming, Law Reports, Appeal Cases" (House of Lords and Privy Council), 1892, p 422

External links

* [http://www.prov.vic.gov.au/deeming/ "Bigamy, Theft and Murder: The Extraordinary Tale of Frederick Bailey Deeming"] , an online exhibition at Public Record Office Victoria.