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
KIRKMAN, a police constable, proved that he was in plain clothes, in
the station-house at Covent Garden, on the evening of the 10th inst.,
when the prisoners were brought there, for the purpose of appearing
before the inquest, which was then sitting. He observed the prisoner
Bishop reading a bill pasted upon the wall, announcing that a boy had
been murdered, and was then lying for examination at the bone-house.
As soon as he had read the bill, Bishop observed to May, in a low tone
of voice, 'It was the blood that sold us.' He then got up and read the
bill again, repeating the words 'Marks of violence on the body;' then
turning to May again, he said, 'There were no marks of violence on the
body, but only a few breaks in the skin;' and as he said so, he sat
down, smiling.
BISHOP admitted that he had read the bill over, but denied the
expressions imputed to him.
MARGARET KING, a decent-looking woman, in an advanced state of
pregnancy, was then called forward and sworn. She stated, that on
Thursday fortnight, about one o'clock, she was standing with her
children in Birdcage Walk, near Nova Scotia Gardens, when she saw an
Italian boy, whom she had frequently seen before in the neighbourhood
of Bethnal Green, standing at the corner of Nova Scotia Gardens, with a
little box slung before him. He stood about thirty yards from where she
was standing. She never saw that boy since. He had his back to her, but
still she was sure he was the same boy whom she had seen so frequently
before. He had either a box or a cage with him.
Mr. MINSHULL.--Are you sure it was on a Thursday you saw him where you
have just described?
WITNESS.--I am sure it was on a Thursday, because it was my washing
day. It was on the Thursday before the 5th of November. I heard some
gentlemen speaking about the awful murder that had been committed on
the body of a poor Italian boy, and I immediately said, 'Dear me, I saw
a boy such as is described, standing at the end of Nova Scotia Gardens
a short time ago.'
Mrs. PARRAGALLI, who had been before examined, was again called
forward, to prove that she knew the deceased, and had frequently seen
him about the streets carrying a cage, with white mice in it. On the
1st inst. she saw him in Oxford-street, and had since seen his body at
the station-house.
BISHOP.--Are you quite certain that the boy you saw in Oxford-street
was the same boy whose body lay at the station-house?
WITNESS.--I have no doubt of it. He used to carry about his little
cage, suspended in front by a string across his shoulders. At a
distance, the cage might appear like a box.
Mr. CORDER was about to put in evidence the statements which the
prisoners had severally made before the Coroner, when
Mr. MINSHULL said, that it would perhaps be better to defer receiving
that evidence at present.
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