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
By Dr. ROBINSON.--The sack appeared to contain something heavy. It
is usual for coaches to draw up to the gate of the Hospital, and no
questions are asked. I knew the persons of the men before, but did not
know their names.
BISHOP.--Now, John, are you certain that it was I who carried the sack?
WITNESS.--Yes, I am.
MAY.--Why it was I who carried the sack, and not Bishop. It is a matter
of no moment, but it only shows how careful men ought to be when on
their oath.
JAMES DAVIS, the porter to the dissecting-room at Guy's Hospital,
repeated the evidence which he gave before the Coroner, as to the body
having been offered for sale to him, by Bishop and May, on the night
of Friday; and after he had declined to purchase it, Bishop requested
him to take charge of it all night, which he did. Witness observed a
human foot protruding from the sack, (a previous witness has sworn that
it was the knee,) and from the size of the foot he concluded, that the
subject was either a youth or a female. The body was removed from the
Hospital on the following morning, James Weeks, the assistant porter,
having delivered it to May and Bishop. Witness saw them both at the
Hospital in the morning, in company with the prisoner Shields, and
another man.
JAMES WEEKS, the person referred to, proved that he delivered the body
to May and Bishop. When they were at the Hospital the previous night,
May said, 'The fact is, the subject belongs to Bishop and not to me.'
Witness was positive that when May and Bishop came for the body in the
morning, the prisoners, Shields and Williams, accompanied them.
MAY.--When we were going to leave 'the thing,' did not Bishop say it
belonged to him?
WITNESS.--No, not to my knowledge.
Mr. MINSHULL.--Had anything been said that you remember?
WITNESS.--Yes; May said, 'Don't let the subject go, unless I am here
with Bishop.' Bishop said so likewise.
JAMES DAVIS recalled.--I don't recollect that May said, Don't let
the body go; but some conversation having passed to that effect, the
impression that it left upon my mind was, that the body was not to be
removed from the Hospital, unless both prisoners were present.
JOHN APPLETON, porter to Mr. Grainger's Theatre of Anatomy,
Webb-street, Borough, proved, that on Friday night, after May and
Bishop had left Guy's, they came and asked if he wanted a subject.
Witness answered in the negative, and they went away.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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