The Sun.
London, England, 1826-04-03 00:00:00

TAUNTON, Tito II DAV, 31Anctr 30.

StEAr MG DEAD BODIES.— Wiithlln Clarke, alias William
Taylor, was indicted for stealing four dead bodies from the
church-yard of Walcot, in Bath.
It appeared partly from the evidence, and partly from the
prisoner is own c,onfession, that he had been accustomed to the
resurrection business .since he was aix years of age ; and,
from that time to the present, had assisted in the procuring of
2,000 bodies for anatomical purposes. For these, when sub.
jects were scarce, he had been paid as high as 10 guineas
a piece. Flu had been tried 28 times for this description of
offence, but, from various causes, had 'escaped from all but
two of the indictments: on those he was convicted and pu-
nished. 'rite particular offence in question, was only one of a
class committed by the prisoner, as a part of his system. He,
with an understrapper, hired a small house in a yard which corn.
mantled a view 01 Walcot burial-ground, so that when-people
were buried, he and his companions were fully aware of dine,
place, and subject; and they had acted with suchpirnisdounsetrr,ys
and regularity, that between October and February they had
plundered alcot burial-ground of at least 415 bodies.- These
were packed up in hampers, and forwarded to London by the
houseßath
cWoaascialga.relOtend ;aanddisctolivreerey bodiesbein regw ne‘adetb, theund packed in
hampers for conveyance by the coach; and a tomtit in a closet,
covered with straw. In the cellar, there was found an immense
quantity of butnan bones, admittedly in a state of preparation
to make skeletons.
The prisoner, in his defence, did not deny the charge ; but
complained bitterly of, the medical gentlemen not coining for-
ward in his support as they had promised.
He was found guilty, and before judgment begged very herd
for mercy. He represented' that subjects must be had for put.
poses of medical science; that the obtaining and acting upon
them was very advantageous to the living ; and he even drew
some connection between his profession and loyalty to die So-
vereign ; for he assured the Court that when his Majesty (God
bless flint) had a complaint which rendered surgical operation
necessary, lie (the prisoner) had procured four snljectt foi a
preliminary operation, two of which were for the exclusive use
Of Sir A. Cooper.
Islr. Justice Bratnotsort, paiinognejr. udgtHn een
(thet ,
sludge)express-
ed
his disgust, at the conduct of the isnis
cited not who were of opinion that euch,practices ought to be
tolerated: the law forbad them ; and his own feelings en-
entirely accorded with the law. lie was sorry of inconvenience
was susbined by the practisers of medical science ; but it
could not be endured that ' such conduct as that of the pri-
soner, denounced as it was by die existing law, should pass un-
Eunished. His Lordship then sentenced the prisoner to pay a
tine to the King of 100/. ; and be imprisoned for the space of 12
calendar months.
The Assizcs ,at this town will close this evening, and will
conclude the western circuit, on which no prisoner has yet been
executed, Dyer, who was left for execution at Winchester, haV-
ing been reprieved.

V ESTIIIS MOVVit with her beauti-
ful Iron Greys from the neie,hhourhooti of Gore-
lane, Brompton, to Kensington. Query—to
Kensington Gore ! If er next move, it is thought,
will be to Nil-town.