Bogle-Chandler case
Encyclopedia
The Bogle-Chandler case refers to the mysterious deaths of Dr Gilbert Stanley Bogle (1924–1963) and Mrs Margaret Olive Chandler née Morphett (1934–1963) on the banks of the Lane Cove River
in Sydney
, Australia
on January 1, 1963. The case became celebrated because of the circumstances in which the bodies were found and because the cause of death could not be established. In 2006 a filmmaker discovered evidence to suggest the cause of death was hydrogen sulphide gas. In the early hours of 1 January an explosion of gas from the polluted river bed may have occurred, causing the noxious fumes to pool in deadly quantities in the grove.
(CSIRO). Married with several children, he was considered to be a brilliant scientist and had been a Rhodes Scholar. The Police discovered that Bogle was also involved in relationships with other women, many of whom he took to parks. The Coroner stood down a key female witness before she could give evidence, to protect the families.
Mrs Chandler was married to Geoffrey Chandler, who also worked in the same CSIRO building as Dr Bogle. They had two children. Witnesses later suggested that she may have been bored with her life and upset at her husband's philandering.
Dr Bogle, the Chandlers, and several others attended a barbecue just prior to Christmas 1962. On the way home Mrs Chandler told her husband that she was quite taken with Dr Bogle. Mr Chandler told the police that he and his wife had "an understanding". He told her: "If you want to take Gib as a lover, if it would make you happy, you do it."
party, to be held at his home in Waratah Street, Chatswood.
The Chandlers arrived late for the party, with Geoffrey Chandler underdressed. Chandler soon left the party and drove to another party (organised, he says, by the Sydney Push
) in the suburb of Balmain
where he met Pam Logan, with whom he was having an affair. He returned to the Chatswood party in the early hours of the morning but left again, with the understanding that Dr Bogle would drive Mrs Chandler home.
Dr Bogle and Mrs Chandler left the party soon after 4 a.m. and drove to the nearby Lane Cove River, which was known as a lovers' lane. What happened next is still unclear, but several hours later, their bodies were found.
first, by two youths searching for golf ball
s. They saw his body and presumed him to be drunk. When they returned an hour later to find that he had not moved and that his face had turned blue, they went to fetch help.
When police arrived at the scene they discovered that Bogle's body was half-undressed. Somebody had placed his trousers over the back of his legs in such a way that he appeared to be dressed, but was not. A piece of carpet was also laid on top of his back underneath his jacket, which was laid perfectly on his back.
Shortly after this Mrs. Chandler's body was discovered a short distance away. She was also in a state of undress, and her body had been covered with a broken up cardboard beer box. It was initially believed that she had covered Bogle's body first and then her own, but closer examination suggested that someone had covered her body as well.
ing. At the scene were signs of vomit
and excreta
. Excreta from both victims along with items of clothing were found on the exposed bed of the river. Because New Year's Day was a public holiday, forensic
examination of the bodies was delayed for 36 hours. When forensic examination did take place, no traces of any poison could be found.
The case attracted instant publicity. It involved a high-society party, alleged wife-swapping, an unidentified third person at the death scene, and an unidentified poison. There was also speculation that Bogle was involved in research important in the Cold War
.
The inquest
in May 1963 did not help to resolve the mystery. The coroner
, Mr J. J. Loomes, concluded that Bogle and Chandler had died because of "...acute circulatory failure. But as to the circumstances under which such circulatory failure was brought about, the evidence does not permit me to say." In other words, he stated that Bogle and Chandler died either because their hearts stopped beating, or they stopped breathing.
. The state government analyst found no trace of LSD. In 1996 relic tissues were sent to America and new forensic techniques were applied to them. A first pass suggested the presence of LSD. A more sensitive scan on the same equipment came up negative - Bogle and Chandler had not used LSD. Against this, there have been no documented human deaths from an LSD overdose.
Peter Butt
's documentary, Who Killed Dr Bogle and Mrs Chandler?
, which was shown on the ABC
in September 2006, suggests that the two deaths may have been caused by accidental hydrogen sulphide poisoning.
