On Halloween of 1828, a woman by the name of Mary Docherty was killed and stuffed under the bed of William Burke. Mary was the last of many people to be ‘burked’ - a sick and cruel practice that involved killing people, giving their body to local doctors for medical exploration, and earning rich payment in return. Grab a warm beverage and explore this gritty time in history.
Tea of the Day: Hot Cinnamon Sunset
Theme Music by Brad Frank
Sources:
- “Burke and Hare and investigation by Magnus Magnusson.” Living Legends - Burke and Hare, BBC posted by Culture Vulture Rises, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dm3G2-i9h8
- “The untold story of serial killer William Burke's wife and her mysterious disappearance from Glasgow” https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/history/glasgow-william-burke-hare-murder-22914222
- The Infamous Burke and Hare: Serial Killers and Resurrectionists of Nineteenth Century Edinburgh by R. Michael Gordon, Published by McFarland October 21st, 2009.
- “Merchants of Death.” Manchester Evening News, Mon, Jun 01, 1981, Page 28, https://www.newspapers.com/image/925332727/
- “Burke, the Murderer.” The Norwood News, Sat, Oct 17, 1868, Page 6, https://www.newspapers.com/image/805781999/
- “Horrible Murders in Edinburgh.” The Morning Chronicle, Mon, Dec 29, 1828, Page 3, https://www.newspapers.com/image/392115577/
- “Murderer Burke's mistress killed by mob, claims paper.” By Denise Glass, Page last updated at 1:48, Saturday, 23 January 2010, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/tayside_and_central/8472759.stm
- “Burke and Hare but Hare and McDougal? Were the partners of infamous killers just as guilty?” August 1, 2022, 12:02 am, https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/burke-and-hare/
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