THE LATE LORD CAVENDISH AND MR. BURKE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1106, 26 July 1882, Page 4

THE LATE LORD CAVENDISH AND MR. BURKE.

The inquest on the bodies of Lord Cavendish and Mr Burke was closed by the officials in Ireland in a most extraordinary haste. Only a few of those who saw the murder were found or examined. Before closing the inquest the following discussions took place:— A Juror: Is there a large reward offered?

The Attorney-General: That is a natural question to ask, but I would ask you to be satisfied with my assurance that the matter was carefully considered by those in the highest authority and immediately on the spot. The Coroner: It is your opinion that in the interests of justice we should close the inquiry now ? The Attorney-General: Yes, and that no further evidence should be given. After some further discussion the Coroner attempted to dismiss the jury without allowing them to retire. “I •uppose,” he said, “ that you scarcely require to consider your verdict..’ The jury, however, asked to be allowed to retire, and in addition to their verdict brought in a strong expression of horror at the murder, and hope that it be speedily brought to light. The jury also trusted that the authorities would offer a large reward for the assassins. Again the Attorney-General tried to stop their action: — Attorney-General: With reference to one portion of your observation, I would suggest that you should leave the question of the reward in the hands of the Executive. If the jury carried out their most excellent suggestion, it might rather impede them than otherwise. The Foreman : Our anxiety was to convey to the relatives of the murdered gentlemen the feeling of the people of this country, which I hope will be appreciated on the other side of the Channel.

Another Juror: It is simply with a view to aiding in an independent fund for a reward, independent of the Government reward. That is what we intended.

The Attorney-General: Of course I cannot interfere with that.

The Foreman: I hope our expression will be conveyed to the friends of the deceased.

In view of the fact that up to the present time nothing has been done by the officials to arrest the murderers, the fear of investigation deserves to be considered, and will not be forgotten.