to the parish of St. Paul's, Covent-garden. On Saturday night, 5th of
November, I first saw the body of the deceased. I examined it with
other surgeons. The weather, I should remark, at that time was very
favourable to the preservation of dead flesh. The body appeared to have
died very recently. I should judge that it had died within thirty-six
hours. The face appeared swollen, the tongue was also swollen, the eyes
prominent and blood-shot, and the tongue was protruding between the
lips. The teeth had been all extracted, the gums bruised, and portions
of the jaw-bone had been broken and removed with the teeth. There was
also the appearance of blood having issued from the gums. Judging from
all these circumstances, I should say, that the teeth must have been
taken from the gums within two or three hours after death. I examined
the throat, neck, and chest, very particularly, and I found no external
marks of violence there. On this occasion I observed there was a wound
on the forehead, over the left eyebrow: it was about three-quarters of
an inch long, and it penetrated through the skin to the bone. A small
quantity of blood had oozed from the wound, but that circumstance might
have been occasioned by the body falling out of the sack after death.
The blood was uncoagulated. I again examined the body on the following
day (Sunday) about two o'clock in the afternoon, but I found no further
marks of external violence. The limbs, which were decidedly stiff on
Saturday night, were not so much so on Sunday. The appearances of the
body were such, in my opinion, as to leave no doubt that it had not
been regularly laid out. About eight o'clock on the Sunday evening,
I examined the body, assisted by Mr. Partridge and others. I washed
the throat and neck with a sponge and water carefully, but I found no
scratch or mark of violence there. On removing the scalp on the top
of the skull, I detected some blood about the size of a crown. Such
an appearance as that must have been produced by a blow, given during
life. The brain was also examined, and its appearances were precisely
such as Mr. Partridge has described. The body was then turned, for
the purpose of examining the spinal marrow, and on removing the skin
on the back part of the neck, a considerable quantity of coagulated
blood, I should think from three to four ounces, was found amongst the
muscles there. That blood must have been effused while the subject was
alive. On removing a portion of the spine, for the purpose of examining
the spinal marrow, a quantity of coagulated blood was found lying in
the spinal canal, which, by causing a pressure on the spinal marrow,
must have produced death. The bones of the spine were uninjured. The
appearances which I have described would be likely to follow from a
heavy contusion on the spine, or from the blow of a heavy instrument.
There was about an ounce of blood found in the spinal canal. The heart
was empty, which is an unusual circumstance, and one that, in my
opinion, denotes a sudden death. I mean by a sudden, an instantaneous
death, or nearly so, one that takes place in at least two or three
minutes. The stomach contained a tolerably full meal, and the contents
smelt slightly of rum. Digestion was going on at the time of death. I
should think that death occurred about three hours after the meal. On
examining the coats of the stomach, after removing its contents for
the purpose of having them analyzed, I found them perfectly healthy.
From the whole of my observations on the body, I ascribe the death
to a blow given on the back of the neck. This observation I have seen
verified from experiments which I have witnessed in animals, where the
same appearances have followed that species of injury.
Cross-examined by Mr. BARRY.--I found no external appearances of
violence at the back of the neck. It does not, however, necessarily
follow, that the severe blow of a stick on the back of the neck would
be followed by a contusion or external marks of violence. It would have
produced such a mark if the boy had lived some time after the blow had
been given. I agree with Mr. Partridge in the statement, that a flushed
appearance of the countenance, and an emptiness of the heart, have been
found in cases of sudden death, where no injury has been inflicted. In
the course of my practice, I never found the heart empty after death.
I do not think that any blow on the top of the head would present the
appearances which were found on the back of the neck. Any violence
applied to the back of the neck itself, however, whether considerable
or not, might produce it. I can hardly think that such appearances
would be produced by the falling down of a person in a fit of apoplexy.
I will not say that it would be impossible, supposing that his head
fell against a hard projecting body. A fall on a hard projecting point
might produce such appearances. I will not swear as to the time when
the teeth were removed, but I think it highly improbable that twelve
hours elapsed after death before their removal.
