Star.
London, England, 1828-12-30 00:00:00

0-
pruvocation,"yet he was t justified in using a gun to
Avenge himself. It was not a case calling for heavy
punishment ; but still it was one tl at could not be passed
s• over. Under all the circumstances of thecae, the sen-
tence of the Coutt was, that be be imprisoned for the
space of three months.
The prisoner is a man of very short stature, hump-
hacked, and labouring unier general bodily weakness.
It was clear that he was such a one as would have stood
no chance against an ordinarily strong female.

HIGH COURT OF JUSTICIARY,
WEST-PaRT MURDERS.
The following is the conclusion of this trial: we gave
the first part and the verdict yesterday :
The LOUD Anstnceez addres'ed the Jury on behalf
of the Crown. After a few preliminary observations on
the nature of the case, and the circumstances under
which it had been brought forward, he went over the
evidence at some length, commenting on it, and showing
its various bearings on the respective cases of the two
Fienels. Ha L idship contended, that even indepen-
eently of the evidence of the socii criminis altogether,
the charge against the prisoner Burke had been corn-.
pletely male out. He referred particularly to the
evidence of Mary Stewart, of Utay and his wife, of
Elizabeth Peterson and her brother, and most especially
of Alston ; and he maintained that their joint testimony
' established such a connected train of circumstances as
could leave no doubt whatever as to the guilt of the pri-
soner. As to the case of M Duugal, he adverted to her
previous knowledge of the intended clime, evinced by
• her statement that they had "a shot in the house far the
Doctors"—together • ith her offering a bribe to the par-
ties cognisant of the facts to conceal what they knew,
and contended that her accession, as art and part in the
commiision of the crime, was completely wade out. If
it was not, the case of the prosecutor, he said, would be
lamentable; for, in that case, he might abandon all
hope in futu.e of ever obtaining a conviction where a
crime of an occult nature had been committed.
The DEAN of FACULTY commenced hit address to
the Jury on behalf of Burke, precisely at three o'clock
• in the morning. After some general observations on
the nature of the crime, the alleged circumstances of
atrocity attending it, the effect of the intent charged,
• the prejudices which had been raised, and the influence
'''.. of the various publications which had taken place in
the newspapers and otherwise, in exciting a let ment in
. the puhlic, together with a very ingenious attempt to
get rid of the awkward presumptions of the case, on
account of Burke's alleged trade of a resurrectionist,
he proceede.l,eith his usual great talent, to analyse the
evidence, and to exhibit the numerous and stalking con-
tradictions between the testimony of the accomplices
and that of the other witnesses.
Mr. COCKBURN addressed the Jury on behalf of
McDougal. In commenting on the testimony of the
. : Hares, he said, even-supposing their evidence to be cor- '
reef, it did not amount to certainty against her. To
talk vi their credibility was a sporting with men's lives
and a mockery of justice. The evidence of these mis-
• creants could n t be received in the same manner as
the evidence of art honest person. Their character was
' written in letters of bleod, that never could be effaced
from the recollection of all who heard their horrid
narrative. Could they conceive that an accessary to
murder was worthy of credit?—and yet the law made
him an admis ible witness. The man who was the
chief evidence in a trial for the grime of murder—
who had lc Id that be sat I n a chair within a yard
of tl:e murder and murderer, and raised not an aim,]
uttered not a cry, to save the unhappy- victim—
s% hich was the most guilty—the cool, cold-blooded
spectator of the foul murder-or the phi ended actor?
• These were certain questions which he fat it his duty
to ,put to flare, but 'Which he warned him not to
answer unle.s he chose. " I asked him,* said Mr.
C. e it he had been concerned in other murders?" but
he declined to answer. ' I asked him whether a murder
was committed in his own house in' October last? and
again that monster took dieter in his privilege. In
what situation was that man placed when he gave his
evidence? Tnere were other murders hanging over his
lead, upon which he might be libelled; he came from
the gaol, and would be returned to it—knowing full
well, that if the case failed, he might be called upon tO
deice td from the witness box, to take, :dons with his
wde, his place at the bar—in short, to eschange places
with the pannels. The monster had been that step/
' day out or gaol, to which he would be again consigned
if he filed to make them (the Jur)) believe s
story. He had often heard of King's evidences, or 1
approvers, in climes to which ' they had been acces-1
banes.; but of persons coming to give evidence with'
oilier crimes of a similar nature hanging over their;
• l'reads, the very 'idea was -hortible. It Hoe and.
his wife bad stood at the .bats and made a judicial
...
