The Sun.
London, England, 1829-01-13 00:00:00

WEST-PORT MURDERS.

It gives us no small pleasure to be able to in-
form the public, that the Lord Advocate has
caused inquiries respecting these atrocious mur-
ders to be resumed with renovated zeal and

activity. On Thursday no less than seven in-
dividuals, including four resurrectionists, and
three persons who were in the habit of frequent-
ing Hare's house, were examined. It was fer-
merly mentioned that one of the macers of the
High Court of Justiciary had apprehended a
woman in Glasgow who had been servant with
Hare, and there are no slight grounds to hope,
that she and the others will unfold a tale of

horror, which will cause a jury to consign that

acknowledged murderer to the ignominious death

he deserves.

The public at large are making anxious and
universal inquiry after Pateison. This man, in
stead of checking at once the course of murder,
and bringing the murderers to justice, encou-
raged the homicides and profited by the horrid
traffic. Had be procured only such bodies as
were indispensable for his employer's ball, dire
necessity might have been urged as a slight pal-
liation of his odious conduct, but he enjoined
the assassins to " procure as many subjects asthey could," " asked no questions," and it is be-
yond dispute, that he offered the body of the
woman Docherty to an eminent lecturer in town

for 151., who spurned the proposal with merited
indignation and contempt. It was proved on
Burke's trial that he never paid more than WI.
for a body, and had this gtintleman accepted his
offer, here was at once a profit to Paterson of
five pounds. It will ever be regretted if no se-
♦erer punishment than universal reprobation and
abhorrence overtake this wholesale dealer in the
bodies of his murdered fellow-creatures.

With respect to Burke, he is quite resigned to
his awful fate. From information received from
various quarters on which we:can'depend, we can
state that the murders perpetrated by him and his
gang will exceed a] dozen, and will certainly be.
under a score—a catalogue far too large and
horrific, and one for which the blood of a single
murderer is but a deplorable atonement. Burke
continues to be particularly anxious for the death
of his associate Hare—not from vindictive and
revengeful feelings—but on the ground of int-
inanity. When conversing lately on this sub-
ject, he stated his perfect conviction that if Hare
should be again let loose on society, he would
recommence his murderous career when he
wanted money.
This city is no longer polluted with the pre-
sence of his female companion, of horrible no-
toriety, M'Dougal ; but where she has gone we
have been at no pains to enquire. On Sunday,
after her confinement in the Lock-up as formerly
detailed, this wretched woman related a horribe,
but a plausible story, to one of the sub-
alterns of authority. She stated, that one
night Burke and Hare were carousing in one of
the apartments of Hare's human shambles, on
the profit of a recent murder. In the midst
of their unhallowed orgies, Hare raised his
hand, and in a fit of fiendish exultation, stated
that they could never want money ; for, when
they were at a loss for " a shot," a body for
dissection, they would murder and sell, first'. one
and then the other of their own wives. Being
in the adjoining apartment, the females overheard
and were petrified by this horrible resolution, as
they had every reason to be assured that the
monsters would certainly carry it into effect. A
discussion of some length ensued, and Hare
finally succeeded in persuading Burke to consent
that when the dreaded emergency did arrive,
INl,Dougal should be the first victim.
A strong desire is still manifested to see the
dens in which Burke and Hare resided. A
sage personage observing that Hare's house was
daily visited by great crowds, rented it for a
specified time, and shows it for a trifle to visitors.
Yesterday forenoon there were seldom fewer
than a score waiting their turn for admittance.
But this is by no means the most marvellous part
of the etory. Some people have manifested a
taste altogether unique, to be possessed of some
article or other which belonged to these peerless
criminals. One man boasts that he l got
Burke's hammer—another that he }',as Hare's
whiskey bottle—while others hare actually carried
off small pieces of wood, in or'aer to be convert-
, ed into snuff boxes or soma articles of fancy.—
Scotsman.

SUICIDE.—Last evening an inquest was held
at the Westminster Hospital, on the body of Mary Anne
Stevenson. It appeared that the unfortunate deceased was
36 years of age, and in the fifth month of her pregnancy.
About seven weeks ago, she came to reside v.ith a female
acquaintance named Ann Jenks, at SG, Great Peter-street,
Westminster, having previously lived in the family Of a
Mr. Fowler, in Lisson-grove, and also with a gentleman
named Pratt, in St. John's Wood, by one of whose servants,
she said she had become pregnant. On the 10th December,
the deceased was brought to the hospital with symptoms of
having taken poison,'and it was supposed she had done so
to cause abortion. On Saturday morning she died, and in
her pocket was found an ounce of vigar of had, The
Jury returned a verdict of " Felo de se,"

SO Per Cpit.
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