[list-cumbria] Carlisle Patriot, 20 Dec 1823 - Local News (1)

[Petra Mitchinson]

Saturday 20 Dec 1823   (p. 2, col. 4-5 and p. 3, col. 1-4 + 6)

 

RESURRECTION MEN.-The agitation excited in this city by the depredations of these unfeeling fellows is far from having subsided, nor
is it likely to subside while the populace adhere to their present belief, that the objects of their natural dislike are yet
concealed in the town or neighbourhood, and only wait for an opportunity to resume their hateful practices. It is our opinion,
however, that the culprits have long since fled; and perhaps while our worthy citizens are keeping a sharp look out in order to
bring them to condign punishment, they are now unsuspectedly carrying on their operations in some other part of the county. 

 

On Sunday, a man found a coffin plate, that had been used, in the river Caldew, near the Willow-holme; the name of the person whose
decease it had recorded was obliterated. 

 

On Monday, a considerable number of persons again assembled in St. Mary's church-yard, to witness the re-opening of the grave of a
child interred about three weeks ago: the body had been taken away; and as the grave-clothes were in the coffin, and perfectly
clean, the remains of the infant were supposed to have been exhumated almost immediately after burial. 

 

This led to further search; the graves of several other lately-deceased persons were dug into, and we understand that the corpses of
one or two more children, and one man, were found to have been likewise stolen.  

 

We need not say that the indignation of the populace was afresh stirred up by these discoveries; and execrations, loud and deep,
were poured out against the unknown plunderers. 

 

On Wednesday, a meeting of parishioners was held in St. Mary's church, called at a very short notice. The vestry was not a regular
one thus summoned; but as it was desirable to lose no time in the observance of forms, however necessary in a legal sense, a
considerable number of persons laudably volunteered to watch the church-yard, in turn, until a more regular meeting can be convened
to consider of permanent measures for preserving the sanctity of the grave. We cordially agree in the recommendation of a
correspondent (see another col.) to substitute neat palisades for the present high wall of this church-yard. The same might be done
with advantage on two sides of the square of St. Cuthbert's burial ground. 

 

On Friday, the select vestry for St. Cuthbert's offered a reward of twenty guineas for the apprehension and conviction of any of the
depredators who violated the church-yard of that parish, as described in our last. 

 

The burial places of both parishes are now effectually guarded. Similar means have also been taken to preserve the depositaries of
the dead attached to the various dissenting chapels in and near the city. 

 

Rumour upon rumour, of the most absurd kind, rise up in succession, and obtain a very general credence, notwithstanding folly and
falsehood are apparent upon the face of them. 

 

Several persons (for what reason we know not) have been accused of assisting in the unhallowed deeds of the plunderers, and some
have thought proper to issue hand-bills denying the truth of so abhorrent a charge. Two individuals even make affidavit that they
have had no concern whatever with such monsters! We are told that a resident of Carlisle was ill-treated by a mob at Brampton, on
Wednesday, in consequence of a flying report that he was an assistant. It is not said that any depredations of the sort have taken
place near that town: but we hear that graves have been disturbed at Wetheral. 

 

On Wednesday afternoon, a considerable number of persons collected in the streets of our city, for the purpose of visiting with
summary punishment all whom they, in the plenitude of their wisdom and power, should find guilty. They had the names of several
individuals in their mouths; seemed to suspect all medical men; and talked of inspecting the Fever House and Dispensary, where they
doubted not they should find the mangled remains of relatives and friends! A man, who acted as orator, at one place where they
called, said, 'It is very hard that we should be obliged to work all day, be buried at night, and then have our bodies dug up and
sent off to be cut up by the doctors!' One surgeon told them, that any five might inspect his house, if they desired; but they
evinced no inclination to do so. They finally dispersed in peace. 

 

It appears that the inhabitants of the Scottish Border are also in a state of alarm. We yesterday received the following letter from
Annan, dated December 18th:- 

 

"It would seem that the disinterment of the dead for the purpose of dissection has been carried on in this country to at least as
great an extent as at Carlisle and its neighbourhood, and has excited as deep an interest, produced as much bustle and alarm, and
occasioned the propagation of as extravagant rumours-so that even a condensed statement of the stories flying about in all
directions would fill several sheets. To them I shall pay no attention; but endeavour to give as correct an account of general facts
as I have been able to make out after diligent enquiry. Notwithstanding all the confident assertions to the contrary, I do not
believe that the carrying on of such a traffic was ever suspected till about 16 or 17 days ago, when some circumstances in the
conduct of the man accused as the principal actor, (such as his often being out in the dead hours of night) excited a jealousy which
caused some persons to examine the outward appearance of the graves of their recently-interred relatives in the burying ground of
Pendersaughs, in the parish of Hoddam. These appearances were such as to induce them to open the graves, and some of them were found
to have been robbed of their dead-how many I have not been able to ascertain, but a respectable resident of that neighbourhood
informed me yesterday, that the number of empty graves already ascertained amounts to sixteen at Pendersaughs alone. This system of
depredation, however, has not, according to all accounts, been confined to the place mentioned; the church-yards of Annan, Hoddam,
Middlebie, Drysdale, &c. are stated to have been plundered also; and that this is the fact with regard to some of them I am afraid
admits of no doubt. The person alluded to as the principal actor was apprehended; but the magistrate before whom he was to have been
examined being absent that day, the supposed culprit was suffered to go home, and he has since absconded-and it is said to-day, that
two others, who are believed to have been his accomplices, have followed his example. The name of the principal is Basil FORSYTH; he
is a labouring man in the parish of Middlebie; the names of others it would not be proper to give at present." 

 

Another account that we have seen, says the detection thus took place:-A letter came to FORSYTH, from Edinburgh, and falling into
the hands of his wife, who could not read, she (with the imputed curiosity of her sex) requested a relative of her own to perform
that office; hence the nature of the traffic in which her 'gude mon' had been concerned was developed. 

 

It is to be hoped that punishment will follow detection, in whatever quarter; in the meantime we congratulate our fellow-citizens
that, hitherto, no native of Carlisle, nor even a constant resident, has yet been discovered to have disgraced himself by any
participation in so revolting a means of gain. 

 

 

[to be continued] 

 

 

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