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.

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    called out furiously to Hare to assist him. This Hare did bv tripping up Jamie’s heels; after which both the ruffians got upon him, and, at length, though not even then without the greatest difficulty, succeeded in strangling him. And all this has happened and has been carried on m a Christian country, and in the Metropolis offefiotland, without a. breath of suspicion having been excited as to the existence of such hellish atrocities, till Gray lodged information at the Po- lice Office of the murder of the woman Campbell or Doeherty. It was said at the trial, that the public mind had been excited and inflamed on the subject to a degree wholly unprecedented; but how is it conceivable or possible that even the lightest whis- per of such internal deeds—of an organised system ot murder —could liud its way to the public, without producing this ex- citement, without kindling up every feeling of horror and in- dignation which tl'.e darkest and most unheard of atrocities could possibly rouse in virtuous and untainted*minds ? Thin was a natural result of a great and unparalleled crime, or rather system of crimes; it was a result which no power or in- fluence could prevent; it was a result which, even if it had been possible, ought not to have been prevented. But as this excitement existed—as it lmd more or less pervaded every mind—and as it might evcntyally, if not controlled, have interfered with and affected the administration of stern justice, it was right, nay it was necessary, both for the sake of public justice and also for the satisfaction of the country, that the prisoners should be ably and powerfully defend- ed. Under this conviction, the head of the Bar of Scot- land, in conjunction w ith some other of its brightest orna- ments, came forward to offer their gratuitous services on the occasion; and certainly never was there a defence in any case conducted with more consummate ability—never per- haps was there a trial in which higher talent,, greater expe- rience, or more splendid and overmastering eloquence were displayed. And we rejoice that such has been the case. Conduct like this reflects eternal honour on the Bar ; because there are instances in which it may throw a shield around innocence; while, in every ease, it is calculated to pre- serve the course of justice puwe and undefiled, as well to give additional satisfaction to the country, to create addition- al confidence in the purity of the law, and to beget a strong- er feeling of security.in the protection which it affords. The most atrocious crimes are precisely those which ought to be most cautiously and fully investigated; where prejudice of all sorts ought to he most anxiously excluded or counteracted; where every facility in the power of the Court to give, ought