Crintesslon of the primes *filch they had stated from the
witness box, sentence legally disqualifying them would
have been recorded; hut being allowed to.make their
confession born the titre, teey were not only freed from
' the crime, but cleared to the effect of being converted
'into good .and credible witnesses. But what could a
Jury think crt the evidence of the man, who came for.
ward and said, I have been:guilty of one .murder, but
_ rata to free'nsyself mini blame by impeaching another
aelio was nut prolnerly so guilty? 11114 had seen t
aliJ wietcn—who was the picture of poverty *a' e
d
--isho stated that his traffic was as sevolting to
sight feeling as his will was prelligate. His [.canted
Fiend had swely little skill in physiognomy, or be
' -woOld never have put the female in the box—ohr
every line of sehose-countenance _every evil :passing
was imprinted. She stead in that boa, with a mita,*
ble child in her arms, and, ininackif.eastieg upon ik a
hick of maternal •kituitiess;teelited'to eye it Oily is to,
biataret that added tike fhallgisiky'S He would say,
.'irritheut fear a contradiction. :Wein never had in the
.course t f his practice seen such wretches placed in the
bitnsss box. The Learned Gentleman alluded to the,
' *declaration, and said if the Jury allowed their minds to
'he influenced by the statements of those documents, the
pannels would be legalle murdered. If they had doubts
' of the evidence; and (said
Mr.
Cockburn),
my Gob!
can you say that there ate not doubts in the case? The
Asannel must have the bereft of these doubts. It
case was
the duty of the Pub is Prosecutn ti?
•prove h is .
..Talk not (said Mr..Cockbutn) of snspicions of danger—
au
danger is greater, than that of a criminal verdict
uion
littibt evidence.l 'Though the town should ring for
Months with clannor, the Jury are the more called
' open to discharge their clu y —to separate and diScharge
from their minds evely piejutice—recollecting that
.thgy held in their hand. 'the balance el je trce—that
. .
.they weiccalled upon to decide in a doubtful ease—
-1 and. that tt doubt decided the fate of that unfortunate.
womse.
The LORA JUSTICI. CLARK began .his charge to the
. 'Jury at six o'clock on Thinsday meriting, and
,fici•brd
' about hail pist eight. His ' Lordship expressed great
estisisetigp et_ the defence having Assn eAtrainittzd so
eAuch eliinestsCeuisil ; **nubs could ,assure them (the
Jl/17).11. wet bead the deface-of any individuals ma

ducted with more teal and coeulmmate ability then
that of the prisoners. Tnei e was another observation
which he was called upon to bring under their notice;
namely, to express his thorough confideece that they
would divest their minds of every impreition or pfeju•
dice which might have been raised from what they had
read or heard out of dotes. It would be a matter of in-
finite regret if writings or publications, or any sort of
feeling, should for one instant affect their Minds ; but he
was sure they knew their duty too well to be influenced
by prejudice; they would be guided by nothing hut
the facts a% disclosed during the investigation. The
evidence was partly circumstantial, and partly direct.
The first was composed of a number of titillate facts
and circumstances; and the latter of the testimony of
socii. It would be their duty, first, to consider the ge-
neral evidence; secondly, that of the socii; and, thirdly,
the combined effect of both conjoined. From these the
verdict, upon a fair inference drawn from a coosider-
ation of the whole,'would be made up. His Lordship
then directed the attention of the Jury to the way and
manner the old woman Campbell had been bereaved
of life, informing them that if they were satisfied, she
had not died in consequence of violence, there would be
an end to the inquiry. If they held the contrary opi-
nion, they would proceed to consider whether "she had
lost her life by the h Inds of the prisoners, or one or
other of them. The evidence of the identity of her per-
son was the first branch of the investigation. His Lord-
ship then went over the 'whole of the evidnice with
great minuteness, commenting upon those puts where
there were seeming contradictions, or which bad been
specially alluded to by the public piosecutor in the:
course of the defence. With respect td Ore.:SOW, his
Lordship said they were entitled to sreditif they gave
a true account of the transaction of which therspoke.