Re-examined by Mr. ADOLPHUS.--Forming my opinion as to the best of
my judgment and experience, I would say that the teeth were removed
within two or three hours after death. I have never seen a person die
of apoplexy, in which the brain was not injured, but I believe that
such cases have occurred in what is called serous apoplexy. There was
no serum effused on the boy's brain, nor did it present any unhealthy
appearance whatever. He was apparently about fourteen years old, and in
no respect did he seem inclined to apoplexy.
By Mr. Baron VAUGHAN.--I have examined the bodies of many persons that
have died of apoplexy, and have always found appearances to account
for the death. There have been cases of serous apoplexy recorded, in
which it is stated, that no such appearances could be discovered. If
the subject, in this instance, died of apoplexy, it did not present any
appearance of it.
Mr. FREDERICK TYRRELL, examined by Mr. Clarkson.--I am one of the
surgeons of St. Thomas' Hospital. I have heard the evidence of Mr.
Beaman with regard to what he found, and the conclusions that he came
to, and in all material points I agree with him. I have never known
a case of serous apoplexy in which the appearances on the brain did
not sufficiently denote its occurrence. I have been always able to
ascertain that a quantity of fluid has been effused in what is termed
serous apoplexy, and that itself is sufficient to denote death. I am a
lecturer on anatomy and physiology in St. Thomas' Hospital, as well as
a surgeon to that institution.
By Mr. Baron VAUGHAN.--The appearances described in the spinal canal
might have been produced by violence, without there being marks of
violence on the skin.
JOHN EARLE ROGERS, examined by Mr. Bodkin.--I am an inspector of
police. On Saturday, the 5th of November, I received the body and the
hamper from the witness Hill, and gave them into the custody of Mr.
Thomas, the superintendent.
JOHN WILSON, a police-officer, sworn.--I apprehended the prisoners at
King's College. May resisted a great deal, and struck me, because I
would not let him and Bishop talk together.
JOSEPH SADLER THOMAS, examined by Mr. Adolphus.--I am Superintendent
of the division of police F. On the afternoon of Saturday, the 5th of
November, from certain information I received, I despatched Rogers and
Wilson to the King's College. They returned with May and Williams.
Before them, Bishop and Shields were brought to the station-house.
Rogers also brought the body, sack, and hamper. The body was placed in
the back-room in the station-house, with the hamper. The prisoners were
all together in the outer room. I asked May what he had to say, for he
was charged with having come into the possession of the subject in an
improper manner. He replied, 'I have nothing at all to do with it. The
subject is that gentleman's, (pointing to Bishop). I merely accompanied
him to get the money for it.' I then asked Bishop whose it was; and he
said that it was his, and that he was merely removing it from Guy's
Hospital to King's College. I then asked Williams what he knew about
it. He replied, that he knew nothing about it, and that he had gone
with them to the King's College to see the building. I asked Bishop,
in the first instance, what he was, and his answer was, 'I am a b--y
body snatcher.' I think that all the prisoners at the time, Bishop and
May in particular, were labouring under the effects of liquor. May was
carried into the station-house on all-fours, and with his smock-frock
over his head. The body was taken out of the hamper in my presence,
and placed on the table. It struck me as the body of a person that
had recently died. I perceived that the teeth had been extracted from
it. In consequence of information, I went, on the following Tuesday,
to Mr. Thomas Mills, Newington Causeway, and I received twelve teeth,
which I now produce. I also went, previously to my going to Mr. Mills,
to No. 3, Nova Scotia Gardens, and on the back-room ground-floor found
a trunk, now produced. On the 20th of November I went to the same
cottage, and making a further search, I found a hairy cap in the front
parlour, amongst some dirty linen. I now produce it. I also found a tin
can there. Mr. Thomas also produced the sack and hamper in which the
body had been brought to the station-house in Covent Garden.
