The New York Herald Newspaper, November 9, 1878, Page 6

6 “WIS, ALELANDER CONTICTED, the Guilty of Murder in Second Degree. WEINBECKER AVENGED. The Vile Resurrectionist Sentenced to State Prison for Life. BASSETT’S TURN NOW. His Trial Set Down for Wednes- day Next. Brmwoerort, Nov. 8, 1878. Thecourt in which the Alexander case has been tried opened at the usual hour this morning, and the attendance through the day was unusually large, every available seat bei filled. Duritig the argu- ment of her counsel Mrs, Alexander at times seemed very much affected, more especially when he read to the jury the letter which she wrote to her mother. Mr. Thompson, her counsel, commenced his closing argument at ten minntes after nine. ADDRESS OF PRISONER'S COUNSEL, He said the prisoner had been since her arrest sur- rounded by enemies rather than friends, and, there- fore he had been placed under great disadvantage. She stoodcharged with murder in the first degree. A person cannot be convicted of murder without the testimony of two full witnesses or its equivalent. Take out the prisoner's own statement and you cannot find that Weinbecker came to his death by criminal agency. In herstatement she admits that Weinbecker was dead, aud that he came to his death by criminal agenc; ‘The State has told you that the body found was the body ovinbt Wecker, outside of her own testimony. I say that from the evidence in this case you camnot find that Weinbecker came to his death by criminal agency outside of Mrs. Alex- @nder’s own statement. You here heard the testimony of Dr. Hubbard, who testified that the body which he examined was so decomposed he found nothing to prove that he came to his death by a criminal agency. ‘Vhere was nothing in the fact itself to show whether he came to his death by drowning, natural death or other causes, so that, Isay, you cannot find that he came to his death by criminal agency unless you take the testimony of the prisoner at the bar. The main, important question ix, whether the prisoner at the bar Committed the crime. The State does not claim that she administered the chloroform, but it is claimed that the assisted. and abetted. Now, what is the evidence in this case? We are not to guess or presume, but to at witb the evidence in the case. The only evidence on which the State claims a conviction is the state- ment of Mrs. Alexander. The only evidence is that while Frank Bassett was committing the erime she handed bim the bottle, which stood some distanee from where Weinbecker lay. I say the claim is what that assistance was. If she did render that assistaace did she do it under coercion and fear of her life? Isay she did it underfear. I claim, from the facts, that is all she did do and should be excused for what she did do, and should be found not guilty. Now, gentlemen, take for # moment the position under which Mrs, Alexander made this statement. On the 28th of September she went with Bassett to New London in a schooner. Bassett was arrested. he was left om board. When she returns to Bridge- port she goes to her house und finds that she has been stripped of everything. It then is no wonder that she ‘was indignant at the fact. The lew respects human feelings. MRS. ALEXANDER’S VARLOUS STORIES. She goes to Wyncoop for advice, and in her statement to him that she had been robbed she let slip the word that he (Bassett) had done —, to be hung. Do you believe her? She goes to Chief Marsh and asks what can be done. He can do nothing. She then goes to ‘Mr. Holt aud makes her statement. After passing over the pi portion of the statement she had given to a public prosecuting officer and made her statement, she said she did not give the details of the crime, as she was in fear of ber life from the hands cf Bassett and his friends. Was there ® motive in this? You have got to take,that state- ment or you must reject it. No other reason or ¢: planation can be en but the fear of her life. When asked by Mr. Holt if she had anything to do with the crime she sail “No,” t what she did “through fear.” The State says if you believe any of her statement you must believe the whole of it. She had been promised protection if she would give the details. You have heard her make this statement. You hhere have heard her «my that she was near sighted and could not see but # short distance; she was com- by Bassett to hand him the bottle, and she ‘was compelled to do this through fear. I say, wotiemen, if her statement be true she is «guiltless of this crime with which whe is charged. The handing of the bottle of chloro form on that night was an involun! act, and there- fore she is excused from this act. Mr. Thompson then reviewed the interview at the jail between Mrs. Alex- ander and Bassett. ‘Take these statements to Mr. Holt avd Mr. Arnold and Mr. Marsh; take these statements and you will see that whatever she that night she did it through fear of her life. Take her statement and that which has been said about her through the papers and you will find that they are the same and that she etill adheres to that statement, and, if that be so, and there be uo other evidence it is your duty to find the fact in her favor, and you find that fact in her favor can you say under oath that she is guilty? She is either guilty or not. 1 will marshal the statements to Marsh, Holt and ‘Arnold, and can you not say that she is not guilty? I xnow that there are suspicions in this case, but you cannot hang on mere suspicion; if there is a doubt she certainly is entitled to the benefit of it. DRAWING A FANCIFUL PICTURE. I say, gentlemen, look st the position of this ‘woman, locked, if she was, in that room with those two men. Do you wonder that she was frantic, crazy, and did not know what to do? The frank and candid statement of that woman vindicates her. She does not seek to hide herself. She is frank, and this should appeal to you in her favor. There is no evidence here that she caused, commanded or assisted in this crime. Now, then, did she aid or ‘abet? Lay not. (Mr. Thompson then read the law ea this point.) This aiding and sbetting is not a vol- untary act. You have yet to find that she planued this crime and that she willingly aided and abetted. There is no evidence that she did this. Isay that she neither aided nor abetted. She went into that room sad smelt that odor and saw Frank and esked what he was doing; he commanded her to hand him that bottle: she found Bassett with his hands over the auan’s face and pressing them there. Now how could she be aiding in this? It is not within your or po | power to say that the chloroform had not been ad- auinistered to Weinbecker before she came into that room, Dr. Hubbard bas said that chloroform may cause death in an instant and it may not canse dea jo un bour. | say that we do not know what had been done before «he went into that room, but we do Know, and she tells you in her statement that some- thing’ had been done. Have we any evidence that Weinbecker moved or made any signs of life after that woman went into the room? You are to be satis. fied that that man came to his death by the assist eace of her hands. [ say that she was ignorant of the crime unel it had