The Sun.
London, England, 1832-12-29 00:00:00

MARY LEB ONE.

John Burroughs, a lad about 13 years of age, was
charged with stealing a hat, the property of Mr.
Charrington, hatter, Little James-street.
The prisoner was sentenced to two months', im-
prisonment in the House of Correction.
HAT T ON-GARDEN.

EXTRAORDINARY INVESTIGATION. Yesterday
Mr. Beaune, the proprietor of a place near to Co-
penhagen-house, called the " French Colony," ap-
peared at this office to meet a charge which had been
made against him, under the following circum-
stances:—
On Wednesday last a man, named Mortimer,
came before Mr. ROGERS, the sitting Magistrate,
and stated that, within the last eight or ten days,
Beatime's sister died in childbed, and that on the
following day her brother, with whom she had resi-
ded since she was seven years old, carried her re-
mains to the London University, and that subse-
quently the child died, and was carried away in the
same manner and to the same place by Mr. Beaume.
Under those extraordinary circumstances he (Mr.
M.) thought it his duty to make a representation
of the case to the Magistrates of this office.
Mr. Rogers, after hearing the statement, referred
him to the parish-officers of Islington. Mr.
Mortimer thereupon proceeded to the parish-
officers, and gave information; after which
inquiries were made; and on Brown, the beadle,
ascertaining that the bodies had been removed to
the London University, without having been eats-
ruined by the " pariah searchers," he took the de-
fendant into custody, and brought him to this office
en the same evening. On being questioned by Mr.
ROGERS, he acknowledged having removed the
bodies as described, alleging that it was his sister's
wish before dissolution, in consequence of having
been afflicted with a peculiar disease ; and she
thought that if her body was delivered over for dis-
section, medical science might benefit by it. Pre-
vious to acting as he bad done he consulted with
Mr. Cole, a surgeon, who attended his sister in
child-bed, and that gentleman informed him that he
could give up the body for dissection, if he pleased.
After this explanation, Mr. ROGERS held .the de-
fendant to bail, in the sum of 1001., to appear at
this office yesterday, and desired Brown, the beadle,
to wait upon the before-mentioned medical gentle.
man, and request his attendance at the examination.
On the case being called on for hearing, Mr.
Resume, who was attired in mourning, stood for-
ward, and the minutes taken on the first hearing of
the case having been read over, the following evi-
dence was adduced :
Dr. James Sommerville, the inspector of anatomy
appointed by Government, having been sworn, said
that on Monday, the 17th instant, Professor Quain,
of the London University, gave him the notice re-
quired by the 9th clause of the Anatomy Act, that.
it was his intention to remove one Charlotte
Beaume, to the London University, for anatomical
purposes. At the same time this notice was given,
Mr. Quain said that as there were some peculiar cir-
cumstances connected with the case, he should wish
o ask his (Dr. S.'s) advice how to act. He then
informed witness that the deceased had been a dis-
ciple of Mr. Owen, and that before her death, she
requested that her body should be given up for a
sum of money, to the surgeons; and that the sum
raised in that way should be paid over to some
charitable institution. Witness thereupon told Mr.
Quain, that he had better not make a bargain for
,he body, but comply with the request of the de-
ceased by giving a sovereign to some charitable in-
Ftitution. This was all that passed between them
on the subject, and about two days after this con-
versation, Mr. Quain forwarded to witness the re.
quired returns of the receipt of the body, accom-
panied with a certificate as to the cause of the
death. Since the application was made at this of-
lice, witness had strictly inquired into the case, and
he was able to say that the whole transaction had
been in strict accordance to law. Dr. Quain was
licensed to dissect bodies under the new Act.
Mr. John Cole, surgeon, of Charlotte-street,
Bedford-square, about a month ago was applied to
In the usual way to attend the deceased, and
on the Bth inst. he went to Mr. Beaume's house.
On his arrival the child was born, and with its mo-
ther appeared to be doing well, All went on favour--
4)ly until Thursday, the 13th inst. when a messenger
came to his house between five and six o'clock in
he morning, requesting his attendance at deceased's
residence, whither he proceeded immediately, and
upon seeing the unfortunate woman he found her
labouring under violent inflammation of the perito-
netn. Witness relieved her by medicine, but he
was unable to stop the progress of the disorder, arid
on the Sunday following she died. He (Mr. Cole)
was not with her at the time, but he entered the
room in less than an hour after her death, at which
rime he examined the child and found it suffering
from erysipelas. The child lingered for a few days
ioniser, and then sunk under that disease. On the
17th inst. Mr. Beaume called on witness and said
that his sister had expressed in writing, or in her
will, a wish that her body should be disposed of for
dissection, to " that Professor of Anatomy who en-
'ertained the most liberal opinions ;" and that any
sum which he might give for the body should be
given to an institution, having for its object
the benefit of mankind. Mr. Beaume then re-
quested that the money obtained in that man-
rier might be transmitted to Mr. Owen, of Gray's
Inn-road. The defendant also stated, that if dissec-
tion could not be accomplished, his sister desired
hat her body might be burnt rather than buried.
In consequence of the defendant requesting witness
.o assist him in accomplishing the above wishes of
ids sister; he (Mr. C.) wrote to Dr. Quain, slating
he circumstances, and offering the body to him.
In answer to a question by Mr. ROGERS, Mr.
Cole said that Mr. Beaume exhibited some writing,
as his sister's, which he said was that relative to
the disposal of her body, but whether such was the
case he was unable to say, as he did not peruse it.
Mr. Cole added, that at each interview Mr. Beaume
sppared in extreme I.ffiiction relative to the death
of his sister.
Mr. Quain, demonstrator of anatomy to the Lon-
don University, on the 17 t h instanteebiue hrrrneee
ntc
waitedce ei
rathery te od
tah
upon
ete
pht
rotaeenn.r
from Mr. Cole, offering the deceased's body for dis-
section ; and that, in consequence of the latter re-
presenting that the deceased had expressed a wish
that the proceeds of the sale of her body, to_
;ether with the price of a decent funeral, should be
d
rinbapemorsent Was imperative
'lll)Shui:lareptitSleoti gentleman,
nhh rtaetol that
afms at: :met: the
statedl:eoabcfAnohddcayrti interment;tmoabfgl ePhtpa (in
and, on a subsequent
interview with the inspector of anatomy, he said
that that part of the Act could not be dispensed
,vith. On the 18th instant witness sent an under-
taker for the body, and on the following morning he
saw it in the dissecting-room.
Mr. ROGERS—What was the cause of death ?
Quain--51r. Cole told me that he had been
rearing the deceased for an inflammation of the
peritoneum ; and, on a post•mortern examination
of the body, I found that he formed a correct opi-
nion of her complaint. I saw the infant opened,
and there were marks of disease; there was matter
In thejointe-
Mr. ROGERS—I suppose you will have both bodies
Interred directly. Mr. Quain—Most certainly; very
likely to-day.
Mr. ROGERS now ordered the evidence to be read
over, which was done.
The worthy MAGISTRATE then told the defendant
that he was discharged; adding that he had not yin.
laced the laws of the country, but, on the other
hand, had acted in strict accordance with them.
Mr. Beaume—l have been illegally detained ;
and I don't like to be called a plisonei, Wiitit 4114