HENRY LOCK, examined.--I was, in November, waiter at the Fortune of
War public-house, Giltspur-street. On Friday, November the 4th, I saw
the prisoners there at eleven o'clock in the morning. They had some
drink, and went away together about twelve o'clock. There was a strange
man with them. About three o'clock in the afternoon of the same day
they came again, and remained until about five, and then all three
went away together. About eight o'clock on the same evening, they all
returned with another man, who appeared to be a coachman. Before the
coachman left, one of the prisoners said they had had a ride. About
nine o'clock May went to the bar, with something in a handkerchief,
which proved to be teeth. I saw him pour water upon the handkerchief,
and rub it with his hands. He afterwards opened the handkerchief, and I
saw the teeth. I observed to him, that they appeared to be young ones,
and were worth two shillings. May said they were worth two pounds to
him. The prisoners shortly afterwards left. On the following morning,
about eight o'clock, I saw Bishop and Williams, accompanied by Shields.
Bishop, addressing Williams, asked, 'What shall we do for a hamper?'
Williams made no answer. Bishop requested Shields to go over to the
hospital (St. Bartholomew's) to get a hamper, but he refused to go.
Bishop then went himself for it, and shortly returned with a hamper.
They then all left together, and I never saw them again until they were
in custody.
THOMAS WIGLEY, examined.--I am a porter at coach offices. On the 4th of
November, about half-past seven o'clock in the evening, I was in the
Fortune of War public-house, when Bishop came in, and was followed, in
a few minutes after, by May. I heard Bishop say, 'What do you think
of our new one? did he not go up to him well, and collar him? was he
not a game one?' May said, 'I don't know what you mean.' Bishop said,
'That's all right.' May saw me sitting in the corner of the room all
the time. May got up, and went out, and in a few minutes returned, with
a handkerchief in his hand, which he was rubbing with his hand. In a
few minutes Williams came in, and Bishop observed, 'Here he comes; I
knew he was a game one.' Bishop said to May, during the conversation,
and before they went away, 'You stick to me, and I will stick to you.'
Cross-examined by Mr. CURWOOD.--I do not know what Bishop meant by
saying to May, 'What do you think of our new one? was he not a game
one?'
JAMES SEAGRAVE, driver of a cabriolet, sworn.--On the evening of
Friday, the 4th of November, I was, with my cabriolet, on the stand in
the Old Bailey. It was about six o'clock in the evening, and having
put my nose-bag on my horse, I went into the watering-house to take
my tea. I was called out, and saw May and Bishop. May asked me if I
wanted a job, and said he had a long job. He took me on one side, and
said he wanted me to fetch 'a stiff un,' which I understood to mean a
dead body. I told him I did not know, but asked what he would stand? He
said he would stand a guinea. I said, that I had not finished my tea,
and that my horse had not done his corn. He said, that we would take
tea together. I went into the public-house, followed by May and Bishop.
They took their seats, and called for tea for two. Some person in the
room jogged me by the elbow, and hinted that the men were snatchers,
and I determined not to go with them. After tea I went out, and drove
my cabriolet to the bottom of the rank. I afterwards saw May and Bishop
going up the rank amongst the coaches, and I drove off, leaving them,
apparently, making a bargain with the coachmen.
Cross-examined by Mr. CURWOOD.--I knew that the circumstances which I
have mentioned took place on Friday, the 4th of November, because I had
to attend on a summons that day, from ten o'clock till three, before
the Commissioners in Essex-street. There were four or five persons in
the parlour at the watering-house when May and Bishop were there.
Re-examined.--The conversation which I had with May took place outside
the watering-house.
THOMAS TAVERNER, the waterman at the coach-stand in the Old Bailey,
corroborated the evidence of the preceding witness, as to the
application of the prisoners May and Bishop to him for the hire of the
cab.
EDWARD CHANDLER examined.--I was, on the 4th of November, a porter at
the King of Denmark public-house, in the Old Bailey. May and Bishop
came in with Seagrave, the cabriolet driver, and they had some tea and
a pint of gin together. I observed May put some gin into Bishop's tea,
and Bishop asked him, are you going to _hocus_ me, or _Burke_ me? I
cannot say whether it was _hocus_ or _Burke_. I knew May and Bishop
before. I do not know what _hocus_ means.