progressed to some extent. fhe found Bassett there using the chloroform, wad does not in her statement say that there was any Ppaemodic breathing. The question was asked as to what position she found him in when she went into the room. The State has not proved that the chioro- form bottle which was handed to Bassett assisted in that man's desth, and I say, geutlemen, upon thie pest you must be in doubt, aud the prisoner is en ited to this doubt. AN ACCOMPLIC ONLY THROUGH THREATS. Now, as to the question of concealment. Whatever she did after the case has nothing to do with the as sisting or abetting. Whatever assistance she rendered Baasett after the man's death was done through fear of Bassett, the same fear that existed in her mind when she made her statements Mr. Holt and Chief Marsh. She tells that she shuddered to see bim touch the body, and you will remember thot she suid sbuddered from ‘the beginning, which shows it from fear of thie man Bassett. When Winbecker was brought to her house on the day of he rourder he said to Bassett, “What did you bring that dirty fellow here for 7’ Does this look consistent that had s band in planning thie murder? Bassett bought both the barrel and chloroform—the chloroform to cure the toothache and the Darrel to send goods to her mother, Is there anything unreasonable in this, It is a perfectly natural and trathfal statement. She said that Bas sett put his hands in the dead man’s pocket and teid, “Well, I have not got much out of that job. May it not be that the man was stupitied for plunder ? We have heard of such circumstances. I ayer that when eld that Bassett bought the barrel aud chloro: ‘ort for that purpose the State perverts the evidence, fn regard to the interview at the jail, you may search the aunals of crime in this century ‘the world over 4 you will find no record of an assistant and par crime asking for such an interview. (Mr. read the letter from Mrs. Alexander ew.) Tsay that the last thing « person would do would to ask interview under sneh ciréumatanees: the other hand, it was # broken to prove her innocence. 1 harge u or fear that #he is not guilty of thie . with all this textin ubt about her guilt ye that doubt, “Is fore you, if youare im Pive her the benefit of the NEW fLORK HERALD, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1878—WITH SUPPLEMENT. anything criminal in the fact of her trying to sell her body? I say not. It may have been, r idea to be sure, but it certainly was perfectly ut, Take ber statement from the evidence and the State has no case at all. This statement was pub- lished some thirty days ago and has been heralded from Maine to Georgia, and has been the subject of news} talk ever since. The officers of the law have been vient in making up this case. The State At- torney has used his zeal to convict her, but I say she stands before you guiltless. Thanking you, gentle- joan, Soe your attention, I leave this case in your nds. At the afternoon session every seat and available place in the room was filled lo before the opening hour arrived, and the hum and buzz of voices around the room reminded one more of # house of amuse- ment than a place where a prisoner was being tried for her lite, THE JUDGE'S CHARGE. At quarter-past two Judge Beardsley commenced his charge to the jury substantially 4s follows :— GENILEMEN—The prisoner at the bar stands before you charged murder in the first degree, and the State says you may in your verdict find the prisoner guilty of murder in the first or second degree or manslaughter. The issue which you areto pass upon in this case is whether the ac- cused committed a crime. This is a remarkable case, and the only evidence before you is the prisoner's own statement. It was she who first disco the crime; it was she who first took officers to the place where the chloroform and bottle were found; it was she who took them to Dr. Sanford; it was she who took them to where the body was found. The defence claim that this fact alone tends to show the woman’s innocence. There is some other evidence brought out in this case, but the main dence is in her own state- ment. In order to convict the prisoner you must find without a reasonable doubt as regards the guilt of the accused. You must | have a conviction which must prove beyond all con- clusion that the accused was guilty, It has been said at the bar that the State must prove that the deceased was dead and that his death was caused by a criminal The question is as to whether the body agency. The found was that of Wienbecker or some one else. State say that the last seen of Wienbecker was in the’ company of the accused or _ his paramour, The State claim that the coat and shoes dug up in the yard of the accused belonged to Wien- becker, and that this is evidence that Wienbecker was dead. The State say then that the evidence of the accused and the surrounding circumstances will warrant her conviction. It has been said at the bar that it is not enough that she administered the chloro- form with her own hands, but the State claim it is enough, from the fact that she was present when the chloroform was administered, the amount of aid or assistance is not material. Now, gentlemen, what is the evidence in this case? ‘The statement which she related on the stand was, as I understood it, that while Bassett was in the act of administering the chloroform that Bassett commanded her to hand him the bottle; that she did hand it to him. The State claims that this is enough if she consciously furnished the material that took the person's life that alone is sufficient to con- vict her. It is claimed on the part of the defence that the man was not dead when the bottle was handed to Bassett. If this be so she is not guilty of the crime of murder. It is claimed further on the part of the defence that whatever she did in the matter was done under peculiar circumstances; that she was apprehensive that it she did not do as she was bid she would be in danger of her life, and her own statement is referred to by the defence that she so acted, and it is said that if she had any connection in this crime that she would not confess as she did to Mr. Holt and others, and, gentlemen, it is proper that you take into consideration in this case all the circumstances surrounding her sex, her fear of Bassett, she being alone with him, &c.; that she stood in fear of him at her not complying with his request. It is claimed on the part of the State that it was on a public thoroughfare and early in the evening and that she made no effort to escape from the p! The State claims that there must be no means ot escape and that the persons must make every effort to get away or they must be found guilfy of the crime. ‘Lhe State claims that there is evidence beyond a rea- sonable doubt to warrant you to find the accused guilty of murder in the first degree. The State say that they have furnished evidence outside of sur- rounding circumstances equal to a witness that she actually committed the deed. They say that the whole history of her trying to dispose of bodies. goes to show that she premeditated the murder, that the letter to Dr. Sanford in relation to a resurrec- tionist