INQUEST ON THE LATE JAMES ROBBIE. TO THE EDITOR.

Clutha Leader, Volume III, Issue 131, 12 January 1877, Page 6

INQUEST ON THE LATE JAMES ROBBIE. TO THE EDITOR.

SIR,— T think there are few who had the melancholy opportunity of.. attending the above inquest but will agree that reform is needed,. if not in the composition of* juries, at least in the electing of competent* coroners, for greater want of tact aud fairness in the conduct of an inquest was surely never witnessed than- that displayed by tho -Coroner • during this inquiry. Members of the jury .put insinuating questions to Mrs Eiobbie quite irrelevant to the ' case— questions which seemed. to be dictated merely to gratify the ignorant itching curiosity of the man asking- . them. Any consideration for a widowed mother 'with three.children left totally. unprovided, for never entered their_ minds, ail they wanted being merely to worm out any information tendiug to coincide with their own meretricious idea of the cause of this couple's domestic infelicity, and in this extraordinary inquisition they were neither ■ stopped nor in any way restricted by thi Cor'onor. In such a case a coroner's ignorance ., of the law is' no excuse, as any ordinarily educated intelligence would have been sufficient to ha*ve restricted the unfeeling, queries of jurors within the bounds of necessity. and "humanity.*— I am, &c., ; 'John -Graham. *

P.S.— I wish to add that it seems to me a great pifcy that some who c'aim. the position of ladies ah-d- gentlemen in Balclutha have not something more to do than' persistently scandalise innocent, women. It. will no doubt, be a satisfaction to them to know that in the present case they have succeeded; through tiieir falsehoods and uncharitableneEs, in driving the widow, and fatherless out of the , district, and compelling them to take up their abode ambngt strangers. I am sure the. general priblic of Balclutha will not endorse the. heartless conduct of these mdi* J. G.,-

viduals.