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Bodysnatching; the crimes of Burke.

Contributors
Fieldworkers
Date September 1956
Track ID 13553
Part 1

Track Information

Original Track ID

SA1956.135

Original Tape ID

SA1956.135

Summary

Bodysnatching; the crimes of Burke.

The contributor's father was a policeman in the days of bodysnatching, when they had to watch the cemeteries, but nowadays people leave their bodies to the infirmaries.

Another man relates how Burke used to entice women into his house and drug them, put a plaster over their mouths, and kill them. He took them to the infirmary in a barrel, two at a time, and sold them to the doctors, even babies.

Item Notes

William Burke was hanged in Edinburgh in 1829. He gave his name
to 'burking' (murder to supply bodies to anatomy schools).

Item Subject/Person

Burke, William, murderer

Recording Location

County - Roxburghshire

Parish - Melrose

Language

Scots

Genre

Information

Collection

SoSS

Source Type

Reel to reel

Audio Quality

Poor