was paving a way to disposo of bodies. It is claimed, on the part of the defence, that there was no motive that prompted her in killing this man; that this proposition to sell other bodies to some one else, and that these letters which were written to Dr. Sanford were not in view of any plan which they had entered into to procure bodies. It is claimed on the purt of the defence that she had not prepared the story for the emergency, but that it was « plain and simple story told without any preparation, and they claim that it has been found out that the story she told has been found true, and after she had told her story she remained free, was not arrested, free to go, and made no effort to escape. It is claimed further by them it is Bassett who committed the offence and that is nothing to connect the accused with it but her own statement, ‘They say that these letters to Dr. Sanfofd do not fur- nish evidence pointing to the crime. /Gentlemen, I submit the case to you and with the evidence before you. Take it into consideration and render such 4 verdict as you in your own judgment seg fit. THE VERDICT. At ten minutes after three the jury retired to their private room, and after # deliberation of fifty minutes returned with a verdict of guilty of murder in the second degree. As the last words of the foreman were spoken Mrs. Alexander dropped into her chair crying bitterly and seemed completely broken down. The verdict was # great surprise to her counsel and to pss many. It was expected that the jury would MF Olmstead then moved that the Court pass sen- tence on the prisoner to the verdict just rendered. Judge Martin then said:—“Mrs. Serena E. Alexan- der, you have been brought before the Grand Jury and they have indicted you for murder in the first degree. At the bar of this Court you pleaded not wilty. You have been most ably defended and you ave been tried by an intelligent jury of yourowncoun- trymen, and they have brought in a verdict of murder in the second degree and by this verdict you have been prevented the shame of an iguominious death. By this verdict you have been permitted to live on, but your life will be within the gloomy walls of a prison, to be shut out from the society of the world; while there it is to be hoped that you will make atonement for your past sins and prepare yourself to meet your Creator. Nothing pow remains for the Court but to pass sentence upon you. THE SENTENCE. “The sentence of this Court is that you, Serena E. Alexander, be conducted to the State Prison and there = be coufined during the remainder of your natural fe. BASSEIT'S TRIAL NEXT. The trial of Frank Bassett for the murder of Frank ‘Weinbecker will commence a week from next Tuesday. Jailor Wells says he took down Baasett's statement at his request. this statement Bassett says that he knew nothing about the murder until it was all over; that he came into the room and saw Mrs. Alexander standing over Weinbecker with # sponge placed at the nose, He had heard outside of this statement that Bassett said that Mrs. Alexander held s pistol at his — and compelled him to do what he did in this crime. The first ballot of the jury stood six for murder in the first degree and six for murder in the second de- gree. Mrs. Alexander's counsel will probably enter a motion for a new trial. JOLY'S RIDE. A WHEELBARROW BET—THE PENALTY PAID BY A LOSER ON THE ELECTION IN THR EIGHTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. Day before election John F. Joly bet David O'Neill that Anson J. MeCook would be elected over Law- rence Jerome, the penalty tu the loser compelling him to wheel the winner in @ wheelbarrow around the block bounded by Thirteenth and Fourteenth streets and Sixth and Seveuth avenues, Joly, who is all his name implies, won the bet, and he and twenty of his friends made application to the police authorities yesterday for a permit to allow what they called “the parade” to take place last evening. In- spector Dilks granted permission, and preparations were acordingly made for an imposing turn out of Mr. Joly and his friends, A uumber of young bloods assembled early in the saloon at No, 118 West Fourteenth street, and langhed, joked aud drank beer while they waited for the hour appointed (eleven o'clock) to arrive. On @ billiard table im the saloon the wheelbarrow destined for Joly’s triumphal ride was exhibited and was decorated with flags and streamers. Another conveyance intended for the judge of the performance, John F. Jones, consisted of an old dry goods box mounted on rollers aud cov- ered outside with a mach frayed and faded national ensign. Inside the box was # chair covered with crimson mnelin for the judge to repose bis august person on. Sharp at eleven the large crowd in the saloon filed onton thesidewalk preceded by @ limited band of rauaic ting of a big drum, two little ones and fi ye band led the way, followed by two lads bearin flags. Then came the judge's chariot, drawn with « rope at either side, to which were hitched twelve men, rt the procession closed with Mr. Jo waking hiroself jolly as posible in his cramped quarters within the wheelbarrow aud 0’ Neill holding on to both handles like grim death. It was fortunate for the latter that Joly is ae light in body as in spirits, for the barrow was wide and unsteady, and as the crowd pressed close before and behiud it re quired some degree of nerve and navigation to keep the vehicle and its live freight from spilling on the sicde- walk. O'Neill, who was a sruall chap, got aloug bravely, thongh his knees showed frequent symptoms of cav- ing in until he turned the corner into Seventh avenue and then aman much shorter than himself volun- teered to take # hand at the shafts, to which O'Neill #0 cordially agreed that he left him in the enjoyment of the job to the end of the ride, which terminated where it began. bverybody on the street was attracted by the re- | sounding musie of the band and the oddity of the and before it had gone half way around the uple of hundred people, thinking to th ves what #n asinine exhibition they were partake vad fallen in with the parade, Windows and hall doors of private houses were thrown open to discover Ul the racket was about, and poals of langbter long the streets. When the ride was ended welling crowd ponred into the saloon from whence the procession started, and Joly was borne to the bar, and everybody preseut Was soon as jolly as jmaself, the | “BURKING.” ——_— Wholesale Murder to Supply Sub- jects for Dissection. TWO HUMAN VAMPIRES. How Burke and Hare Carried on Their Operations, SUFFOCATION OF Victims. Discovery of the Crimes and Punishment of the Assassins. _—— “To burke, burking, being burked, burked.”” ‘This verb of regular conjugation was born into the English language on the Sist of October, 1828, when was perpetrated ut Edinburgh a series of the most revolting and brutal crimes that have ever been re- corded. The definition of the new word, the different forms of which are given above, explains the mannér of the deed, and it may be found in any of the modern dictionaries. It will be sufficiently illustrated in the following narrative :— Alittle before the period named the great