by trade rivals, "stood like a man at a mark with a whole army shooting at
him," but he was as firm as a rock and with the strength of a giant, and,
as Hyperion to a Satyr, defied them all.
The destruction of the Royal Brunswick Theatre, Well-street,
Wellclose-square, East London, on the 29th of February, 1828, by the
falling in of the walls, in consequence of too much weight being attached
to the heavy cast-iron roof, made a rare nine-day's wonder for the workers
of street-papers. Fortunately the catastrophe happened in the day-time,
during the rehearsal of "Guy Mannering," and only fifteen persons
perished, viz:--
Mr. D. S. Maurice, a master printer, of Fenchurch-street, one of the
Proprietors,
Mr. J. Evans _Bristol Observer_
Miss Mary A. Feron _Actress_,
Miss Freeman _Corps de ballet_,
Mr. E. Gilbert _Comedian_,
Mr. J. Blamire _Property Man_,
Mr. G. Penfold _Doorkeeper_,
Miss Jane Wall _Visitor_,
Mr. J. Purdy _Blacksmith_,
Messrs. J. Miles, W. Leader,
A. W. Davidson, M. Miles,
and J. Abbott _Carpenters_,
J. Levy, _A Clothesman_ (accidentally passing).
"Oh yes, sir! I remember well the falling of the Brunswick Theatre, out
Whitechapel way. It was a rare good thing for all the running and standing
patterers in and about ten miles of London. Every day we all killed more
and more people--in our "Latest Particulars." One day there was twenty
persons killed, the next day thirty or forty, until it got at last to be
worked up to about a hundred, and all killed. Then we killed all sorts of
people, Duke of Wellington, and all the Dukes and Duchesses, Bishops,
swell nobs and snobs we could think of at the moment."
[Illustration: ATROCIOUS MURDER OF A YOUNG WOMAN IN SUFFOLK.
SINGULAR DISCOVERY OF THE BODY FROM A DREAM.
THE RED BARN.
THE SCENE OF THE MURDER, AND WHERE THE BODY OF MARIA
MARTEN WAS FOUND CONCEALED.]
Four years after the Thurtell and Weare affair, namely, in the month of
April, 1828, another "sensational" murder was discovered--that of Maria
Marten, by William Corder, in the Red Barn, at Polstead, in the county of
Suffolk. The circumstances that led to the discovery of this most
atrocious murder, were of an extraordinary and romantic nature, and
manifest an almost special interposition of Providence in marking out the
offender. As the mother of the girl had on three several nights dreamt
that her daughter was murdered and buried in Corder's Red Barn, and as
this proved to be the case, an additional "charm" was given to the
circumstance. The "Catnach Press" was again set working both day and
night, to meet the great demand for the "Full Particulars." In due course
came the gratifying announcement of the apprehension of the murderer! and
the sale continued unabatingly in both town and country, every "Flying
Stationer" making great profits by the sale.
[Illustration: LIKENESS OF WILLIAM CORDER.]
The trial of Corder took place at Bury St. Edmonds, on the 7th of August,
1828, before the Lord Chief Baron (Anderson). The prisoner pleaded "_Not
Guilty_," and the trial proceeded. On being called on for his defence,
Corder read a manuscript paper. He declared that he deeply deplored the
death of the unfortunate deceased, and he urged the jury to dismiss from
their minds all that prejudice which must necessarily have been excited
against him by the public press, &c. Having concluded his address, the
Lord Chief Baron summed up, and a verdict of "_Guilty_" was returned. The
Last Dying Speech and Confession had an enormous sale--estimated at
1,166,000, a _fac-simile_ copy of which with the "Lamentable Verses," said
to have been written by Old Jemmy Catnach will be found on the next page.
CONFESSION AND EXECUTION OF WILLIAM CORDER, THE MURDERER OF MARIA
MARTEN.
Since the tragical affair between Thurtell and Weare, no event has
occurred connected with the criminal annals of our country which has
excited so much interest as the trial of Corder, who was justly
convicted of the murder of Maria Marten on Friday last.
THE CONFESSION.
"Bury Gaol, August 10th, 1828.--Condemned cell.
"Sunday evening, half-past Eleven.
