Search

Explanation of burking; brief account of a burking incident....

Date 26 March 1979
Track ID 65867
Part 1

Track Information

Original Track ID

SA1979.36

Original Tape ID

SA1979.036

Summary

Explanation of burking; brief account of a burking incident.

Even before Burke and Hare, there were men who murdered people and sold the bodies to doctors. The Travellers were their main prey. John Stewart's parents used to talk about people who went missing. His parents have been chased by burkers, as have John and his brother. A woman was murdered in the Crying Wood of Alyth. The burkers used coaches, and wore black cloaks and tall hats. An old woman went into the college in St Andrews, hawking. She never came out, but her mutch [a kind of headgear] was found hanging on the gate. The police didn't bother because the victims were only Travellers and dissection was to the benefit of the country.

Language

English

Collection

SoSS

Source Type

Reel to reel

Audio Quality

Good