Illustration of Deeming's corpse on view for inquest jury at Melbourne Gaol, reproduced in The History of a Series of Great Crimes on Two Continents,
third edition, p. 102
OMG 184, Collection of the National Trust of Australia (Victoria)
VELS:
Level 4
Strand: Discipline-based
Learning
Domain: Humanities - History. Historical reasoning and interpretation
Having trouble interesting students in history? Then the Public Record Office Victoria website might be just the lure to get them studying history without even realising that they are!
Deeming's story horrified the public around the world in the 1890s as details of his monstrous crimes unfolded. The public had also been terrified and appalled by the Jack the Ripper murders in England in the same decade, especially as the case remained unsolved and rumours were rife as to who might have committed the attacks on the defenceless women. Deeming too murdered defenceless women but, even worse, he murdered his own children - a crime that even today is hard to contemplate. Deeming was branded 'the criminal of the century', particularly as his crimes took place in two different countries at opposite ends of the earth. As the story unfolded it gained headlines worldwide. For a while there was even speculation that he could have been Jack the Ripper.
Bigamy, Theft and Murder is a new, vivid and fascinating online exhibition using historic documents to relate the shocking story of the murders. These documents are juxtaposed with illustrations and drawings taken from the sensational magazines that were sold to the public at the time of the trial and execution. The graphic online exhibition will draw students into the slowly unfolding saga as Deeming changes his identity and lures yet another woman with his charm and guile towards her doom. How did he escape detection for so long? What was his 'charm'? Was he Jack the Ripper? Was he really insane or a calculating, cold-blooded murderer? The Deeming story documents provide an opportunity for students to use primary and secondary sources to investigate the macabre story and decide for themselves. They can use these materials to develop skills in making judgements about sources of evidence, including the ideas and voices expressed, the culture and values represented, and the literal and symbolic meanings they contain. They can learn that there are multiple, conflicting and often partial interpretations of an event.
There are many interesting historic aspects of the case for students to consider and discuss. For example, trial by media, nineteenth-century culture, and contemporary attitudes towards imprisonment and capital punishment.
The original documents provide students with the opportunity to study the trial and witness statements and decide for themselves whether Deeming had a fair trial.
The case received incredible coverage in the media throughout Australia and overseas and in popular publications (Penny Dreadfuls and Shilling Shockers). They contained many photos and lurid sketches of the crime scenes, his victims, and places associated with the story. Students could study media coverage of a major crime today such as the Walsh Street murders or the Tony Mokbel case and contrast it with the coverage and attitudes expressed in the 19th century. In addition, the influence on public opinion today of some of the new methods of communication such as blogs, SMS, Youtube, emails to politicians and newspapers etc, is worth exploring.
Another twist to the case was that Alfred Deakin, the future first Prime
Minister of Australia, defended Deeming. Deakin at this time practised as a
lawyer.
He entered a plea of insanity but was unsuccessful. An autopsy on Deeming's
brain that might have revealed some abnormalities was banned by the medical
authorities. Society wanted such an outrageous serial killer hanged and no
excuses found for his behaviour.
Capital punishment was a given when Deeming was hanged. A person could be executed for murder, arson, shooting, burglary or rape. However, there was always a reluctance to hang a woman and many petitions were organised to stop a potential hanging. The Deeming case presents students with an opportunity to consider the reasons for and against capital punishment in this historic context. They could also examine attitudes of politicians and the public towards capital punishment today in the US. Students could study the various modern methods used to execute a person and discuss whether these are more 'humane' than hanging.
Even today Deeming's story arouses worldwide interest and books are written about him. One of his death masks is in the Scotland Yard 'Black Museum' in London. It is the oldest museum in the world and is still used to train UK police. His death mask and story are also on display in museums in Australia.