"I acknowledge being guilty of the death of poor Maria Marten, by
shooting her with a pistol. The particulars are as follows:--When we
left her father's house, we began quarrelling about the burial of the
child: she apprehended the place wherein it was deposited would be
found out. The quarrel continued about three quarters of an hour upon
this sad and about other subjects. A scuffle ensued, and during the
scuffle, and at the time I think that she had hold of me, I took the
pistol from the side pocket of my velveteen jacket and fired. She
fell, and died in an instant. I never saw her even struggle. I was
overwhelmed with agitation and dismay:--the body fell near the front
doors on the floor of the barn. A vast quantity of blood issued from
the wound, and ran on to the floor and through the crevices. Having
determined to bury the body in the barn (about two hours after she was
dead). I went and borrowed a spade of Mrs Stow, but before I went
there I dragged the body from the barn into the chaff-house, and
locked the barn. I returned again to the barn, and began to dig a
hole, but the spade being a bad one, and the earth firm and hard, I
was obliged to go home for a pickaxe and a better spade, with which I
dug the hole, and then buried the body. I think I dragged the body by
the handkerchief that was tied round her neck. It was dark when I
finished covering up the body. I went the next day, and washed the
blood from off the barn-floor. I declare to Almighty God I had no
sharp instrument about me, and no other wound but the one made by the
pistol was inflicted by me. I have been guilty of great idleness, and
at times led a dissolute life, but I hope through the mercy of God to
be forgiven. WILLIAM CORDER."
Witness to the signing by the said William Corder,
JOHN ORRIDGE.
Condemned cell, Eleven o'clock, Monday morning,
August 11th, 1828.
The above confession was read over carefully to the prisoner in our
presence, who stated most solemnly it was true, and that he had
nothing to add to or retract from it--W. STOCKING, chaplain; TIMOTHY
R. HOLMES, Under-Sheriff.
THE EXECUTION.
At ten minutes before twelve o'clock the prisoner was brought from his
cell and pinioned by the hangman, who was brought from London for the
purpose. He appeared resigned, but was so weak as to be unable to
stand without support; when his cravat was removed he groaned heavily,
and appeared to be labouring under great mental agony. When his wrists
and arms were made fast, he was led round towards the scaffold, and
as he passed the different yards in which the prisoners were confined,
he shook hands with them, and speaking to two of them by name, he
said, "Good bye, God bless you." They appeared considerably affected
by the wretched appearance which he made, and "God bless you!" "May
God receive your soul!" were frequently uttered as he passed along.
The chaplain walked before the prisoner, reading the usual Burial
Service, and the Governor and Officers walking immediately after him.
Tho prisoner was supported to the steps which led to the scaffold; he
looked somewhat wildly around, and a constable was obliged to support
him while the hangman was adjusting the fatal cord. There was a
barrier to keep off the crowd, amounting to upwards of 7,000 persons,
who at this time had stationed themselves in the adjoining fields, on
the hedges, the tops of houses, and at every point from which a view
of the execution could be best obtained. The prisoner, a few moments
before the drop fell, groaned heavily, and would have fallen, had not
a second constable caught hold of him. Everything having been made
ready, the signal was given, the fatal drop fell, and the unfortunate
man was launched into eternity. Just before he was turned off, he said
in a feeble tone, "I am justly sentenced, and may God forgive me."
The Murder of Maria Marten.
BY W. CORDER.
Come all you thoughtless young men, a warning take by me,
And think upon my unhappy fate to be hanged upon a tree;
My name is William Corder, to you I do declare,
I courted Maria Marten, most beautiful and fair.
I promised I would marry her upon a certain day,
Instead of that, I was resolved to take her life away.
I went into her father's house the 18th day of May,
Saying, my dear Maria, we will fix the wedding day.
If you will meet me at the Red-barn, as sure as I have life,
I will take you to Ipswich town, and there make you my wife;
I then went home and fetched my gun, my pickaxe and my spade,
I went into the Red-barn, and there I dug her grave.
With heart so light, she thought no harm, to meet him she did go
He murdered her all in the barn, and laid her body low;
After the horrible deed was done, she lay weltering in her gore,
Her bleeding mangled body he buried beneath the Red-barn floor.
Now all things being silent, her spirit could not rest,
She appeared onto her mother, who suckled her at her breast,
For many a long month or more, her mind being sore oppress'd,
Neither night or day she could not take any rest.