demand for subjects for dissection, caused by the increased in- terest in the development of medicine, had enhanced the prices which were paid for human bodies, and the traffic in them had become as extensive as it was lucrative. Very soon all sorts of strange methods were adopted by the resurrection men to sup- ply the voracious medical schools, and the pro- feasors and physicians were not too scrupulous about the obtaining of materials of which they stood in need, In Dublin, about 1626, it was rumored among the populace that many children had been kidnapped in Ireland and sent to London and Edinburgh, while yet living, to be subjected to the investigating scalpel. The poor people's terror at this supposed fact was, of course, absurd, and yet the history of sur- gery, had they been familiar with it, would have afforded them plenty of examples sustain- ing their view of Esculapian ferocity. Erasistratus, born at Ceos, 300 B. C., was the first to dissect human bodi and he obtained from Selencus Nicanor and Antiochus Sotbr a license to thus examine, while they still lived, the criminals who were condemned to death, Herophilus also practised vivisection upon men and women. Berenger, having been accused of dissecting living Spaniards, was chased or exiled to Ferrara. Vesalius once cut into the body of a Spanish nobleman while the heart was yet beating, and was obliged to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem in expia- tion, The rumors which orignated in Dublin, caused by the eagerness of the medical profession to get posses- sion of dead bodies may have suggested the actual horrors which afterward occurred. In the biogra- phies of some of the old physicians of London, many curious instances may be met with which showed the tendency of the thought of the lower criminal classes about that time. PROFESSIONAL RESURRECTIONISTS. On one occasion a professional resurrectionist was walking in the vicinity of a hospital when he saw a man totter as with @ sudden faintness and then fall. He hurried to him with the best of impulses, but on bending over him he found that he was dead. Imme- diately the cold craft and sordid calcula- tion of his mature became uppermost, and, like = consummate actor, he assumed with scarcely an effort an expression and attitude of the most poignant grief, wringing his hands and en- treating the passers-by to assist him to carry his “cousin” to the hospital. On the next day an inquest was made by the Coroner and the resurrection man laid claim to the body and took it away with him, ostensibly for burial with the usual Christian — rites. But instead of a raveyard he sought another hospital, where he and is calling were well known, and sold it to the tesa tor & cot ble sum. One night » young practi. tioner who had gone to bed was roused the knock of a resurrection man, and ou opening the door of his house was informed that a subject , was at hand, in readiness for delivery, if he cared to purchase it. It was paid for without ii tion and the doctor kicked it jocosely down a flight of stairs leading into his dissecting room. Then he turned and was about to ascend to his bedroom when he was surprised to hear a complaining sound pro- ceeding from the sack which enclosed the contraband merchandise. It was indistinct and broken, but certain epithets and expletives belongi to the vocabulary of the British tar conve; a meaning to his horrified ear. His first thought was that some one had been murdered for the sake of the price of bis body and that the m1 or murderers faa erred in not doing their work effectually. He turned, and was not @ little astonished to behold a man sitting erect on one of the steps and beside him toward him the an empty sack. When he advanced apparition ed the greatest terror and for his life. He ward explained that he been drunk and had lain down in # stupor, when some roustabout companions who did not love him too well had slipped him into a sack and carried him off for wale. The doctor heer aggre gage ae Ar tage had expe! pow eats pence for » live subject, and thus bad been # . AN OUTGROWTH OF THE NAPOLEONIC WARS. But a very horrible phase of this trade in the im: of God was that which was developed during the Na- oleouic wars. It was long before the invention of Riise teoth had been perfected, and wealthy poople who had lost the first armament which na- ture had given them were willing to pay immense sums for sets up of mo- lars and incisors from the gums of all sorts of persons and from all quarters of the globe. Agents were sent from the chief cities of Great Britain to the Continent to follow the armies, and after every battle to thoroughly scour the field and reap @ harvest of bons ~ a agi ed ss them - struments m: specially for the purpose o! extracting them, and the dead cad counded ulike were outraged by them. With this occupation they linked others of a scarcely less fiendish character, having first taken care to protect themselves by being licensed as sutlers, They truly were deserving to be called vampires, since they must having caused the death of many ® poor wretch whose legitimate wounds were not necessarily fatal. Doubtless they were sometimes resisted by soldiers, who posseased greater strength than they had counted upon, and thus were compelled to choose an alternative between exposure and their own punishment and the murder, of their victim. ‘The nightmare of 80 many years of military slaugh- ter must have benumbed the sensibilities of the Euro- pean public and it was not un for @ series of monstrous murders, of which those which were distinctively called burking are the most shocking. In # great many of their details those crimes bear & resemblance to those of which Mrs Alexander an T amour Bassett stand ac- cused in the court at Bridgeport, The two principals in Seottish case were living with two women who were not legally their wives, but who shared their dull and sodden brutality, aud were only lesa ferocious becwuse less bold. ES 4 never seem to have protested against the deeds whiel were done before their eyes aud with their help, and there was no evidence to show that they were coe: into imeurring a part of the guilt. Oue of them was endowed with very little intelligence; the other was devoid of any good instincta. THE TWO ACCOMPLICES. William Hare, one of the murderers, was born at Newry, in Ireland, in 1792. His father wae a cotter or email farmer, and he was brought up to the same oo- cupation, When he was twenty-five years of age he went to Edinburgh and was employed as a boatman on the Union A fellow laborer was William Barke, the son Neil Burke. He was born in the arish of Urney, neur Strabane, in the county of yrone, Ireland, about the ae 1793, He had been o in the Donegal militia, #id played well on the flute, “a proof,’ says satirical writer on the philosophy of burking in Frazer's Magazine, “ot the sterling sensibility of his heart.” He left his regiment shortly after the battle of Waterloo and went to Scotland in 117. The two men were well adapted to a mutual partnership, but in the snbeequent events it was shown, according to the same hutmorous commentator, that “in cor tion Mr. Hare evidently