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The official inquest into the deaths of Dr. Bogle and Mrs. Chandler would begin in May of

1963. It would be the longest inquest to date

in Australian history. At first, I personally wasn't clear on the differences between an inquest and a

trial, so let's clarify. The purpose of a trial is typically to determine the guilt or lack of guilt of a specific person.

But an inquest is, at its core, a fact-finding mission.

It precedes a trial, and in this case would carry the purpose of determining the exact cause of death of our two unfortunate lovers.

J.J. Looms is named to be the Sydney Coroner to lead the inquest.

This wasn't Loom's first case as presiding inquisitor.

He had years of prior experience as the lead Sydney coroner,

but this would certainly be his most publicized case to date and indeed

the rest of his career. In photographs of looms, you can usually catch his characteristic,

wide-eyed smile, but the photographs from the Bogle Chandler courtroom paint a more earnest

picture of the man. His thick-framed glasses set atop his sturdy nose

and a tight-lipped expression on his face. This was a man ready to get down to business.

Seats in the public gallery were in high demand, as ordinary citizens clamored to catch a new scandalous or

macabre detail many of whom would be repeat visitors over the weeks to come in this

cold central police court Liverpool Street Sydney starting at 10 a.m. on the 7th of

May the city coroner begins an inquiry into the deaths of Dr. Gilbert Bogle, age 38,

a man who was soon to leave for America to take a major world scientific post.

...