The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-01-18
NlURDEROUS LONDON.

MURDEROUS LONDON.
W. Z. FIRTH in Christmas Time
1t is said that the memories ol
elderly people, while somewhat Tail
ing as to recent events, are often ex
traordinarly clear in respect Of mat
ters connected with the experience o
their days. 1t would be vain for mt
to deny that am an elderly person
for have been forced to confess il
another place" that l was born il
the year 1919, and have consequently
arrived at the end of the allotted
span; and though, as We are told
there are some whose pilgrimage is
heightened beyond the usual lease,
then is their but sickness and sor.
row. OF the latter l have had my
| share: of the former lam most thank.
Jul to say | know nothing. In re-
sprct OF memory. ! can claim cxemp-
ton from the weakness that is said
to aiilict people of threcscorc and ten,
for have found it as true to lie
when called upon to record events
that happened half Al century since
as it is to those of more recent times.
Occurrences so startling as to
shake the country from one end to
the other make indelible impressions
on the fecblest memories. suppose
no one living ut the time of the Mar
murders cnn have forgotten the fran
ticterrorthat possessed tlecomm,ln-
ity till the murder was discovered.
Numbers now living may have seen
the body of the suici,lc-the man hung
himself in prison-as it was carried,
ina cart, about the locality of his
crimes, exposed to the scrutiny of
thousands of his fellow-creaturcs.
can wildly recall u certain evening
ut my home in Harrowgate-bcing
about 12ycars old-when my father,
who had been reading the times, en-
claimed, well, of all the horrors
ever hear of this beats everything!"
whats the matter?" said Inv
mother.
'The doctors are to blame; if there
were no doctors this wouldn't have
happened"
"What wouldn't have happened?
You look Mortified, What is it?''
again demanded my mother.
"What is it?" exclaimed my father,
"Why, they have been killing people
to supply the doctors with bodies to
be dissected-that's what has hap
penad. Here is IL long account-a
couple of wretches-no, there's three
of en-, Bishop, Williams, and anoth-
er-who have been leagued together
to decoy people into their place,
smother them, then put their bodies
into sacks, and then take them to
the hospitals to be cutup."
at isn't true! Idon't believe it,"
said my mother.
"Well, ! hope it isn't" said my
father, "but here it is all in print"
In 1882 London news took
many hours in reaching Yorkshire,
but subsequent account only served
to confirm the first announcement,
of course accompanied by fearful
Congregations. Instances were given
ofrespectable citizens who were way
laid in lonely places; IL "pitch-plas-
ter" suddenly placed over mouth
and nose speedily produced insensi-
bility; one of the murtlerers carried q
sack, and i'll Il few moments the re-
spectacle citizen was OH his way to
the surgeon. Another method OF
pursuing this dreadful trade" was
for the confe'lcrates to fix upon an
evident stranger-n countryman
perfaps-whose curious stare at
London siglltsrevealed him to the
operators, who would civilly uccost
him and offer their services. Had
he seen the Tower'' mo, that was
just what me wanted tosce." well
they were going that way. and would
be most happy, etc, etc
BY the way Of the murderer was
not the way to the Tower. but to
his own house, into which the victim
was induced to enter. and after a lit
tie persuasion to take light re-
..resllment. Bread and cheese and
Deer were produced.
This beer has a. rum taste" snys
che guest.
elias it," says the host: ".Just let
me taste it. Why, you seem a little
sleepy-come II long way. | suppose
Here is some first rate brandy, take
a good swig of that. that's the stuff
to keep your eyes OPEN" Judging
from the effect, that it was the stuff
to keep the eyes shut. for the country.
man had no sooner taken one "swig'
than he fell into deep sleep.
The next act in this performance
was to strip the body and carry it to
81 we'll in the back yard of the house:
IL cord was then tied to the feet, and
the body was plunged head foremost
into the we'll. AFTER" as one of the
murderers said in his confession, 1--WE
had allowed time for all trace of the
brandy to be washed away, the dead
man was drawn up. put into sack,
and one OF us took him to the doctors;
no questions was asked, we was paid
the money, and come away"
To all these dreadful details did We,
my brother and l, seriously incline.
with the result on my part of u con.
siderable amount of terror on my
first visit to London.
was on my way to school at st.
Margaret's. and l knew / must be
some days in London. l felt sure
should betray myself as u stranger;
should lose my way, should start
about me, like that unhappy coun-
tryman; but made up my mind to
reply to no stranger, "cllarmed he