The history of the London Burkers: Containing a faithful and authentic account of the horrid acts of the noted Resurrectionists, Bishop, Williams, May, etc., etc., and their trial and condemnation at the Old Bailey for the wilful murder of Carlo Ferrari, with the criminals' confessions after trial. Including also the life, character, and behaviour of the atrocious Eliza Ross, the murderer of Mrs. Walsh, etc., etc.Anonymous
History
The history of the London Burkers: Containing a faithful and authentic account of the horrid acts of the noted Resurrectionists, Bishop, Williams, May, etc., etc., and their trial and condemnation at the Old Bailey for the wilful murder of Carlo Ferrari, with the criminals' confessions after trial. Including also the life, character, and behaviour of the atrocious Eliza Ross, the murderer of Mrs. Walsh, etc., etc.
Anonymous
Bishop, John, -1831; May, James, -1832; Ross, Eliza, 1793 or 1794-1832; Trials (Murder) -- England -- London; Williams, Thomas, -1831
PRISONER.--They might be there. (The prisoner, on being further
pressed, admitted that they were there; and said, that Bishop told him
he should want him the next morning to do a job for him.) I very often
go to the Fortune of War. I remained there for about half an hour, and
I met Bishop and May there by accident. They went away before I left.
When I said that I met Bishop and May in Covent Garden at ten o'clock
on Friday morning, I did not speak the truth. I now state that I met
him at the Fortune of War, on the Friday morning, at eight o'clock.
Mr. CORDER.--I suppose that you know that the Fortune of War is a sort
of house of call for resurrectionists?
PRISONER.--It may be. I have seen several respectable persons there.
Mr. CRIBB.--Now, Shields, answer this question truly. Do you know
anything relating to the death of the deceased?
PRISONER.--Bishop said, while coming to Bow-street, in the van, that
the body was got from the ground, and that he knew where it was got
from. He smiled as he said so, adding, that if he was brought before
the Jury he would give them ease about it.
The examination of Shields having been concluded, the prisoner Bishop
was brought before the Jury; and the Coroner cautioned him as to the
awkward situation in which he stood, there being no doubt but that the
boy had been unfairly dealt by.
BISHOP.--I dug the body out of the grave: the reason why I decline to
say the grave I took it out of is, that there were two watchmen on the
ground, and they intrusted me, and being men of family, I don't wish to
'deceive' them. I don't think I can say anything more. I took it for
sale to Guy's Hospital, and, as they did not want it, I left it there
all night and part of the next day, and then I removed it to the King's
College. That is all I can say about it. I mean to say that this is the
truth. I shall certainly keep it a secret where I got the body. I know
nothing as to how it died.
CORONER.--You have a right not to implicate yourself; and certainly
I must say, that the account which you have given is by no means
satisfactory.
Bishop was then removed, and the prisoner May was brought forward, and
cautioned in the same way as the other prisoners. He was told that the
result of the inquiry might affect his life, and if he said anything,
it would be produced as evidence against him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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