Cross-examined by Mr. CURWOOD.--I cannot say whether Seagrave had part
of the gin or not.
HENRY MANN, hackney-coachman, examined.--On Friday, the 4th of
November, about five o'clock in the evening, I was on the stand, in
Bridge-street, Blackfriars; May and a strange man came to me; May
asked, if I would take a fare, and go with him to Bethnal Green. I
refused to go. I refused to go because I knew what May was.
GEORGE GISSING, a boy, examined.--I am twelve years old. I go to school
and to church. My father keeps the Birdcage public-house, Crabtree
Road, near Nova Scotia Gardens. On the evening of the 4th of November,
about half-past six o'clock, I saw a yellow hackney-chariot draw up,
opposite my father's house. It is very near Nova Scotia Gardens. I know
Bishop's cottage in Nova Scotia Gardens. It is but a short distance
from my father's house. I did not see who got out of the chariot. I
afterwards saw the prisoner Williams standing on the fore-wheel of
the chariot, talking to the driver. The chariot waited ten or fifteen
minutes. The door was open all the time. Williams went down Nova Scotia
Gardens, and in ten or fifteen minutes he returned, and got into the
chariot; then I saw a strange man carrying a sack in his arms, and
Bishop holding up one end of it, they put it in the chariot; Williams
put out his hand to help it in. The sack appeared to be heavy, as
if something heavy was in it. Bishop and the other man got into the
chariot with Williams, and they drove up Crabtree Road, and towards
Shoreditch Church, on the road to the city. The strange man was not one
of the prisoners, but he had a smock-frock on. Bishop is believed to
be Williams's father-in-law, and they kept their wedding at my father's
house.
THOMAS TRAINER, another boy, corroborated the last witness's
evidence.--He saw the prisoners, Bishop and Williams, who were
both known to him, on the occasion mentioned. Two of the men had
smock-frocks on. A woman, named Ann Channell, was present with witness
at the time.
ANN CHANNELL examined.--I was passing by the Birdcage public-house, on
the evening of Friday, the 4th of November. I saw a hackney-coach stop,
and three men get out of it. They went down Nova Scotia Gardens. I did
not remain there. Two of the men had smock-frocks on. I did not notice
them sufficiently so as to be able to know any of them again.
THOMAS DAVIS sworn.--I am porter to the dissecting-room, Guy's
Hospital. On Friday evening, the 4th of November, about seven o'clock,
May and Bishop came to the hospital, May carrying a sack. I knew them
before, they asked me if I wanted to purchase a subject. I declined to
purchase it, and they asked me if I would allow them to leave it in the
hospital until the following morning. I acceded to their request, and
locked the body up in a room during the night. Next morning, between
the hours of eleven and twelve, I saw May and Bishop in the hospital.
Having been out, I returned to the hospital, and ascertained that the
body had been taken away. I had only seen a foot out of the sack, and
I believed it was either that of a boy or a female; it was not large
enough for that of a man. The sack produced is similar to that in which
the body was.
Cross-examined by Mr. BARRY.--I only saw May and Bishop on that
occasion. I never saw Williams until the other day.
JAMES WEEKS, assistant to the last witness, examined.--On Friday, the
4th of November, I saw Bishop and May bring the sack with a body in it
to Guy's Hospital. The sack produced has a hole in it, and resembles
that in which the body was brought. The sack was left at the hospital
all night. The following morning Bishop, May, Williams, and Shields,
came for the body, and I delivered it to them in the same state as I
had received it. The night before, May and Bishop directed me not to
let it go unless they were both present. They took it away in a hamper,
which they brought with them. Shields acted as porter, and carried the
hamper. I believe the hamper now produced to be that in which they
carried the body away.
Mr. J. APPLETON, curator of Grainger's Anatomical Theatre, Webb-street,
Borough, examined.--I know the three prisoners. On Friday, November
4th, about half-past seven o'clock in the evening, Bishop and May came
and said they had a subject for sale. I asked what it was; they said
that it was a fresh subject. I asked whether it was male or female.