He admitted they were not placed loth* samerituation
with a person against whom no suspicion existed; but it
was the duty of the Jut yto sift their evidence. They had
been told of the Hares being connected with other mur-
ders. With what murders they might be chargeable he
did not know ; but to a c -rtainty they could not be libelled
on either the charges contained in the libel now under.,
trial, ...ad which had not bern sent to the Jury. It was
therefore unfounded in law to say that these two per-
sons were liable to be tried for the two murders con-
tained in the indictment. These individuals, who were
%Wei Vie protection of the Ceurt, had been called as
accomplices, in the same manner as associates in rob-
bery, wilfully fire rising, and other capital...crimes.
With respect to M'l)ougal, his Lordship was under-
stood to express his opinion, that if the evidence were to
be believed. she had been an accessary before the clap
mission of the mime, during its commission, and after it
was committed ; and, open the whole, he seemed to
consider the libel as made out against both.
The Jury retired' at half past eight, and after having
been enclosed for fifty minutes, returned a verdict,
finding William Burke Guilts of the charge ;. and in
re
The
to Helen *Dottrel, found the libel Net Proven.
LoRD ADVOCATE having moved for the sentence
of the Court,
Lord bla"nowaist said, after.a trial of unexampled
length—protracted to nearly twenty-four hours---a tiial
in which the minds of your Lordships have been excited
'to the uttermuct, it would be improper in me to detain
the Court with commenting on the circumstances of
this most atrocious case ; and I feel that it is quite
impossible for any one who his attended to the pro.
feedings on this trial, to think that we have any
thing left to do but to go through with the distress-
ing duty which has now fallen to _your Lordships to
perform. Bit it is impossible, in considering the
whole cirasuistances of this distressing case, not to
advert to that most extzaoi dioaty—thite most unexam-
Fled, and that atrocious system, which every one must
teal has been .developed by the evidence which has
been broUght forward. lan sure,. and I speak in the
presence ot your Lordships, who can correct me if I am
wrong, that in the whole history of the country—l may
say, in the history of civilised society—nothing has ever
been exhibited that is id any respect parallel to this ease.'
Murders have been .c3mmitted before now ; crimes of
all descriptions have unhappily been too common ; but
we had flattered ourselves that our country was in a
great measure free from the stigma of any great or
heinous atrocity committed within its bounds. That'
there should have been found, therefore, not one, but
many, leagued and combined togethei, in order to sacri-
fice their unoffending fellow-creatures, for the wretched.
purpose of disposing of their bodies, is to the last degree
humiliating. The retry announcement of such a system
is sufficient to raise ideas of horror which it would ho
vain to search for. words adequately to ezpress. When
I take a view of the other features of this case, it ex-'
habits a picture of iniquity which the greatest stretch
of imagination can heftily take in, -yet it was so
clearly brought out in proof, that I am sure it must
carry conviction to every one who beard the evidence.
-kis proved that the prisoner, in going up the atm
alter some of his usual avocations in the morning, fell
in with this poor unprotected old vrornan.wi h whom it
es quite.clear,that be was perfectly unacquainted before.
Now began his airaogetuents, tor summing his victim.
With the immediate feeling upon him of the object
which be had in view, he claims kindred with her by a
fictitious.naoic, and by. pretences of kindoess endeavours
to gain on her affections. He entices her into his Ossn
house, and there continued .his friendship to her, into-
/noel] that ske.expressed gratitude to Mrs. Causeway
for the kindness with which she bad treated her. He ,
thus contrives .so far ito Achieve his object, that she
seams to have opened :herniations and confidence to
44M—she looked to him for protection—she felt he
had &talc ,kindly vii4l her—she refused to enter the
house until he entered with her. . She did enter with
him. p struggle, urs emended ,straggle ensued ; and
when I recollect that thainonsent she fell, that struggle
ended, I cannot rationally, eetertainx donbt that it. was
icigoed stud gqt./lp for she purpese,of etureppie.g her.
and throwing hernff her guard. ,What 4id the suslivi.