Supporting evidence for this theory includes:
In this theory, which agrees with the investigating detectives' firm belief, the victims' bodies were covered not by a murderer, but by a 'third person' who covered them for modesty. An initial suspect was a voyeur who contacted police twice, using different names. After interrogation, he was quickly dismissed. The prime suspect was a greyhound trainer who slipped his dogs daily on a path that passed the site where the bodies were found. He came forward only after his car was identified and, when interviewed by police, claimed to have used a different path that day and denied seeing the bodies. His obituary in 1977, however, claimed he had been the first to find the bodies. The theory regarding a motive of modesty for covering the bodies was supported by claims that the man was known to be a prude
.
A woman who was a child at the time came forward at the time of the film's screening. She claimed she had found Mrs Chandler's handbag 4km away in bushland between three houses. One of those houses was discovered to belong to a relative of the greyhound trainer and was near to his own home. A veteran greyhound racing steward also came forward and said that he received a call from the suspect soon after the deaths during which he admitted that he did come across the bodies.
Lane Cove River
The Lane Cove River is a tributary of the Parramatta River, Sydney, Australia. Its lower reaches form an arm of Sydney Harbour.-Description:...
in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
on January 1, 1963. The case became celebrated because of the circumstances in which the bodies were found and because the cause of death could not be established. In 2006 a filmmaker discovered evidence to suggest the cause of death was hydrogen sulphide gas. In the early hours of 1 January an explosion of gas from the polluted river bed may have occurred, causing the noxious fumes to pool in deadly quantities in the grove.
Background to the case
Dr Gilbert Bogle was a physicist who worked at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research OrganisationCommonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation is the national government body for scientific research in Australia...
(CSIRO). Married with several children, he was considered to be a brilliant scientist and had been a Rhodes Scholar. The Police discovered that Bogle was also involved in relationships with other women, many of whom he took to parks. The Coroner stood down a key female witness before she could give evidence, to protect the families.
Mrs Chandler was married to Geoffrey Chandler, who also worked in the same CSIRO building as Dr Bogle. They had two children. Witnesses later suggested that she may have been bored with her life and upset at her husband's philandering.
Dr Bogle, the Chandlers, and several others attended a barbecue just prior to Christmas 1962. On the way home Mrs Chandler told her husband that she was quite taken with Dr Bogle. Mr Chandler told the police that he and his wife had "an understanding". He told her: "If you want to take Gib as a lover, if it would make you happy, you do it."
The Chatswood party
Two of the other people at the barbecue were Ken and Ruth Nash. Ken Nash also worked at the CSIRO. He invited the Chandlers to his New Year's EveNew Year's Eve
New Year's Eve is observed annually on December 31, the final day of any given year in the Gregorian calendar. In modern societies, New Year's Eve is often celebrated at social gatherings, during which participants dance, eat, consume alcoholic beverages, and watch or light fireworks to mark the...
party, to be held at his home in Waratah Street, Chatswood.
The Chandlers arrived late for the party, with Geoffrey Chandler underdressed. Chandler soon left the party and drove to another party (organised, he says, by the Sydney Push
Sydney Push
The Sydney Push was a predominantly left-wing intellectual sub-culture in Sydney from the late 1940s to the early '70s. Well known associates of the Push include Jim Baker, John Flaus, Harry Hooton, Margaret Fink, Sasha Soldatow, Lex Banning, Eva Cox, Richard Appleton, Paddy McGuinness, David...
) in the suburb of Balmain
Balmain, New South Wales
Balmain is a suburb in the inner-west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Balmain is located slightly west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the Municipality of Leichhardt....
where he met Pam Logan, with whom he was having an affair. He returned to the Chatswood party in the early hours of the morning but left again, with the understanding that Dr Bogle would drive Mrs Chandler home.
Dr Bogle and Mrs Chandler left the party soon after 4 a.m. and drove to the nearby Lane Cove River, which was known as a lovers' lane. What happened next is still unclear, but several hours later, their bodies were found.
Discovery of the bodies
Dr. Bogle's body was discovered near Fullers BridgeFullers Bridge
Fullers Bridge crosses the Lane Cove River in suburban Sydney, Australia. The main road from Chatswood to North Ryde, crosses the bridge. It was built in 1918.The main entrance to Lane Cove National Park is located adjacent to Fullers Bridge...
first, by two youths searching for golf ball
Golf ball
A golf ball is a ball designed to be used in the game of golf.Under the Rules of Golf, a golf ball weighs no more than 1.620 oz , has a diameter not less than 1.680 in , and performs within specified velocity, distance, and symmetry limits...
s. They saw his body and presumed him to be drunk. When they returned an hour later to find that he had not moved and that his face had turned blue, they went to fetch help.
