West Port murders, or an authentic account of the atrocious murders committed by Burke and his associates; containing a full account of all the extraordinary circumstances connected with them. Also, a report of the trial of Burke and M'Dougal. With a description of the execution of Burke, his confessions, and memoirs of his accomplices, including the proceedings against Hare, &c.

  • Burke, William, 1792-1829.
Date:
1829
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: West Port murders, or an authentic account of the atrocious murders committed by Burke and his associates; containing a full account of all the extraordinary circumstances connected with them. Also, a report of the trial of Burke and M'Dougal. With a description of the execution of Burke, his confessions, and memoirs of his accomplices, including the proceedings against Hare, &c. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    24/392 (page 14)
    TRIAL OF WIJ.LIAM til Ft K E surgeon, as a subject for dissection, or with some other wicked and felonious intent or purpose, to the Prosecutor unknown. (3.) Further, on Friday the 31st day of October U\-2ll of on one or other of the days of that month, or of September inunc- diately preceding, or of November immediately following, within the house then or lately occupied by you the said William Burke, situated in that street of Portslmrgh, or West- er Portsburgh, in or near Edinburgh, which runs from the Grassmarket of Edinburgh to Main Point, in or Deaf Bdw* burgh, and on the north side of the said street, ami having an access thereto by a trance or passage, entering from the street last above libelled, and having also an entrance from a court or back court on the north thereof, the name of which is to the Prosecutor unknown, you the said William Burke and Helen M'Dougal, did both and each, or one or other of you, wickedly and feloniously place or lay your bodies or persons, or part thereof, on the body or person <»r part thereof of one or other of you, over or upon the per- son or body and face of Madgy or Margery or Mary \Hi<>- negal, or Duffie, or Campbell, or Docherty, then or late- ly residing in the house of Roderick Stewart or Stuart, then and now or lately labourer, and then and now or lately re- siding in the Pleasance, in or near Edinburgh ; when she, the said Madgy or Margery, or Mary M'Gonegal, or Dullie, or Campbell, or Docherty, was lying on the ground, and did, by the pressure thereof, and by covering her mouth and the rest of her face with your bodies or persons, or the body or person of one or other of you, and by grasping her by the throat, and keeping her mouth and nostrils shut, with your hands, and thereby, or in some other way to the Prosecutor unknown, preventing her from breathim;, suffocate or strangle her; and the said Madgy or Margery, or Mary M'Gonegal, or Duffie, orCampbell, or Docherty, was thus, by the said means,or part thereof, or by some other means or violence, the particulars of which are to the Prosecutor unknown, wickedly bereaved of life, and murdered by you the said William Burke, and you the said Helen M'Dougal, or one or other of you; and thus you, both and each, or one or other of you, did, with the wicked aforethought intent of disposing of or selling the body of the said Madgy or Margery or Mary M'Gonegal,°or Duffie, or Campbell, or Docherty, when so murdered, to a physician or surgeon, or to some person in the employment of a physi- cian or surgeon, as a subject for dissection, or with some otner wicked and felonious intent or purpose to the Prosecutor un- known: And you, the said William Burke, having been taken before George Tait, Esq. sheriff-substitute of the shire of