File:The history of Burke and Hare and of the resurrectionist times - a fragment from the criminal annals of Scotland (1884) (14781973355).jpg

Identifier: historyofburkeha1884macg (find matches)
Title: The history of Burke and Hare and of the resurrectionist times : a fragment from the criminal annals of Scotland
Year: 1884 (1880s)
Authors: MacGregor, George
Subjects: Burke, William, 1792-1829 Hare, William, 1792?-1870? Body snatching Grave robbing Grave Robbing
Publisher: Glasgow : T. D. Morison
Contributing Library: Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine
Digitizing Sponsor: Open Knowledge Commons

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itnesses were Broggan, Mr. and Mrs. Gray, andFisher the detective, but as their evidence has been embodiedin the account of the murder itself, it need not be repeatedhere. William Hare was next brought forward, and his appearancecaused quite a sensation in court. It was known that on hisevidence and that of his wife the case for the Crown principallyrested, and expectation stood on tiptoe to hear the accounthe would give of the foul transaction in which he was a pro-minent actor. His position as an informer was pecuhar, andLord Meadowbank cautioned him that whatever share youmay have had in the transaction, if you now speak the truth,you can never afterwards be questioned in a court of justice,but if he should prevaricate he might be assured that theresult would be condign punishment. The Lord Justice Clerkfurther informed him that he was called as a witness regardingthe death of Docherty, and in reply to this he asked— T ouldwoman, sir? He was then put on oath, being sworn on a New
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■&;i^>y:^:^^v?:^;M!;^^ asoxo SA^tPmjLT) ^ o asox3 s.aaxccLBX J Tq-X -K ^ 3 HARES ACCOUNT OF THE MURDER 133 Testament having on it a representation of the cross, a modeonly adopted in Scotland when the witness belongs to theRoman Catholic Church. In answer to the Lord Advocate hesaid he had known Burke for about a year. On the 31stOctober he had a gill with Burke, and the latter then told himthat in his house there was an old woman whom he had takenoff the street, and who would be a good shot to take to thedoctors. From this word sliot he understood that Burke in-tended murdering her. His evidence of the events up to thetime of the quarrel about eleven oclock was quite consistentwith all that has already been related, but his account of theactual murder is worthy of reproduction. Having describedthe fight, during which the woman tumbled over the stool, hesaid, in answer to the Lord Advocate :— He (Burke) stood on the floor;—he then got stride-legs onthe top of the woman on

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