When police arrived at the scene they discovered that Bogle's body was half-undressed. Somebody had placed his trousers over the back of his legs in such a way that he appeared to be dressed, but was not. A piece of carpet was also laid on top of his back underneath his jacket, which was laid perfectly on his back.
Shortly after this Mrs. Chandler's body was discovered a short distance away. She was also in a state of undress, and her body had been covered with a broken up cardboard beer box. It was initially believed that she had covered Bogle's body first and then her own, but closer examination suggested that someone had covered her body as well.
Investigation
It was obvious that both had died from some sort of poisonPoison
In the context of biology, poisons are substances that can cause disturbances to organisms, usually by chemical reaction or other activity on the molecular scale, when a sufficient quantity is absorbed by an organism....
ing. At the scene were signs of vomit
Vomiting
Vomiting is the forceful expulsion of the contents of one's stomach through the mouth and sometimes the nose...
and excreta
Feces
Feces, faeces, or fæces is a waste product from an animal's digestive tract expelled through the anus or cloaca during defecation.-Etymology:...
. Excreta from both victims along with items of clothing were found on the exposed bed of the river. Because New Year's Day was a public holiday, forensic
Forensics
Forensic science is the application of a broad spectrum of sciences to answer questions of interest to a legal system. This may be in relation to a crime or a civil action...
examination of the bodies was delayed for 36 hours. When forensic examination did take place, no traces of any poison could be found.
The case attracted instant publicity. It involved a high-society party, alleged wife-swapping, an unidentified third person at the death scene, and an unidentified poison. There was also speculation that Bogle was involved in research important in the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
.
The inquest
Inquest
Inquests in England and Wales are held into sudden and unexplained deaths and also into the circumstances of discovery of a certain class of valuable artefacts known as "treasure trove"...
in May 1963 did not help to resolve the mystery. The coroner
Coroner
A coroner is a government official who* Investigates human deaths* Determines cause of death* Issues death certificates* Maintains death records* Responds to deaths in mass disasters* Identifies unknown dead* Other functions depending on local laws...
, Mr J. J. Loomes, concluded that Bogle and Chandler had died because of "...acute circulatory failure. But as to the circumstances under which such circulatory failure was brought about, the evidence does not permit me to say." In other words, he stated that Bogle and Chandler died either because their hearts stopped beating, or they stopped breathing.
Poisoning theories
The police investigated hundreds of theories including the drug LSDLSD
Lysergic acid diethylamide, abbreviated LSD or LSD-25, also known as lysergide and colloquially as acid, is a semisynthetic psychedelic drug of the ergoline family, well known for its psychological effects which can include altered thinking processes, closed and open eye visuals, synaesthesia, an...
. The state government analyst found no trace of LSD. In 1996 relic tissues were sent to America and new forensic techniques were applied to them. A first pass suggested the presence of LSD. A more sensitive scan on the same equipment came up negative - Bogle and Chandler had not used LSD. Against this, there have been no documented human deaths from an LSD overdose.
Peter Butt
Peter Butt
Peter Butt is an Australian, film producer, director, writer. He produces investigative documentaries for television about 20th century global and Australian history...
's documentary, Who Killed Dr Bogle and Mrs Chandler?
Who Killed Dr Bogle and Mrs Chandler?
Who Killed Dr Bogle and Mrs Chandler? is an Australian documentary film about the mysterious deaths of Dr Gilbert Bogle and Mrs Margaret Chandler in Sydney, Australia in 1963. Although it was assumed the couple were murdered, police investigators could find or produce no evidence that it was...
, which was shown on the ABC
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
in September 2006, suggests that the two deaths may have been caused by accidental hydrogen sulphide poisoning.
Supporting evidence for this theory includes:
- In the 1940s and 50s, the local council received scores of letters from residents complaining of the smell of "rotten eggs" coming from the river, causing nausea and breathing difficulties. There was also a series of massive fish kills. With the residents facing permanent evacuation, the Maritime Services Board conducted a year-long study of the river. It found that the bottom muds were saturated to a depth of half a metre with hydrogen sulphide and that very large and rapid releases of hydrogen sulphide gas could occur from a section of the river impounded by the weirWeirA weir is a small overflow dam used to alter the flow characteristics of a river or stream. In most cases weirs take the form of a barrier across the river that causes water to pool behind the structure , but allows water to flow over the top...
