William Burke and William Hare
William Burke and William Hare
6Digest
This episode of True Crime All The Time delves into the chilling tale of William Burke and William Hare, two men who turned murder into a lucrative business in 19th century Edinburgh. Driven by greed, they preyed on vulnerable individuals, primarily women and the poor, luring them to their lodging house, getting them drunk, and then suffocating them. Their victims were then sold to Dr. Robert Knox, a respected anatomist who purchased bodies without questioning their origins. The episode explores the historical context of body snatching, the high demand for cadavers for medical education, and the moral and legal complexities surrounding the practice. It highlights the recklessness and greed that ultimately led to their downfall, as their actions became increasingly brazen and careless, culminating in their arrest and trial. The episode also discusses the lasting impact of the Burke and Hare case, including the passage of the Anatomy Act of 1832, which provided a more ethical and legal framework for obtaining cadavers for medical research. The episode concludes with a discussion of the enduring notoriety of the case and the lasting legacy of Burke and Hare as symbols of the dark side of human greed and the lengths to which people will go for profit.
Outlines
Introduction
This Chapter introduces the episode and the hosts, Mike Ferguson and Mike Gibson, who discuss their recent episodes and upcoming topics, including the Colt Haines and Molly Miller case, William Burke and William Hare, and the practice of body snatching in the 18th and 19th centuries.
The Lives of Burke and Hare
This Chapter delves into the backgrounds of William Burke and William Hare, both Irish immigrants who came to Scotland to work on the Union Canal. Burke was a cobbler known for his good humor and singing, while Hare was described as uncouth, illiterate, and quarrelsome. The chapter details their relationships with their common-law wives, Helen McDougall and Margaret Lear, and how they met and began their criminal enterprise.
The First Murder
This Chapter recounts the first murder committed by Burke and Hare, involving an elderly army pensioner named Old Donald. They sold his body to Dr. Robert Knox, a respected anatomist, for a profit, setting the stage for their subsequent murders.
The Murder Spree Begins
This Chapter details the escalation of Burke and Hare's murder spree, as they kill at least 16 people over several months, targeting vulnerable individuals in poor communities. The chapter explores their methods, including luring victims to their lodging house, getting them drunk, and then suffocating them. It also discusses the role of their common-law wives in their crimes and the increasing risk they took as their greed grew.
The Students' Recognition
This Chapter describes the turning point in the case, when some of Dr. Knox's students recognize the bodies of Elizabeth Holden and her daughter, Margaret, leading to suspicions about the source of the cadavers. The chapter highlights the carelessness of Burke and Hare, who were increasingly brazen in their actions, and the growing concern among the students and the public.
The Final Victim and the Discovery
This Chapter recounts the murder of Margaret Dockardy, the final victim of Burke and Hare. The chapter details the events leading up to her death, including the involvement of other lodgers at the lodging house, and the discovery of her body by the Gray's, who alerted the police. The chapter highlights the recklessness of Burke and Hare, who left Margaret's body in the Gray's room, and the role of the Gray's in bringing the killers to justice.
The Arrest and Trial
This Chapter describes the arrest of Burke, Hare, and their wives, and the subsequent trial of Burke. The chapter details the conflicting accounts given by Burke and Hare, the lack of evidence for other murders, and the testimony of Hare and Margaret Lear against Burke. The chapter also discusses the sensational nature of the trial, which exposed the dark side of the medical industry's need for cadavers.
The Aftermath
This Chapter recounts the execution of Burke, the release of Helen McDougall, and the subsequent fate of the other individuals involved in the case. The chapter discusses the public reaction to the case, the lasting impact on Dr. Knox's reputation, and the legacy of Burke and Hare as symbols of greed and murder.
Keywords
William Burke
William Burke was an Irish immigrant who, along with William Hare, committed a series of murders in Edinburgh, Scotland, in the 1820s. He was known for his good humor and singing, but he was also a ruthless killer who was driven by greed. He was hanged for his crimes in 1829.
William Hare
William Hare was an Irish immigrant who, along with William Burke, committed a series of murders in Edinburgh, Scotland, in the 1820s. He was described as uncouth, illiterate, and quarrelsome. He was initially arrested for the murders, but he was released after he agreed to testify against Burke. His fate after his release is unknown.