had the a over hie in colleague, but in details an elaborate minuteness of finish it seems now to admitted that Mr. Burke had Hare imparted to Burke a scheme of improving the then klow production of subjects for diss and the latter embraced it immediately with the ready decision of genius. They proposed to lure their victims into a fitting den and there to do away with them in such o manner that it would bs that ey the advantage.” W they had died from natural caunes, | dis- cussed the different methods which had before been tried by people desirous of removing their neighbors from these earthly scenes, and they philo- sophicaily rejected them all. Burke conceived an idea in comparison with which in his superb im- agination all others appeared vulgar, It fitted neatly into Hare's outlined jan and they proceeded to test it practically, Kverythi succeeded according to their wish, and these pi Of sciencefor the fruits which they plucked were tendered to that goddess—abandoned the ways of water-side characters aud devoted themselves entirely to their new avocation. They found it convenient not to dwell long in single place, but wherever they went Mr. Burke ostensibly worked at the trade of cobbler, What Hare pretended to do does not appear, unless it was to deal in old clothes, a8 # means of accounting for the presence in their lodg: of the garments which had been worn by their victims. They denominated the latter, after they had been converted into form and conditon, by the generic term of so that their casual con would not be od to regard in light that they did. They found no difficulty in set- tling them, and indeed their principal patron, Dr. Knox, a celebrated teacher of anatomy, was very much delighted to procure subjects so fresh’ and so life-like ax those which these artists ly furnished to him. As # consequence his class very popular amoug aspiring students. At length, however, there was a breaker in this smooth tide of success, HOW THE CRIMINALS WERE DISCOVERED. ‘The first knowledge which the public had of these fearful doings transpired through the unaccountable disap, we of a begging woman named Mary Campbell or Duffie or harty, who had been last ‘seen alive in the lodgings of Burke and his wife in teh Tanner's Close, in West Portsburg, The dis- covery had been brought about by an over- doing of their business. Burke had been in the habit of letting part of his house to transient lodgers, always probably with the cont in his mind’s eye of conpereeng Siete into stock in trade, and in the last week of October a poor man, named Gray, with his wife, had sto) there on their passage through the town. In the evening they bad seen Burke eptering his own ents, accom- panied by an off and tmeanly clad woman. In the morn- ing they were surprised at not seeing her, and peor peed by an instinctive Ogg they peeped into a room which was occupied by Burke, and from which they had heard proceeding the sounds of carousal on the night before. On the floor they saw fresh marks of blood, and they found on removing some straw which was heaped under a table haggard and repulsive corpse, which Coy recognized as the woman they had missed, Struck with terror they retreated from the room, tied up their small bundles and were about to quit the house, when they met Mrs. Burke entering the door. Their looks and unguarded words betrayed their knowledge. She fell upon her knees and tendered them money to induec them to stay and refrain from bras 2 the police of whut they had seen. It is highly probable that Burke and Hare had determined upon treating them exactly as they had Mrs. Campbell and the woman, therefore, when she took this course had two objects in view. They were seized with greater terror, however, at her proposal and fled from her presence. On the next day the police were warned. In the meantime arrangements had been made by Burke and Hare for delivering the “‘shot,”” which they had just perfected, into the hands of Dr. Knox. A tea chest was purchased of a grocer and inthis it was packed. It was then conveyed by a porter to the dis- seouing room. They received for it the sum of £5, and £3 more were to be paid them if it proved as good hot” as it was represented to be. IN THE GRIP OF THE LAW. On November 2 the police went to the house at the bottom of Tanner's lane and found there the murder- ers and traces of their crime. The.clothes which the old woman had worn lay in # corner with o heap of other ts of all sizes aud pat- terns. There was blood on the floor and the pallet of straw was reeking with it. The house itself was dark and grimy, and almost shut out from the light of heaven. The tea chest and its contents had already been seized at the doctor's museum, and the latter had been examined by medi- cal experts. All the indications about it strengthened the suspicion of a murder by suffocation, Hare had no more than been lodged in the Tolbooth than he had determined to obtain by his craft an advantage over Burke and to give King’s evidence. Accordingly he confessed the crime, accusing Burke and his wife and secking to shield himself and Mrs. Hare. These women were re- spectively named Helen M. Dou, and Laird. One was a native of Redding, Scotland, and the other of Ireland. The trial took place on the 24th of De- cember, 1828, and it was characterized by the most in- tense interest. All England and Ireland and Scotland had by this time become excited to a fearful pitch over the narratives published in the newspapers, snd the chamber of the High Court of Judiciary was densely packed with the yeomanry and peasantry of the Lowlands and Highlands. The prisoners secured distinguished counsel, among whom were Sir James Moncief and Henry Cockburn. Lord Justice Clerk presided. William Burke was described as he then looked, as “of middle size, stoutly built and of a determined though not icularly sinister counte- mance. He had cheek bones, gray eyes set deep in the head, a short, snubbish nose, a round chin, hair and whiskers of a light sandy color and a com- Wisou thin and” angular, with jong features sowie: , but and an; , with long features some- what distorted. She was taleerably dressed, dence it appeared that Madgy or Mar Upon the evidence it a y or t [ceed MeGonegal. or Duffie or Campbell or cherty, according as she bore the names of one or the other of her successive husbands, had first met William Burke in the shop of a grocer where she was begging for charity. She told him she was going to Wynd to mect her son, a lad claimed St. ‘y's of eleven years. Burke immediatel to be a distant relative of and w hér to go with ,him and break- fast. She went Nora willingly. She was seen b; several persons at hi eonioa during the da; evening, the latter part of the time being much the worse for drink. Hare and his wife were Sho peers and they all became merry, singing, laughing and dancing, and Mrs. Campbell could ily her feet. Hare, according to his confession, jan to uarrel with Burke, and they soon came to blows. ‘he old woman became alarmed and ran twice into the p way adjoining the room calling for the lice, Helen McDougal went after her and brought er back each time. the struggle Hare