Her mother's mind being so disturbed, she dreamt three nights o'er,
Her daughter she lay murdered beneath the Red-barn floor;
She sent the father to the barn, when he the ground did thrust,
And there he found his daughter mingling with the dust.
My trial is hard, I could not stand, most woeful was the sight,
When her jaw-bone was brought to prove, which pierced my heart quite;
Her aged father standing by, likewise his loving wife,
And in her grief her hair she tore, she scarcely could keep life.
Adieu, adieu, my loving friends, my glass is almost run,
On Monday next will be my last, when I am to be hang'd,
So you, young men, who do pass by; with pity look on me,
For murdering Maria Marten, I was hang'd upon the tree.
Printed by J Catnach, 2 and 3, Monmouth Court.--Cards, &c., Printed
Cheap
[Illustration]
"Oh, she lives snug in the Holy Land,
Right, tight, and merry in the Holy Land,
Search the globe round, none can be found
So _accommodating!_ as Old Mother Cummins--of the Holy Land."
Catnach, like many others connected with the getting up of news broadsides
and fly-sheets, did not always keep clear of the law. The golden rule is a
very fine one, but, unfortunately, it is not always read aright; in some
cases injured innocence flies at extremes. Jemmy Catnach for a long time
had been living upon unfriendly terms with a party connected with the
management of one of Mother Cummins's lodging-house establishments in the
immediate neighbourhood, so out of spite printed a pamphlet, purporting to
be the "Life and Adventures of Old Mother Cummins." Here Catnach had
reckoned without his host, by reason of his not taking into consideration
the extensive aristocratic and legal connection Mother Cummins had for her
friends and patrons. The moment she was made acquainted with the "_dirty
parjury_" that Jemmy Catnach had printed and caused to be publicly
circulated, she immediately gave instructions to _her_ Attorney General to
prosecute the _varmint_, when a warrant was applied for and obtained to
search the premises of the Seven Dials printer. But Catnach got the news
of the intended visit of the Bow Street Runners, and naturally became
alarmed from having a vivid recollection of the punishment and costs in
the case of the Drury-lane sausage makers, so the forme containing the
libellous matter was at once broken up--"pied," that is, the type was
jumbled together and left to be properly distributed on a future occasion.
What stock of the pamphlets remained were hastily packed up and carried
off to the "other side of the water" by John Morgan, one of Catnach's
poets! while another forme, consisting of a Christmas-sheet, entitled "The
Sun of Righteousness," was hurriedly got to press, and all hands were
working away full of assumed innocence when the officers from Bow Street
arrived at Monmouth-court, when, after a diligent search, they had very
reluctantly to come to the conclusion that they were "a day behind the
fair," and that the printer had been a little too sharp for them this
time. But Mother Cummins did not mean to be so checkmated by Catnach and
Co., and vowed to pursue him and his dirty blackguards to the end of the
world and back again, and instructed her lawyers to serve him with several
notices of action for libel, defamation of character, and, more
particular, as she expressed it, for "_parjury_." Then Catnach became
somewhat alarmed by her known vindictive disposition and long purse, that
he consulted his own solicitor in the matter, who took "counsel's opinion"
when an instant compromise at all costs, together with an ample apology,
was recommended as the only safe way out of the dilemma; a course which
was ultimately agreed to by both sides. An apology was drawn up and
approved of, with the understanding that Catnach was, after paying all
costs incurred to print the apology and publish the same on three several
places in front of his business premises in Monmouth Court for fourteen
clear days. All this--and more--Jemmy promised steadfastly to observe. Yet
in effect, he evaded the conditions by printing the apology in small pica
type and sticking the three copies so high up on the premises, that it
would have required Sam Weller's "pair of double million magnifying gas
microscopes of hextra power" to have been able to read the same.
Immediately after Mother Cummins's death and funeral, March, 1828, the
following announcement appeared:--
_Published this Day, Price Sixpence, embellished with a humorous
Coloured Plate._
THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF MOTHER CUMMINS,
The celebrated Lady Abbess of St. Giles's; with a curious Description,
Regulations, &c., of her singular Establishment. An account of her
Funeral, &c. Interspersed with numerous Anecdotes of Living
Characters, Visitors of Mother Cummins's Nunnery,--Capt. Shiels and
the Forty-four Nuns--Poll Hankey and Sir Charles Stanton,--Jane Sealey
and an Illustrous Person, &c.--With an Account of some of the
principal Nuns of the Establishment; particularly Mrs. Throgmorton and
Lord Al...n..y--Bell Chambers and the D... of Y...,--Miss Wilkinson
and Captain Featherstone--Marianne Hempstead, the Scotch Beauty--Miss
Weltern Davis and the Rev. Mr. H...l..y Be..rs..d--Mary Thomas, the
Female Chimney-Sweep, and Captain T...t...s, &c.