Body Snatching
Body snatching, also known as grave robbing, was a common practice in the 18th and 19th centuries, where bodies were stolen from graves and sold to medical schools for dissection. This practice was driven by the high demand for cadavers for medical education, as the only legal source of bodies was executed criminals. Body snatching was considered highly immoral and illegal, and it led to a number of scandals and crimes.
Dr. Robert Knox
Dr. Robert Knox was a respected anatomist in Edinburgh, Scotland, in the 1820s. He purchased bodies from William Burke and William Hare, without questioning their origins. He was not charged with any crimes, but his reputation was ruined by his association with the murderers. He continued to work as an anatomist in London, but he never regained his former status.
Anatomy Act of 1832
The Anatomy Act of 1832 was a landmark piece of legislation that addressed the issue of body snatching. The act gave doctors, lecturers, and students greater access to bodies from prisons and workhouses, and it allowed the public to donate their bodies to science. The act helped to reduce the demand for stolen bodies and made it more difficult for body snatchers to operate.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland and a major cultural and historical center. The city was the setting for the Burke and Hare murders, which took place in the 1820s. The city is also home to the Surgeons' Hall Museums, which houses Burke's skeleton and a pocket book bound with his skin.
Murder for Profit
Murder for profit is a crime in which a person is killed for financial gain. This type of murder is often motivated by greed, and it can be carried out in a variety of ways. The Burke and Hare case is a classic example of murder for profit, where the killers sold their victims' bodies to medical schools for dissection.
Resurrectionists
Resurrectionists were body snatchers who stole bodies from graves and sold them to medical schools. They were often called "grave robbers" or "body snatchers." The practice of resurrectionism was widespread in the 18th and 19th centuries, and it was considered highly immoral and illegal.
Medical Education
Medical education in the 18th and 19th centuries relied heavily on the dissection of cadavers. The demand for bodies was high, and this led to the practice of body snatching. The Anatomy Act of 1832 helped to address the issue of body snatching by providing a more ethical and legal framework for obtaining cadavers for medical research.
Q&A
What were the motivations behind William Burke and William Hare's murder spree?
Burke and Hare were primarily driven by greed. They realized that there was a high demand for cadavers for medical education, and they saw an opportunity to make a profit by selling bodies. They targeted vulnerable individuals, primarily women and the poor, who were less likely to be missed.
How did Burke and Hare kill their victims?
Burke and Hare typically lured their victims to their lodging house, got them drunk, and then suffocated them. They chose suffocation as their method because it left no visible signs of foul play, making it more difficult for the police to detect their crimes.
What role did Dr. Robert Knox play in the Burke and Hare murders?
Dr. Knox was a respected anatomist who purchased bodies from Burke and Hare without questioning their origins. He was not charged with any crimes, but his reputation was ruined by his association with the murderers. The episode suggests that Knox may have had suspicions about the source of the bodies, but he was willing to overlook them because of his need for cadavers for his anatomical studies.
What was the impact of the Burke and Hare case on medical education?
The Burke and Hare case exposed the dark side of the medical industry's need for cadavers. The case led to public outcry and calls for reform. The Anatomy Act of 1832 was passed in response to the scandal, providing a more ethical and legal framework for obtaining cadavers for medical research.
What happened to Burke and Hare after their arrest?
Burke was convicted of the murder of Margaret Dockardy and was hanged in 1829. Hare was released from prison after he agreed to testify against Burke. His fate after his release is unknown.
What is the lasting legacy of the Burke and Hare case?
The Burke and Hare case is a chilling reminder of the dark side of human greed and the lengths to which people will go for profit. The case also highlights the importance of ethical practices in medical research and the need for a legal framework to ensure that cadavers are obtained ethically.
Show Notes
William Burke and William Hare were killers who murdered victims in the city of Edinburgh and sold the bodies to an anatomist who needed cadavers for lessons. They killed at least sixteen people in one year, but their greed made them reckless, and they were ultimately caught.
Join Mike and Gibby as they talk about Burke and Hare. Graverobbing was a big thing many years ago, so much so that some people hired guards to make sure their loved one's bodies were not disturbed. Burke and Hare discovered they could make a lot of money selling bodies to a local doctor. But they took their plan to the extreme, decided to cut out the graverobbing, and began killing people on their own.
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