[list-cumbria] Carlisle Patriot, 13 Dec 1823 - Local News (1)

[Petra Mitchinson]

Saturday 13 Dec 1823   (p. 2, col. 6 and p. 3, col. 1-4 + 6)

 

EXHUMATION OF DEAD BODIES.-We stated in our paper of the 29th ult. that the tomb of a young female interred in Stanwix church-yard,
in the immediate neighbourhood of this city, had been violated by Resurrection Men, as the stealers of dead bodies are familiarly
termed; but that the corpse was not taken away, on account, it is presumed, of the far advancement of putrescency. 

 

This occurrence excited a great sensation, and led to investigation. It was speedily discovered that the operations of the violators
of the ashes of the dead had extended to the burial grounds within our walls, and to several places in the vicinity. The operators
were also soon recognized in two strangers, who hired a room in Long-Island; a sequestered place well-calculated for their repulsive
employment. But we will proceed in our relation somewhat in historical order: premising that our statements are the result of rigid
personal inquiry. 

 

Our first act was an application at the offices of the Edinburgh carriers. The manager of one establishment assures us that he has
referred to all his entries of packages of all kinds from the first of October-and he finds only one, which he cannot trace to
well-known and respectable people, whose habits and occupations place them above suspicion. The package alluded to was brought on
the evening of the 5th of November, by a man under the middle size, with a peculiarity in his countenance, particularly his mouth:
it was addressed, 'Lieut. TODD, Edinburgh,' and consisted of a large strong box, well nailed and corded. He had it booked, gave his
name as THOMPSON, but did not pay the carriage, as has been asserted. This box was forwarded in the regular way, and no suspicion
was entertained of its contents at the warehouse: the attention of the driver, however, was attracted to it on the road by its
emitting an offensive fluid; and when he came to Hawick he and others examined it, and its contents were found to be the corpses of
three children! At Hawick the driver consigned it over to a person who regularly proceeds thence to Edinburgh, and knows nothing
more of it-nothing about a statement which appeared in the Journal, that 20s. extra were exacted, though the carriage was paid; nor
did he acquaint his principal with what we have here stated till Saturday last. 

 

>From the manager of another warehouse of the same kind, we learn that his first idea of this horrifying traffic was conveyed to him
in a letter from Edinburgh, which stated that dead bodies were passing from Carlisle to that city, and cautioned him against
receiving any suspicious package. This was about a fortnight ago. In a few days afterwards, a man (answering to the description of
the person before-mentioned) brought to the warehouse, after dark, a strong new box, and well secured, apparently from seven to nine
stone in weight, directed to 'Mr. WATSON, woollen-draper, Edinburgh,' and requested to have it forwarded to its destination. This
our informant declined, now that his suspicions were awakened. The man appeared confused, but asked the reason of the refusal; on
being told that there are reasons, he shouldered the box, and carried it off, directing his steps down Water-lane. The next day our
informant met this man in the outskirts of the town, in company with another considerably taller, and both came up to him and
requested to know why he had objected to forward the box. The answer was explicit-because he suspected its contents to be the spoils
of the grave. Both laughed, and tacitly admitted the fact, observing that his refusal had put them to great inconvenience, and that
as they were discovered they must decamp. On being asked what they had done with what the box contained, they said they had it at
hand, and intended to place it from whence they took it during the ensuing night. They appeared to be strangers to the town, having
no companions but some of the privates of the Scots Greys now quartered here, with whom they were frequently drinking in various
public-houses. As we have already stated, they occupied a room at Long Island, in the house of persons not very likely, we
understand, to betray the revolting secret of their pursuits. 

 

That these fellows performed their promise, and returned the contents of the box from whence they came, is pretty certain from the
following fact:-It  having been discovered that the grave of a man named ROME (a nailor, who died in Botchergate, about a month
ago,) had been disturbed, it was once more opened, and the corpse of the deceased was found, out of the coffin, at only a small
depth below the surface (as if hastily deposited there), tied neck and heels, and bearing evident marks of having been packed up for
transportation. The body thus shamefully treated, was covered with an apron, while the exhumator dug down to the coffin, into which
it was returned, and the whole again buried at the original depth. 

 

The substance of this, added to a multiplicity of most absurd rumours, soon got into circulation, and certain classes of the
inhabitants were thrown into a state of great fermentation, and every one was more or less shocked and agitated. 

 

Numerous crowds assembled in St. Mary's and St. Cuthbert's church-yards on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday; and those who had friends
recently interred in either, hastily re-opened their graves;-the result is, as we have collected from persons who have the best
means of ascertaining the truth, that the corpses of a man and a boy (the former named IRVING) have been carried off from St.
Cuthbert's church-yard, and five or six graves disturbed, but not plundered. From St. Mary's, it is not known that any have been
disinterred, nor have any graves been disturbed, as far as outward appearances indicate, except by the friends of the deceased
persons, and all so opened were found to contain those deposited in them. 

 

 

[to be continued] 

 

 

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