THE TRIAL, SENTENCE, FULL CONFESSION, AND EXECUTION OF BISHOP &
WILLIAMS, THE BURKERS.
[Illustration]
BURKING AND BURKERS.
The month of November, 1831, will be recorded in the annals of crimes
and cruelties as particularly pre-eminent, for it will prove to
posterity that other wretches could be found base enough to follow the
horrid example of Burke and his accomplice Hare, to entice the
unprotected and friendless to the den of death for sordid gain.
The horrible crime of "Burking," or murdering the unwary with the
intention of selling their bodies at a high price to the anatomical
schools, for the purpose of dissection, has unfortunately obtained a
notoriety which will not be soon or easily forgotten. It took its
horrifying appellation from the circumstances which were disclosed on
the trial of the inhuman wretch Burke, who was executed at Edinburgh
in 1829, for having wilfully and deliberately murdered several persons
for the sole purpose of profiting by the sale of their dead bodies.
APPREHENSION OF THE BURKERS.
On Tuesday, November 8th, four persons vis., John Bishop, Thomas
Williams, James May, and Michael Shield, were examined at Bow Street
Police Office on the charge of being concerned in the wilful murder of
an unknown Italian boy. From the evidence adduced, it appeared that
May, _alias_ Jack Stirabout, a known resurrection-man, and Bishop, a
body-snatcher, offered at King's College a subject for sale, Shield
and Williams having charge of the body in a hamper, for which they
demanded twelve guineas. Mr Partridge, demonstrator of anatomy, who,
although not in absolute want of a subject, offered nine guineas, but
being struck with its freshness sent a messenger to the police
station, and the fellows were then taken into custody, examined before
the magistrates, when Shield was discharged and the others ultimately
committed for trial
THE TRIAL.
Friday, December 2nd, having been fixed for the trial of the prisoners
charged with the murder of the Italian boy, the Court was crowded to
excess so early as eight o'clock in the morning.
At nine o'clock the Deputy Recorder, Mr Serjeant Arabin, came into
the court, when the prisoners severally pleaded "Not Guilty."
The Jury were then sworn, and at ten o'clock Chief Justice Tindal, Mr
Baron Vaughan, and Mr Justice Littledale entered the Court, with the
Lord Mayor and Sheriffs.
The Bench was crowded with persons of rank, amongst whom was the Duke
of Sussex.
Mr Bodkin having opened the case, Mr Adolphus proceeded to state to
the Jury the leading facts, as they were afterwards stated in the
evidence produced. The case for the prosecution having closed, the
prisoners were called upon for their defence.
The prisoner Bishop in his defence stated that he was thirty-three
years of age, and had followed the occupation of carrier till the last
five years, during which he had occasionally obtained a livelihood by
supplying surgeons with subjects. He most solemnly declared that he
had never disposed of any body that had not died a natural death.
Williams' defence briefly stated that he had never been engaged in the
calling of a resurrectionist, but had only by accident accompanied
Bishop on the sale of the Italian boy's body.
May, in his defence, admitted that for the last six years he had
followed the occupation of supplying the medical schools with
anatomical subjects, but disclaimed ever having had anything to do
with the sale of bodies which had not died a natural death. That he
had accidentally met with Bishop at the Fortune of War public house on
the Friday on which the body was taken for sale to Guy's Hospital.
At eight o'clock the jury retired to consider their verdict and on
their return they found the prisoners were Guilty of Murder.
The Recorder then passed the awful sentence upon them. "That each of
them be hanged on Monday morning, and their bodies be delivered over
for dissection and anatomization."
The prisoners heard the sentence as they had the verdict, without any
visible alteration. May raised his voice, and in a firm tone said, "I
am a murdered man, gentlemen."
THE FULL CONFESSION OF BISHOP AND WILLIAMS.