dual to whom-sbe looked' tor protection sow do? She
is thrown down, and- bee with the ferocity of a demon,
instantly throws himself upon her, and extinguishes life
in a few moments. Ido not state this with any view
whatever of exciting the 'feelings, or aggravating in-
dignati-n against the unhappy prisoner; but really
when such, a system of crime, in which there're many
actors, is developed in the- midst of this great metto-
fobs, I cannot "resist stating the• inspeestion which it
hes made upon my sand as -one --of the .IDO4 MOW
strous ezhibitions 44 atrocity ever • disclosed in the
annals of criminal .jetiopsudence in• ibis or any other
country. Sitting as I do in this place, these is little
occasion to advert to certain matters that were
pointed at, and eloquently pointed at, in the course'
.4 the Maw. I will only observe, that with matters
of science we have nothing to-do. We hare. nothing
writs hut to administer the l aw as handed down to us;
anJ Gyp fat bid that the-claims of science .or of philo.
sophy, or of speculati in bf any kind, should reran ei
from feeling the bailor which iamb °fences. are natur,
ally calculated to excite. With respect to the issue to
the pannel,your Lordships are aware thettbst nape
ask
be.death. 'Thebiabest hiw-beessid, it tins

kill—thou shalt de to: murder:" and the law of this
country says, that he who commits n.utder shall suffat
deaths The prisoner must hive Considered that he strips,
committing the high crime of murder. -In breast,
as in the breast of every one, must be implanted. Oat
feeling, that murder was the most heinous of climes.
There is no doubt that it is tie duty of the Court to
pronounce sentence on the prisoner; and 1 now sugge.t
that he be detained in the Tolbooth of Edit.buigh, and
that he suffer death on the scaffold on the '2Bth day of,
January next, end his body he given for dissection.
Lord MACK ZNZIE essed his concurrence.
THZ BIEPTIENCIL
The'LORD JUSTICII Climate then addiessed the pri-
soner nearly as follows—William Burke, you now stand
convicted by the verdict of an inrelligeot and respect-
able Jury of the atrocious minder charged ag-On t
you in the indictment, upon evidence which could nut
leave a doubt of your guilt on the mind ut anyone who
heard it. Iso I ully concur in the view which his been
so eloquently given by my Lemma kkruker of the
nature ~-•f the offence, that I a ill not occupy the time of
the Court with commenting on it. A came more
atrocious, a more cold-blooded and sys erratic piepa.
ration for murder, and the moose so paltry. is unix
ampled in the annals of the coon ry. It is now my duty
to inform you, that if it was clear beyond all possibi-
lity of doubt that sentence would in any case be
carried into full execution, this is ot.e of those
cases. You may rest assured that you have no other
chance; and I would now solemnly warn you to pre.
pare your mind in the most suitsble manner to appeal
in a very short time before the throne • f ALMIGHTY
GOD- to answer for this Crime, and for every other with
which you sled chargeable in your oon cooscience.
The necessity, of repressing crimes t f this nature pre-
cludes the possibi.ity of your eisteitainii•g the s ightest
hope. of a remi*siort of your sentence. Tile only
doubt I have in my mind is. , to ssilly
the
violated laws of your country. and the voice of vublic
indignation, yiur b.rciy ought tit t to be exhibited in
chains to bleach in the winds, in ordet to deter oliers
from the commission of similar offences. But taking
into consideration that the public eye would be of
by so dismal a spectacle, I torn willing to acce..e to a
more lenient exectrion of your sentence. and that you,
body should be publicly dissected. I urn tthat
if
ever customary to preserve skeletons, your ske nit is
%sal
be preserved, in order that pos:etity may keep io re-
membrance yt.ur atrocious crimes. 1 earne.try advise'
you to lose no time in liumbliog yourself i r toe sight•
of GOD,.4nd that you will sick the aid of the Minittio s
of religion, to whatever prrtession you may belong.
The present charges having. been folly established
against you, it is my duty to amiss you that you hare
but a few days to remain on the earth. His Lordship
then pronounced, with due solemnity, the sentence or
the law.