pushed her over a stool and she fell upon the floor, and abe was too drunk to rise in, Burke threw himself upon her so that hin breast covered her face. She uttered several cries and then onl: moaned. Burke put one hand on her nose and mout and the other under her chin, thus stopping her breath completely. He never spoke while doing this, and Hare sat opposite him on a chair, without a ae of pity or recoiling from the terrible spectacle. ‘The women, in the meantime, had fied from the room, un- able to endure the sight of the murder. Burke arose from his prone ition, still holding his hand over the mouth of Mrs. Campbell. She appeared to be quite dead, and at the end of ten minutes they pulled off her clothing, doubled her up and, placing her ins corner, covered her up with straw. On the further confessions of Hare and of Burke himeelf the extent of the business which they car- ried on began to be realized, and they were corrob- orated by the spoils which they had found in the house in Tanner's Close. People began to trace to their door the many disap] ces that had recently taken place and the sequel of which had until then remained secret. Tramps on ent the city with their friends had been suddenly lost; makers on their road to the agricultural districts. of the low- lands had strayed away and were never more heard of, and children who had played truant never went back to their and now there was a terrible clew — a ctiay eauatrigna tertpe —, coreg acknow! to 'y or forty “shots,” ne dented that he had ever resurrected any of them it was inferred that he had procured all of them by murder. It was he who did the hunting up of victims. He was of a fawning and # great favorite with children. It was proven that the fights which always occurred between Hare and him just previous to the burking of # victim were gotten up purposely, for the uur pose of deceiving any one who ht chance to be listening. The first body which they de- livered to the doctors was that of an old pensioner named Donald, who lived in the seme house. He died about Christmas, 1827, and they stole him from his coffin and filled it with tanner’s bark in hi» stead. In the spring of 1828 » woman came to Hare's from Gilmerton and lodged there. She drank with them and they all became merry together. The next morning she was ill, and Hare proposed that they should try to smother her so as to sell her body. As she lay on her back insensible from drink he cl 4 his hand on her mouth and nose and Burke cast his weight upon her to keep her still. She never stirred, and they undressed her and put her in a chest, which was taken by ao porter to the rooms of Dr. Knox. After that » miller, named Ji bh, an Englishman, who was ill of the ce, ana five old women were made away with the same artistic mauner, The doctors invariably raise the appearance of the corpses. In April, 1828, Burke fell in with @ courtezan, named Paterson, and she, with a companion named Janet Brown, was induced to lodge in the house of his brother Constantine in Canongate. The usual quarrel took place, and Janet went out in a fright. enty min- utes afterward, when she returued and asked for Pat- erson, Burke waid that she had left the house, and she never saw ber again. The body of Pater- son was sold ix hours later, In September « washerwoman, after dojug a day's work for Mrs. Hare, was burked and disposed of. Their next job was that of a woman named McDougal, a relation of Mrs. Burke's first husband. KILLING A FOOL. ‘The murder of “daft Jamie” was the most horrible of all their crimes. The victin was an idiot boy, but he was endowed with great strength. He was encountered by Burke near the beginning of October, 1424, in the neighborhood of the Grass Market in Edinburgh, wandering about in search of his mother. It was no difficult matter to entice him to the den in Tanner's clone, and when he was there he was plied with drink until he went to sleep. Burke then said:— "Shall I do it now 7” “He's too strong for you yet,” said Hare; “let him aloue a little while.” Burke waited a few moments, but then became im- tient and suddenly threw himself on Jamie, who instantly «prang to his feet, Then ensued a most revoiti The struggle was terrible. Despera- tion ved the poor idiot, and he had nearly gaisftd the mastery, when Hai ee him up and then drag; him wcross the floor ax Burke lay upon his face and smothered bim ath. ‘The last cave was that for which Burke and his wife were tried. The former was convicted and sentenced to be han, om the 28th of January, 1829. ‘The latter was acquitted, The execution of the sentence was & memorable day of wrath and vengeance for FAinburgh, The crowd which had gathered around the Lawn Market was immense, and “coins of vantage’ were sold for large sums. The religious performance of the attendant clergyman was sticcreded by vehement cheering, mingled with groans and histes. The ndemned was assailed with every epithet of abhorrence and contempt, aud when the hanginan began his office there were ter. rible crys of “Burke him! Burke him! Give bin no rope |" and execrations were fying at him from every side, Burke died valinly; but before he bad wapived the shout was raised, “Burke Mare! Where is Hare? Let us hang him, too!” After a final cheer the multitude dispersed. Efforts were made to a Hare to trial for the murder of ‘Daft Jamie,” in which Burke alleged that | he had the chief part, but he was at length released by the Court, together with Mary his wife. Each of fpr out of Solent at See ee narrowly escaped wit! ‘ix lives from pul lie Tndignation: ENGLISH IMTTATORS. Almost immediately succeeding the exciterhent over the operations of Burke and Hare in Edinburgh came that over the diabolical doings of 4 precious ir ot villains in London named Bishop and Will- iams. They had been successful in sending three reons whom they had murdered to the dissecting | room, | but they | were detected in the killing of Carlo Ferrari, a poor Italian boy,whom they got within their power and then suffo- cated, They were conyicted and both were hung in 1831, About the same time a gentleman named x, a miller, residing at Barnet, waa returning froin Lon- don, where he had attended the corn market, at Mark lane, when his gig collided with another vehicle, and immediat & pistol was discharged in his face. the shot and his assailant fell back dead 5 companion then extricated his team and drove away lavhing them to their utmost speed. The miller pursued him, but lost sight of him near Islington. @ police made an unsnocessful search, after she connjetion of Bishop and Williams explanation of the strange occurrence pre- sented itself. It was (Baer that the two men in the cart were body-snatchers, and that they had been on an unsuccessful expedition. Returning homeward and espying a plump and happy looking miller they had resolved to secure him as a subject. ‘When one of them had been mortally wounded, how- ever, his Pamepenios instantly realized that at least his of their object was realized, and accordingly mi haste to escape with his ‘shot’ and convey to some ready patron. ed in criminal an- Burking has frequently aj nals since the year 1838) various motives ac- count for it. Unnatural mothers have lain upon their for the purpose of removing the evidence of their shame, and on the Continent there have been many instances of the suffocation of persona by ap- plying strong plasters to their mouths and nostrils. WENDELL PHILLIPS FOR GRANT. A RADICAL SPEECH ON THE POLITICAL SITUA- TION--BUTLEB CONTRASTED WITH WADE HAMPTON. {From the Philadelphia Times, Nov. 8.