THE DUNEDIN TRAGEDY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XXXXI, Issue 70454, 3 October 1900, Page 2

THE DUNEDIN TRAGEDY.

PBCULTAR PROCEDURE. (PBB PBBSS ASSOCIATION.) ' Donbdin, Ootober 2. An unusual coflrse was adopted at the adjourned inquest touching the death of Thomas Teller Fogo, whose wife is in custody on a charge of having murdered Mr Thornton, who appeared for Mrs ! Fogo, applied to have the enquiry conduoted in private ; that is. that the public and even the press be excluded. Tho grounds were that the holding it in private would be in the interests of justice and also in the interests of the family. He quoted authorities on the subject. In her own interest he had advised his client not to give' evidence at present, as he did not think she could stand the strain, aod if the evidence given were published the publio would only have a one-sided view, and it was from the publio the jury would afterwards be taken. Mr J. F. Fraser, for the Crown, said it was a matter for the discretion of the Crown. He could not see that it prejudiced justice one way or the other, and he would leave the matter in the hands of the Coroner, Mr C. O. Graham. The Coroner said counsel had put it strongly that it would be in the interestb of justice to exclude the publio and the press. He could not see how it would do any harm, and he would accede to counsel's application and clear the Court of all but the parties conoerned. The press and the publio then retired. The jury returned the following verdict :-•' The jury find that the causa , of death was from having been stabbed by his wife, Sarah Fogo, bat under what circumstances there is not sufficient evidence to show."