. The source was identified as a factory that had pumped its waste into the river since the 1890s. The worst affected location was within a quarter-mile of the weir, exactly where Dr Bogle and Mrs Chandler died. - On New Year's Day, police divers reported a great disturbance of black river-bed sediment. Although their search of the river was then delayed for 11 days, visibility remained poor.
- The very cool, still weather conditions at time of death would have allowed high concentrations of gas to accumulate.
- The location where the couple had sought privacy was at water-level in a slight depression, surrounded by a bank and mangroves, typical of where the heavier-than-air hydrogen sulphide would accumulate in calm conditions.
- Slight skin abrasions, shoe and knee prints suggest both victims were disorientated and had tried to leave the depression before collapsing.
- Both victims had been unable to correct their clothing, suggesting that the poison struck them down without warning, at the same time and with great speed.
- A pathology report, suppressed by the coroner at the time, revealed semen on Dr Bogle's body and coat. This suggests sex was taking place and that both victims could not have been suffering earlier effects of poisoning before they were suddenly struck down.
- Most importantly, a purple discoloration was seen in the victims' blood which is characteristic of hydrogen sulphide poisoning (This phenomenon is not related to other colour changes in the blood such as cyanosisCyanosisCyanosis is the appearance of a blue or purple coloration of the skin or mucous membranes due to the tissues near the skin surface being low on oxygen. The onset of cyanosis is 2.5 g/dL of deoxyhemoglobin. The bluish color is more readily apparent in those with high hemoglobin counts than it is...
, or methaemoglobinMethaemoglobinMethemoglobin is a form of the oxygen-carrying metalloprotein hemoglobin, in which the iron in the heme group is in the Fe3+ state, not the Fe2+ of normal hemoglobin. Methemoglobin cannot release bound oxygen, unlike oxyhemoglobin. It is a bluish chocolate-brown in color...
/methemoglobinemiaMethemoglobinemiaMethemoglobinemia is a disorder characterized by the presence of a higher than normal level of methemoglobin in the blood. Methemoglobin is an oxidized form of hemoglobin that has an increased affinity for oxygen, resulting in a reduced ability to release oxygen to tissues. The oxygen–hemoglobin...
). - The toxicologist who tested the victims' tissue samples claimed that had he known about the semen, it would have eliminated the majority of poisons he had tested for. This knowledge he claimed, along with the hint provided by the purple colouration of the blood, might have led him to suspect that the poison was hydrogen sulphide.
- A British forensic scientist contacted by the police suggested on reading the case report that the victims had been gassed.
In this theory, which agrees with the investigating detectives' firm belief, the victims' bodies were covered not by a murderer, but by a 'third person' who covered them for modesty. An initial suspect was a voyeur who contacted police twice, using different names. After interrogation, he was quickly dismissed. The prime suspect was a greyhound trainer who slipped his dogs daily on a path that passed the site where the bodies were found. He came forward only after his car was identified and, when interviewed by police, claimed to have used a different path that day and denied seeing the bodies. His obituary in 1977, however, claimed he had been the first to find the bodies. The theory regarding a motive of modesty for covering the bodies was supported by claims that the man was known to be a prude
Prude
A prude is a person who is described as being concerned with decorum or propriety, significantly in excess of normal prevailing community standards...
.
A woman who was a child at the time came forward at the time of the film's screening. She claimed she had found Mrs Chandler's handbag 4km away in bushland between three houses. One of those houses was discovered to belong to a relative of the greyhound trainer and was near to his own home. A veteran greyhound racing steward also came forward and said that he received a call from the suspect soon after the deaths during which he admitted that he did come across the bodies.
External links
- Who Killed Dr Bogle & Mrs Chandler? Movie Trailer http://web.me.com/issy007/Site_4/Who_Killed_Dr_Bogle_%26_Mrs_Chandler.html
- The Bogle-Chandler case
- http://www.abc.net.au/tv/guide/netw/200609/programs/ZY8229A001D7092006T203000.htmWho Killed Dr Bogle And Mrs Chandler?, Australian Broadcasting CorporationAustralian Broadcasting CorporationThe Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
] - Remembering Bogle Chandler - an interactive narrative