} ‘Wendell Phillips’ new lecture—“The Yard Stick; Who Shall Make It?’—was listened to by a large wudience at the Academy of Music last evening. The applause that greeted its delivery had a leaven of disapproval brought out by the warmth of the ora- tor’s panegyric on Ben Butler and the vigor of de- nuneiation with which Mr. Phillips spoke of South Carolina's Governor, Wade Hampton. The applause followed the manner and the hisses, of which there were not a few, the matter of the speaker's discourse, although when Mr. Phillips said ‘‘there was only one man who could safely ride the raging elements of national discord and bring our country safely away from the danger that impen eneral Grant,” the applause was vociferous and enthusiastic. ‘The title of the lecture led many to ki Pare) that Mr. Phillips would expound at length the doctrine of soft money, of which he is one of the great apostles in New England, but they were disappointed, for, al- though he touched on finance, he did not follow up that line of argument, but inclined toward the dis- cussion of the relations of capital and labor, desig- nating the representatives of the first as those men who trade in money and as labor representatives all the rest. The following is the substance of the more striking points of Mr. Phillips’ remarks :— If I were in Massachusetts I should begin my lecture to-night 4 stating the great question of to-day to be whether the Union should succomb to the opposing forces arrayed inst it, In the famous orations of a great man of the past the closing sentence always ‘was :—‘‘Nevertheless, Carthage should be overthrown,” So I would have it known that I pass away believ: in the existence of a plot in the South to rule or ruin our government. The political compe of Pennsyl- vania has been based upon finance. fassachusetts the issue has been between capital and labor. In Maine the issue was also capitaland labor. The result in my own State is that General Butler annihilated democ- racy. The people rose in their might and gave toa favorite son of the Commonwealth 110,000 votes. Had the campaign been based on finance General But- ler would we been the Governor. To-day the dividing line, and General Butler stands fairly upon it, iscapital and labor in yhe Commonwealth, capital dreading invasion aud professing to dread bag labor Bening for # more honest money tl the country has known this many a long year. There is danger for our land, and the ba leroy in the likelihood of our desert the ental principle of our uation—univ suffrage. When I »; of labor I do not use the wera the sense oeert have cae in political speeches. Ci speak ae all thet trades in wealth, that dods in the exchange of money. A few hundred men in Chestnut street, 500 in Wall street, and a few hundred in State street. It was the money changers that the Son of God scourged from the tem- plee This was what the campaign rested upon in Naneachusette, and over one hundred tho: men, holding up General Butler ayainst capital, made the grandest day Massachusctts over knew. Such a voice, although not recognized this year, will be heard and heard again until recognition follows its tones. It is the guarantee of the tuity of the Republic. But the tide capital acts strong and it leads to ruin. If or a deeaianet Senator from New York shall at- tempt to block the way with his single strength the Oriareast sesaehic’, Gemnd ta 9 sued term of office, the solid South coquetting With the soft money element of the West will bring ruin, There is but one man who can safely ride the raging elements of national dis- and our country safely away from the dan- Grant. It is a mistake to ppose try that will not under any other leader break to Pieces. Rhee gone Bd speak of national affairs Mr. Phillips came to South Carolinas, s dangerous State, he said, led by that vagabond Governor who calls himself Harap- ton, a liar without character, morally # bankrupt, ess in the street, who holds the hand of the ye in the White House to betray a million of people of their votes. (Hisses and ra). I am @! continued Mr. Phillips, without raising his voice, to age that on this question there is energy of feeling enough to awaken even hisses. It is not so in Massachusetts. Commonwealth of Massschu- setts does not exist as it did less than a score of years ago. The New York Tribune said'the other day that perhaps General Butler and myself would be willing to retract what we have so often said, that the le can never be wrong, and that the late election in the Commonwealth shows it—to us. Is this the case ? Oh, no, The 110,000 men who stood up against the tremendous influence of money and « purchased press present a in the affairs of the State—a change, indeed, from 1874, when the vote on the same issue whe only 5,000. And what a change to us, who had watched the s julum of popular opinion of choice, with its 20,000 votes increasing to ,000, to 60,000, through various elections, till the first shot at Sumter struck high noon and the people sprang to; to meet and ® common enemy. our great statesmen, Wilson and Sum- ner, passed away our Commonwealth had no other statesman left within it its limite hye Butler. If there was ever a State bull-dozed in this country in an election it was Massachusetts, and had it not been so General Butler would have been the honored Gov- ‘ae of that great Commonwealth. (Hisses and cheers.) TOOMBS NOT FOR GRANT. {From the Cincinnati Commercial Nov. 7.) ATLANTA, Ga., Nov. 4, 1878, ‘The report that Toombs will stump Georgia for Grant if the latter is nominated in 1880 is not true. ‘Toombs {s at times avery independent sort of per- son, but he is not a Grant man. The republicans here generally are for Grant, but the democrats, including Toombs, are for anybody else. No more Grant rule for them, thank you. It is said here that Toombs would like to go to the Senate, but he stands m host of achance. If he should enter the field inet Manat ay aus tee te oir in ten in the Legis ure, ont his ** ."" People admire hi talents, but doubt his aye. They believe that his speeches, were he in the Senate, would be one long series of republican campaign documents. He is the most frank of all the Georgia leaders, blurtin: right out what he thinks, to the great mortification of those who believe that the truth should not be told at all times. “Of course we won the election by bribery and intimidation,” saya Toombs; ‘that’s the = way to conduct 4 campaign against the damned Strange as it may seem, however, Toombs haa broken with the “regular organisation,” and is sup- porting every independent candidate in Georgia, He orates against the “little peaky conventions” that pre- sume ‘wade: dong renga for the sovereign people, anti advises that the rule of the Convention be over- thrown, He