Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-03-03
FOREIGN EXTRACTS.

not sanction. pHILO MADISON.
FOREIGN EXTRACTS.
We have made some further extracts from
London papers to the evening OF the 9th janu-
arv, which our readers will find not only a.
musing but interesting.
Nsw York Epening Post.
Ho,rid Murders III Eding5uygh, for the purpose
of selling the bodiY.-One Of the most appalling
instances Of human depravity contained in the
records Of time, has just been brough to light
at Edinburgh. Two wretches, named VIM
Burke and Helen McDougai, were tried before
the High Court Of Judiciary on "Wednesday
last, charged with the murder OF three differ
emit individuals, IN cold blood for the mere pur-
pose Of selling the bodies to the surgeons Tor
dissection! So unnaisIsf and Incredible did the
case seem, that we believe ii has scarcely gain
ed credit in England, and il has been declared
in some Of the newspapers, 10 be mere ruse
to favor the introduction of bill for supplying
the surgeons with subjects in some legal way
The trial, however, exhibits all the facts OF this
horrible trade in blood. so as TO silence and ap.
pal the most iucredulous.
VIM. Burke and Helen McDougal, who are
both Irish, & wholved together in Edinburgh,
as man and wife, were indicted together for
the murders Of Mary Paterson or Mitchell,
James Wilson, known by the name OF DAT
JAMIE and Mary Campbell or Doehsrty, by
s,rangling them. The last OF the three cases
was taken FIRST; and the following are the facts
proved by the witnesses.
Mary Campbell or Doeheriy, OF middle age,
and in good health, came 10 Edinburgh in Oc-
| tober las, in search Of her son. She saw him,
had her holdings paid for by him, for day OF
two, and il seem. that after thus satisfying the
warnings Of natural affection, to have resolved
on returning to Glasgow, but, as she and her
son was both poor, this was 10 be done by
means Of begging. On the morning before
Halloween, she was asking charity in gro>
GERS shop, in the western suburb Of the town
There she was seen by William Burke, an l..
rishman, too, who represented to this unsus-
pecting creature, that his mother was Doch-
erty-a relation-and on this ground he offer
ed her breakfast and afterwards other meals.
| with a nights lodging. She was also supplied
literally with whiskey, and Burke, woman,
Helen M'Dougal, with whom he lived as his
wife, and VIM. Hare and his wife, young car
ter, and other young men and women, spent
the. earlier part Of the evening al merry max
ing, with liquor, dance and song; the stranger
guest acting the part Of musician, whilst the
rest, at least those named were FULLY aware that
she was doomed as they spoke Of her among
themselves freely as being "a shot for tie Doc
tors'-which, as they interpret on their oaths,
means person intended to be murdered and
sold for dissection. Accordingly in The latisr
part Of the evening, after a real or pretended
their victim and HaEsr sr iiHHem. line iss
poor deluded wretch was pushed over, & Burke
in the presence of the parties before named,
threw himself upon her aud extingushed life
speedily, by throttliDg or slrangulation. The
deed was perpe,rated in the mos, deliberate &
scientific manner by Burke, who took from 10
TO Is minutes to make sure Of his work.
Hare sitting coolly by, and the two women on
hearing the FIRST suffoca,ing scraech, running
out Into the passage, either from an instinc-
tive horror OF blood, or, what is nor less pro-
Sable from design to prevent any one from
entering till the murder was completed. When
it was so, the body was Immediately stripped
naked, and being doubled up was thrust under
some straw which lay on the ground at the
foot of an open bed. These facts are sworn to
by Hare, who turned Kings evidence, & were
fully confirmed by several persons who saw the
murdered person we'll at burke's house one ev-
eDing and corps the next. II is sworn by AL
s'on, grocer, that he heard a quarrelIing in
David Patterson, the keeper of Dr.. Knox's
Museum, swearS, that on going home at about
IL, he, al the reques, Of the latter, accompani
ed Burke to his house, where, pointing to the
straw, he said he had 60, something. by which
Paterson understood dead body, for the Doc
tor This was in the presence OF two men and
two women, and, being so Immediately after
the murder, IL is circumstance of very great
importance. II authorises many painful in
ferehces; Paterson sent for Burke next
morning; and between twelve and TWO he saw
Burke and Hare with Dr.. Knox, and Dr.. Jones
one Of his assistants. 1t Was then arranged
that the body should be delivered in the even
ing. II was that Of Campbell, or Docherty,
which had been doubled up and compressed in.
to an old tea chest, the porter. John M'Culloch,
who carried i, from West Point Tor Eve shil.
lings, having assisted in The stufipg and pack
ing. The body was received on Saturday ev.
ening; and 81 par, Of the price, then paid; but
no examination took place on reception, such
rs ought to be done in every case where the
medical man is DESTROYS If satisfying his own
mind that there are no indications of violent
death on the bodies received by him. On Sun.