They replied a boy about fourteen years of age. I declined to purchase
it. The next morning they called to make the same offer, but I again
declined it. They had not the body with them.
Mr. THOMAS MILLS examined.--I live at No. 39, Bridge-house-place,
Newington Causeway, and am a dentist. On the 4th of November, between
nine and ten o'clock in the morning, May called and offered a set of
teeth for sale; they were twelve human teeth, six for each jaw. I
observed that one of the front teeth was chipped. He offered the set
for a guinea. It was then that I observed that one of them was chipped,
as that lessened their value. I said that I would give twelve shillings
for them, and I remarked that they did not belong to one set. He said,
"upon my soul to God, they all belonged to one head not long since,
and that the body had never been buried." I gave him twelve shillings
for the set. On examining them afterwards, I found that some part of
the flesh of the gums was so firmly attached to them, that I imagined
they had been violently taken from the head. I found great difficulty
in detaching it from them. I remarked to May, that the teeth either
belonged to a boy or a female. He replied that they had belonged to a
boy, between fourteen and fifteen years of age. Those are the teeth now
produced, which I delivered to the superintendent Mr. Thomas.
Cross-examined by Mr. CURWOOD.--I will swear that the expression used
by May was not that the teeth were as fresh as if the body from which
they had been taken never was buried.
AUGUSTINE BRUN (examined through an interpreter, Parragalli, who is
also one of the witnesses) deposed, that he was acquainted with the
Italian boy, Carlo Ferrari. Witness brought him to this country about
two years ago. Carlo stayed with him but about six weeks. Has not
seen him since the 28th of July, 1830. Was shown the body of a boy at
Covent-garden station-house, on the 19th of November. Recognized it to
be the body of the boy Carlo--that is, to the best of his belief. Could
not swear positively, the face was so disfigured, and the absence of
the teeth so altered the usual expression of the boy's countenance.
The hair, size, and form, perfectly corresponded. Had not seen the boy
alive since July, 1830; could not, if he was dead.
The last remark occasioned a laugh in the court; but it arose from
the inaccurate manner in which Parragalli, the interpreter, put the
questions to the witness. In several instances the questions, as put by
Parragalli, were wholly different in sense and meaning to those given
by the counsel, and thus a degree of perplexity and confusion arose in
the answers, which gave an opposite character to the examination than
was in reality intended. The interpreter was frequently checked by
the court, in consequence of the comments in which he indulged in the
answers given by the witness, and in which he appeared to display a
zeal, which broke out sometimes into a certain degree of impertinence
and frivolity, not at all in character with the solemn investigation
which was then pending.
AUGUSTINE BRUN was cross-examined by Mr. Curwood, when he said, that
if he had not heard of the death of the boy, he should have given
precisely the same evidence, namely, that he could have inferred from
the general appearance of the body, and colour of the hair, that it
was that of 'my boy' Carlo Ferrari. If asked at once to whom the body
belonged, I should have experienced some difficulty in determining, in
consequence of the disfigurement of the face.
JOSEPH PARRAGALLI, the interpreter to Brun, was then admitted as
a witness. Obtained his livelihood by playing an organ and the
pandean-pipes. Knew the boy Carlo for the last two years. Saw him alive
at half-past two o'clock, in the Regent's Quadrant, on the Saturday
four weeks before he saw him dead at the Station-house. Carlo had then
a cage with two white mice about his neck; was sure that the boy, whom
he saw dead, was the same whom he saw thus accoutred in the Regent's
Quadrant (the cap was here put into witness's hands). Would swear that,
to the best of his belief, it belonged to the boy Carlo.
Cross-examined by Mr. BARRY.--Witness did not know any Italian boys who
obtained a livelihood in the manner of the boy Carlo.
[Illustration: CARLO FERRARI. THE ITALIAN BOY.
