Mike Clinton
Who Were Burke and Hare?
William Burke and William Hare were two infamous serial killers who terrorized Edinburgh, Scotland in the 1820s. They were Irish immigrants who arrived in Edinburgh looking for work. They eventually turned to murder, selling the bodies of their victims to the city’s anatomists for medical research.
The Notorious Murderers of Edinburgh
Burke and Hare’s gruesome crimes shocked the city of Edinburgh and made headlines across the world. They targeted vulnerable people, including the homeless, prostitutes, and lodgers. Their killing spree lasted for around 10 months, during which they murdered at least 16 people.
Their Gruesome Killing Spree
Burke and Hare’s modus operandi was to suffocate their victims by compressing their chests or by covering their mouths and noses. They would then sell the bodies to anatomists for dissection. The medical profession was in great need of fresh corpses for research, and Burke and Hare saw an opportunity to make money.
The Disappearance of Their First Victim
Burke and Hare’s first victim is believed to be a lodger named Joseph the Miller. He was a frail and elderly man who had fallen on hard times. After he disappeared, his friends reported him missing to the police. But Burke and Hare had disposed of his body in a way that left little evidence behind.
The Search for the Missing Guest
The police questioned Burke and Hare about Joseph’s disappearance, but they denied any involvement. The officers did not have any concrete evidence to link the men to the crime, so they were released. However, suspicion continued to linger, and the police kept a close eye on Burke and Hare.
The Shocking Discovery in the Anatomy Theatre
Several months after Joseph’s disappearance, the anatomy professor at the University of Edinburgh received a suspicious shipment of bodies from Burke and Hare. One of the corpses resembled Joseph, and the professor alerted the police. They searched Burke and Hare’s lodgings and found evidence linking them to several murders.
The Identity of Burke and Hare’s First Victim
After Burke and Hare’s arrest, the authorities were able to piece together the details of their first murder. Joseph the Miller was staying at the same lodging house as the killers. He had fallen ill and was unable to pay his rent. Burke and Hare saw him as an opportunity to make money and suffocated him in his sleep.
The Tragic Fate of a Young Woman
Burke and Hare’s first victim was an elderly man, but their second was a young woman named Mary Paterson. She was a friend of Hare’s wife and had been staying with them temporarily. Burke and Hare suffocated her and sold her body to the anatomy professor.
Uncovering the Details of the Murder
The details of Burke and Hare’s crimes were revealed during their trial. They had targeted their victims based on their vulnerability and lack of social connections. They had murdered people from all walks of life, including a child and a mother and daughter.
The Legacy of Burke and Hare’s Crimes
Burke was hanged in 1829, and Hare was released after turning state’s evidence. The case led to changes in the law regarding the supply of cadavers for medical research. It also sparked a fascination with true crime that continues to this day. Burke and Hare’s legacy is a reminder of the dark side of human nature and the need for justice and accountability.