The'scene altogether was singularly striking and im-
pressive. The prisoner stood with uridinciring hi ill-
ness. Not a shade passed across his countenance—not
a nsuscle of his features was di,conivosed during v.e
solemn address of the Lord Justice Clerk consigning
him to death. At this moment, as indeed throughout
the whole trial, he betrayed that indtfference to his situ•
ation which could only. spring (mom utter recklessness
of life, or be the calm of settled despair. The female
prisoner, on the other hand, was greatly agitated. Dur-
ing the whole course of the trial she bad betrayed great
restlessness and anxiety ; her face was often deadly pale,
and although the expression of her features was not
upon the whole disagreeable. it frequently assumed a
haggard and ghastly appearance, like that of a person
in the jaws of death. At the moment wheksentence'
was btng pronounced on &peke e was drowned in;
tears, ind seemed to feel deeply For the wretch who bad
evidently no feeling for himself. 1
After the trial, Burke and Nl'Dougal were removed
to the lock-up house. whither flare and his wile bad,
been conveyed after giving their evidence. They
were detained there till four o clock yesterday morn.'
ing, when Burke, Hare, and his wale, were taken
to the gaol ; 14I.Dougal was liberated last night,
:baiiintbeen only detained in the lock-up house for her
personal protection. We understand that Hare has
made some disclosures in which he confesses having
been concerned in no less than twelve different acts
of murder, in some of which he was the principal,
and in others an accessary, and that he knew of another
in which, however, he was not a party. Burke, pre-
vious to his 'trial, stated in conversation to those near
him, that he had made up his mind for the worst, being'
certain that he would be convicted, which may in some
measure account for the apathy and apparent iinlif-
ference which he maintained during the trial, and par
titularly when the awful sentence of the law was pro-
nounced upon him. Since his conviction, he is appa-
rently penitent, and seems resigned to his fate. In hi,
religious opinions we understand he is a Catholic.
eel
I

-----
POLICE INTELLIGENCE.:

GUILDHALL.
Josses Nichols, driver of the cabriolet Na 87, was charged before 1
Mr. Alderman Kay, with cruelly beating his hone.
John Thraby, owe of the officers of the Society for the Preven-
tion of Cruelty to Animals, stated that he saw the defendant and
another calsrloleadriver racing down Holborn-hill, about tea
minutes before seven o'clock in the evening of the 10th inst. on
which occasion he dogged the horse very violently and unneces-
sarily: He was positive about the number, but asld not speak to
the man.
The defendant pet up an alibi, and said, in answer to the charge,
that on the evening in question he had had the misfortune to knock
down a Jew at the corner of Dow street, and to cut bis head, for
which the Jew took out a warrant against him, and by that Means
be remembered that he was at home by half past sic o'clock that
night, and that be did not go out
,again, or did his cabriolet either.
The defendant then called George Hodgkins, who said be took
care of the horses In Dorsit.ntewi. Beranston-square, where the
cabriolet, No. 87, psi up; and that the defendant was at home and
bad his horses cleaned by hal4ast sic o'clock on the evening of
the loth instant.
John Judd, another of the Society's cams, was-then called, and
said he was with Throsby. and was positive ai to tbe hour; but
could sot recollect the number of the cabriolet, not the person of
the delver.
Mr. Alderman Kay said, that be very muck doubted the evidence
for the alibi ; but is Judd could not speak to the number, he should
dismiss the complaint.
.BOW-STREET:
Toe MOULSIT 1101SIST.—Mr. Warrington's servant girl, who,
it will be recollected, had been taken into custody, was yesterday
brought before Sir Dumas, Braun in private, and discharged.—
From this it may be conjectured that all hope of unravelling the
'gait, and briuging the robbers to justice, has been abandoned.
Mr. Samuel Dadwick, a Gentleman in the legal profession.
esme to the office yesteiday morning to give evidence spinal a
*Aentdrfssede hook-nosed, long-vhaged, meek...tottering, pick-
poc t.looking lad. who gave his name as John Williamson (but
whose pre and cognomen one of the Bow-street officers took the
liberty of metamorphosing into /ffitlioni Creassoll), for picking his
coat "pst of, a silk lientikendslef, last averring at half.past sit,—
While the piseentor's evidence is ,behig taken down the
Magistrate reqoested bins to state the place In which the robbery
wis cossmitted.
Prieoper—W. was jr..-ju—just op—posite Drary.leue. you
Wonhip--(Liughter).
Mr. Hour-Ready, we are very moth obliged to lon fee the
information.
pir R. Basins-.. Are you net the lad that was brought to WI
olke so suspicion of a similar of last Friday f
N
rrinpero, Vir W.Pf—wirolill, Nwaillitorday—(Alauglsji
ph yorenakarewaHltaksis an you arellid ;Jolt did set water bete
list Saturday. .. .