_Drawn by Mr. Tillotson in St. Paul's Church Yards_]
MARY PARRAGALLI, wife of the last witness, also knew the boy Carlo
Ferrari. Saw him last on Tuesday the 1st of November, in Oxford-street,
at a quarter past twelve o'clock; he had a cage, like a squirrel-cage,
with two white mice in it. Did not speak to him; he wore a cap. When
shown a dead body at Covent-Garden station-house, on the 6th of
November, was positive that it was that of the boy Carlo.
ANDREW COLLA knew the boy Carlo by sight. Saw him in Oxford-street on
Tuesday the 1st of November. On the following Monday saw a body at
the station-house, Covent-Garden, which he believes to have been that
of Carlo (a cap was here put into the witness's hands). To the best
of his belief, it was the cap worn by the Italian boy when he met him
in Oxford-street. Carlo had on him a blue coat and grey trowsers. The
trowsers had a patch on the knee (a pair of trowsers was here shown
to the witness). Believes them to be those worn by the boy Carlo. Is
strengthened in his belief by the peculiarity of the stitching. Has not
seen the trowsers since the day he met the boy in Oxford-street.
JOHN KING, aged ten in December, was acquainted with the nature of
an oath.--Lived near Nova Scotia Gardens. On the Thursday before Guy
Fawkes's day, saw a boy standing at the corner of the gardens. The boy
had a cage suspended by a string round his neck. Had a brown hairy cap
(a cap was put into witness's hands). Believes the cap to be that worn
by the boy. Knew it by the green facing.
MARTHA KING, aged eleven years, sister of the last witness, gave
evidence precisely to the same effect.
REBECCA BAYLIS lives at No. 1, Virginia-row, Bethnal-green. Her
husband is a cabinet-maker. Remembers to have seen, on Thursday the
3d of November, an Italian boy, standing close to the window of her
residence. Saw a box suspended from his neck, on the boy's arms. (The
cap which had been shown to the preceding witnesses, was here shown
to this witness.) Believes the cap to be the same with that worn by
the Italian boy. In about a quarter of an hour after, had occasion to
go out, I saw the Italian boy standing within two doors of Bishop's
residence. The trowsers appear to be like those worn by the boy; could
not speak with the same degree of certainty respecting the jacket. The
colour was more inclining to the green than that now produced.
JOHN RANDALL, labourer, lived in Bethnal-green, near Nova Scotia
Gardens. Remembers to have seen, on Thursday the 3d of November, an
Italian boy standing under the window of the Bird-cage public-house,
Nova Scotia Gardens. The boy had a cage with two white mice in his
arms. The cage had a box in one part, the other part went round like a
squirrel-cage. The boy had on him a brown cap: the cap (here shown to
witness) is like that worn by the boy.
SARAH TRUBY is wife of the landlord of the cottages, Nos. 1, 2 and 3,
in Nova Scotia Gardens. On the part of her husband, she let in July,
1830, the cottage No. 3 to Bishop's wife. Bishop and his wife lived
there since; let the cottage No. 2 to the prisoner Williams in July
last. Williams then went by the name of Head. Williams lived there for
six or seven weeks; let the cottage since to a person named Woodcock.
There was a well in the garden attached to Bishop's cottage, with a
passage to it from the other two cottages. There is a privy at the
bottom of the garden of No. 3, which was not open to Nos. 1 and 2, but
was to her (witness's) own residence. Has seen Williams frequently,
since he left No. 2, in the prisoner's (Bishop's) cottage.
WILLIAM WOODCOCK, about twelve years of age, lived with his father
at No. 2, Nova Scotia Gardens, next door to the prisoner Bishop's
residence. Has seen Williams and his wife frequently of late, in
Bishop's cottage; the last time he saw Williams there, was a couple of
days before Guy Fawkes' day.
ABRAHAM KEYMAN keeps the Feathers public-house, Bethnal-green.--On
Thursday night the 3d of November, at about a quarter before twelve,
Bishop, accompanied by a man in appearance like the prisoner Williams,
came to his house and took with him half a gallon of beer, and a
quartern of rum: lent them a can to carry the beer; lives within two
hundred yards of Bishop's residence (a can was here shown to witness);
that was the can he lent to Bishop.