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
JOHN WILLIAMS, was brought in; and being cautioned not to say anything
to criminate himself, he stated that, in the first place, he met Bishop
on last Saturday morning, in Long-lane, Smithfield, and asked him where
he was going? He said he was going to the King's College. They then
went into the Fortune of War public-house, and after that Bishop went
to Guy's Hospital, and then to the King's College. May and the porter
met them against the gate. Bishop went in, and he (Williams) asked him
to let him go in with him. That was all he had got to say, except that
a porter took a basket from the Fortune of War to Guy's Hospital, and
he (Williams) helped him a part of the way with it.
[Illustration: Bishop, &c. at Entrance of King's College]
The prisoner was then removed.
JAMES SEAGROVE, a cabriolet driver, swore positively, that a quarter
before six o'clock on Friday evening he was sitting in a public-house
in the Old Bailey, when two men (May and Bishop) came in, and the
taller of the two told him that they wanted him to do a job. Witness
answered that there were a great many jobs, long and short ones. May
then said, that he wanted him to carry a 'stiff un.' Witness asked what
he meant to pay him for it. The witness then went on to state, that he
declined the offer of May and Bishop, and afterwards saw them trying
to make a bargain with a coachman on the stand. May had previously
offered witness a guinea for the job. The witness added that he meant
to do them, and appeared to consent at first merely for the purpose of
hearing a little of the tricks of body-snatchers.
The room was about to be cleared, when
WILLIAM HILL, the porter at the dissecting-rooms, King's College,
begged to add to his former evidence, that when there was a delay in
paying Bishop and May for the body, the former said to Mr. Partridge,
Give me what money you have got in your purse, and I will call for
the remainder on Monday. It was very unusual for persons selling dead
bodies to go away with part payment only, unless something was wrong;
they generally wait for their money.
The room was then cleared, and at half-past ten o'clock the Jury came
to the following verdict:--
We find a verdict of WILFUL MURDER against some person or persons
unknown; and the Jury beg to add to the above verdict, that the
evidence produced before them has excited very strong suspicions
in their minds against the prisoners Bishop and Williams, and they
trust that a strict inquiry will be made into the case by the
Police Magistrates.
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