In 1828, the public found out about an extremely gruesome twist that the grave-robbing business had taken, and the ensuing scandal would send the common people of Edinburgh into a frenzy of panic and rage toward the medical establishment. William Burke and William Hare came to Edinburgh from Ireland looking for work as laborers, but the men quickly decided that grave robbing was a more profitable business opportunity. The two began digging up graves and selling the bodies to medical students and researchers. One of their most loyal clients was none other than the esteemed Knox. Before long, Burke and Hare bypassed grave digging in favor of murder.
Many historians argue that the duo never bothered with grave robbing and went straight to murder.
This contributed to the lack of evidence, which proved beneficial to the killers in the subsequent trial. Their victims were poor people living on the fringes of society, such as vagrants and prostitutes. Burke and Hare assumed that their victims would not be missed, and even if they were, that the authorities would make little effort to begin an investigation. In physical appearance, the men were opposites. Burke was tall and muscular and had a tendency toward violent outbursts, while Hare was thin and spry.