On Saturday morning Williams addressed a note to Mr Wontner, stating
that he and Bishop wanted particularly to see him and Dr. Cotton, the
Ordinary. In the course of the interview which immediately followed,
both prisoners made a full confession of their guilt, both exculpating
May altogether from being party to any of the murders. Having received
the confessions, Mr Wontner immediately waited upon Mr Justice
Littledale and Baron Vaughan, and upon communicating to them the
statements, they said they would at once see the Home Secretary on the
subject.
On Sunday morning the Sheriffs visited all three of the prisoners in
succession, and with the Under-Sheriffs were engaged between three and
four hours in taking down the statements of the convicts. The result
of all these investigations was that the same afternoon a respite
during his Majesty's pleasure arrived at Newgate for May, and his
sentence will be commuted to transportation for life.
THE EXECUTION.
During the whole of Sunday crowds of persons congregated in the Old
Bailey, and the spot on which the scaffold was to be erected was
covered with individuals conversing on the horrid crimes of the
convicts, and in the course of the day strong posts were erected in
the Old Bailey and at the ends of Newgate street Giltspur street, and
Skinner street, for the purpose of forming barriers to break the
pressure of the crowd.
At half-past twelve o'clock the gallows was brought out from the yard,
and drawn to its usual station opposite the Debtor's door. The crowd,
as early as one o'clock amounting to several thousand persons,
continued rapidly increasing.
By some oversight three chains had been suspended from the fatal beam,
and this led the crowd to suppose that May had not been respited. Mr.
Wontnor, on hearing of the mistake, directed that one of the chains
should be removed. The moment this was done an exclamation of "May is
respited," ran through the crowd, and, contrary to the expected tokens
of indignation, distinct cheers were heard amongst the crowd on
witnessing this token that mercy had been shown to May.
At half-past seven the Sheriffs arrived in their carriage, and in a
short time the press-yard was thronged with gentlemen. The unhappy
convicts were now led from their cells. Bishop cams out first, and
after he was pinioned he was conducted to a seat, and the Rev. Mr.
Williams sat alongside of him, and they conversed together in a low
tone of voice.
Williams was next introduced, and the wonderful alteration two days
had effected in his appearance astonished everyone who was present at
the trial. All the bold confidence he exhibited then had completely
forsaken him, and he looked the most miserable wretch it is possible
to conceive. He entered the room with a very faltering step, and when
the ceremony of pinioning him commenced, he was so weak as to be
scarcely able to stand.
Everything being ready, the melancholy procession moved forward.
Bishop was then conducted to the scaffold, and the moment he made his
appearance the most dreadful yells and hootings were heard among the
crowd. The executioner proceeded at once to the performance of his
duty, and having put the rope round his neck and affixed it to a
chain, placed him under the fatal beam. Williams was then taken out,
and the groans and hisses were renewed. The dreadful preparations were
soon completed, and in less than five minutes after the wretched men
appeared on the scaffold the usual signal was given, the drop fell,
and they were launched into eternity. Bishop appeared to die very
soon, but Williams struggled hard. Thus died
THE DREADFUL BURKERS OF 1831
Printed in London for the Venders.
It may be remarked, _en passant_, that Mr. Corder, with Paragalli and
Colla, the two Italian witnesses, who gave evidence as to the identity of
the body, said to be that of the Italian boy, at the trial of Bishop,
Williams, and May, appeared at Bow Street, in consequence of doubts being
entertained by a portion of the public as to the body being that of Carlo
Ferrari, to re-assert their former evidence. Mr. Corder afterwards
published a statement in the "Times" newspaper, which gave scarcely the
possibility of doubt that the body offered at King's College _must have
been_ that of Ferrari notwithstanding the murderer's assertion to the
contrary. On December the 10th, a _Post-obit_ prosecution of Williams, the
Burkite murderer, took place in the Court of Excise, where he was charged,
on information, with having carried on an illicit factory for making glass
at No. 2, Nova Scotia Gardens, Bethnal Green. An officer proved the
seizure of goods used in the manufacture of glass, at the house of the
person charged, and that Bishop was at the time in company. The Court
condemned the goods seized.
A drama on the subject of the "Burkers" was produced at an unlicensed
theatre, designated THE SHAKESPEARE, in the Kingsland Road, and not far
from Shoreditch Church, and for a time was specially attractive. In the
young actor, who played Carlo Ferrari, the Italian boy, might now be
recognised an eminent tragedian.[10]
[Illustration]