Transcription
A full account of the Trial and Sentence of William Burke this day, the West Fort Murderers. who is to be Executed on Wednesday the 28th January This day, Wednesday 24th Dec. came on the Trial of William Burke and Helen McDougal his wife, accused of three different Murders, the first in the beginning of April last, in the house of Constantine Burke, scavenger, Gibb's Close Canongate, on the body of Mary Paterson or Mitchell, while she was lying in a state- of intoxication, by covering her mouth and nose, and compressing her throat. The second in the month of October last, within a house in Tanner's Close, West Port, occupied by William Hare, labourer, on the body of James Wilson or Daft Jamie, by forcibly, throwing him down, and compressing his mouth, nose, and throat till he was suffocated. And the third on the 31st October last, within a house in the West Port occupied by the Prisoners, on the body of Margery Campbell or Docherty, by keeping her mouth and nose covered which produced suffocation, and afterwards sel- ling the bodies to Lecturers on Anatomy. The Prisoners pled not Guilty. The Jury were then sworn and encl sed. when the trial proceeded on the third charge. David Patereou, keeper of Dr Knox's Museum, Burke sent for him on the 8st Oct. last and pointing to the bed, said he had something for the Dr was desired by the Dr. to receive any pack- age which they might bring, was in the way about 7 next night, when Burke, Hare, and M culloch a porter came with an old tea chest, it was put into the cellar. Got L5 from Dr Knox, which he divided betwixt Burke and Hare. the balance was to be paid when the Dr saw the subject. On the sunday morning Lieut. Paterson and Sergeant major Fisher called on him, he opened the cellar and gave the package, the box was opened and saw the body of a female whose appearance in his opinion indictated suf- focation or strangulation. John Broggan was in Burke's house on the night of Halloween saw an old woman there, left the house at 7 night returned at 2 next morning. left again and returned in the afternoon ; heard some one ask what had become of Mrs Docherty, and the female prisoner answered that she had became troublesome. and had put her out; saw Burke take whisky and throw it up to the roof, and creep below the bed with a cup and some spirits in his hand and as be thought things looked suspicious be left the house, One witness who lived adjoining to Burkes heard on the night of the 30th Oct. cries of murder proceed from Burke's house, and other strange sounds as if an animal was suffocating. Mrs Gray was in the house on the 31st, she asked what was become of the old woman, they said she had put her out, witness thought all seemed not right, she lifted up some bed clothes and saw a body with its face to he wall lifted up the head by the hair, knew it to be that of the old woman, the Face was a little soiled with blood, and the nostr ls black, she told her husband and they departed, met the female prisoner in the passage, and men- tioned what she had seen, the prisoner said she did not care as nobody could prove any thing, the prisoner afterwards attempted to bribe witness with a few shiltings, and said that if she could keep a secret she would make L4 a week; witness exclaimed 'Good God how could you do it.' After a little altercation wit- ness and her husband want away. The Lord Advocate addressed the Court at great length, and was ably answered by the prisoners council; The Lord Justice Clerk summed up the evidence in the clearest manner, when the jury retired, and unanimously gave in their verdict of guilty. against Burke Mrs Burke will be tried on a new indictment. The Lord Justice Clerk i n passing sentence on the prisoner, made observation on the heiniousness and great enormity of these horrid crimes, and begged him to prepare for his ignominous end. He then sentenced him to be executed at Edinburgh on the 28 th day of Jaunary 1829. And body given over for Dis-ssection. The Prisoners arrived at the Court by 4 o'clock in the morning in coaches ;--Strong parties of police were stationed at the door. of the Court, no person was admitted without a ticket, previously i sued. Immense crowds continued in the Square during the day PRICE ONE PENNY.
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Date of publication:
1828 shelfmark: Ry.III.a.6(012)
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