has carried his opposition so far that we hear him denounced as a “radical in disguise.” Toombs is one of the richeat men in Georgia, He has all that ey. will buy, and is without need of effort in that direction, Hin friends say his old love of office comes back to him at times, and that he would give half his possessions to be again in the United States Senat But it is very doubtful if he ever occupies publ a a again. He is too frank and honest, and talks too much, Were he in the Senate, when he heard one of his Southern Wis denying that the negro was subjected Hmidation and violence, he would biurt out something like this:—“Not true; we win the elec- tions by bri it's the only way to reach a nigi Honesty of statement as to affairs in the South is not always the best policy for the democratic purty, Republicans discouraged. What few republicans I meet here are discourt in 4 party sense, They see no chance for reorganization or success in any district or county. They do not blame Hayes either. No matter who wes sident, the result would be the same. And yet they claim that Georgia is to-day a republican State by at least five thousand majority, if the election could be ax fair anid as free from aif manner of intimidation a in On ‘The number of white voters ia only about six thousand greater than black, and itis claimed that there are at least cight thousand white republicans in the State, if all manner of restraint wae withdrawn. But outside of the large cities the republican party can make no headway against the wavos of passion po prejudice and proscription thet swell against it and over it, ASHINGTON. W The Silver Bill in the Light ot Experience. HOW THE MEASURE HAS FAILED Exoess of Base Metal Coinage and Means of Relief FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT. Wasuinaton, Nov. 8, 1878. ATTITUDE OF THE ADMINISTRATION ON. THE SIL-_ VER BILL—ILL SUCCESS OF THE MEASURE AND A MEANS OF RELIEF—SUPERABUNDANCE OF THE BASE METAL COINAGE, ‘The recent editorials of the HeraLp upon the cur- rency question have attracted much attention here, especially the one commenting upon the neglect of the administration to oppose in good season the silly work of the silver inflationists in Congress. The National Republican disputes this charge and says to-day that “the administration set its face as a flint against the Silver bill pending its passage and the President went to the extent of his constitutional power in that direction by the interposition of a veto message to accomplish its defeat.” Now the real fact is that neither the President nor Cabinet had one word to say for or against the bill for the recoinage of the dollar of 1637 until, after the passage of the act, when the President vetoed it, whereupon it was passed over his veto. Since the coinage of the silver dollar Secretary Sherman has not only honestly endeavored to put it into circulation, but has endeavored to force its circulation sud with what success? There has been coined something like $15,000,000, an amount nearly double the entire coinage of the standard silver dollar from 1793 to 1878 under former acts, 'of which over $13,000,000 are iu the Treasury to-day. As fast as paid out the dol- lars come back in payment of duties and other dues, At first large numbers of them were exchanged for gold as curiosities. Of these the greeter part are now in the money boxes of the children, which accounta for the number still out. . Treasury officials express the opinion that if the measures recommended by the H&RALD were adopted the currency would be better regulated, resumption assisted and the value of the silver dollar increased, ‘They say the public should demand the passage of an act, at the next session of Congress, for the redemption of subsidiary and other sil- ver coins; that the Secretary of the ‘Treasury should be authorized and required to redeem in lawful money, under such rules and regulations as he may from time to time prescribe, all subsidiary and other silver coinage of every kind heretofore authorized by tew when presented in sums of not less than $50, and that whenever, under such wuthority, those coins are presented for redemption in such quantity as to show the amount outstanding to be redundant, he should be authorized to discontinue or diminish the manufacture and issue of such coin- age until the business interests of the country should require its continuance. For the evil of the present redundancy of the smaller coinage it may not be known to many busi- nese men that Congress hag provided a remedy by requiring the Treasurer of the United States to re- deem in lawful money “all copper, bronze, copper+ nickel and base metal coinage of every kind when presented in sums of not less than $20. The coins should be sent, charges paid, to the nearest sub- treasury, and information furnished the Assistant Treasurer at the same time as to denominations and kind of money desired in exchange. Of this coinsge there had been issued as follows :— From 1857 to June 30, 1867, of one-cent + $3,741,700 ‘912,020 From 1865, of three-cen! «i ieces. From 1866, of five-cent pheoere: ‘Total. + $11,281,900 —At # profit to the government of about $5,000,000, Of the copper coins few remain in circulation. As evidence of excessive issue the Treasurer's annual re- port for 1877 to the Secretary of the Treasury is quoted :— Attention is called to the excessive accumulstion of minor coin im the Treasurer's account, September 30, to over $870,000, while at the same the before the amount on hand was less than $157,000. A week ago this accumulation had increased to $1,435,034, This amount of base metal coinage is of such bulk that the facilities of the Philadelphia Mint for its storage have been exhausted and other rooms provided for the purpose. Treasury officials believe, with the Hxnaup, that the remedy lies in sa increase of the intrinsic value of the silver dollar. CONFERENCE OF NEW YORK BANKERS WITB SECRETARY SHERMAN. An important conference of leading New York bank ers with Secretary Sherman will be held at the ‘Treasury to-morrow morning, for which time a special appointment has been fixed. The party here includes Mr. George 8. Coe and the manager of the New York Clearing House, Mr. Camp. The discussion “will be of mutual advantage to all parties, it is believed, as Secretar) Sherman is desirous of getting the views of suck leading financiers as are included in the delegation te assist him in the preparation of his annual report te Congress, and the bankers, on the other hand, are de sirous of having him recommend a number of measures to Congress for the amelioration of theif business, chief among them the reduction or abolish ment of the government tax on deposits. GENERAL WASHINGTON DESPATCHES. Wasurnaton, Nov. 8, 1878, A @LAN FOR FUNDING THE INDEBTEDNESS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, The Commissioners of the District of Columbia, in their forthcoming report, will propose a new plaz for funding all outstanding indebtedness of the dis trict. It contemplates a loan by the United States of fifty year four per cent bonds for this purpose. The securities taken in exchange are to be held as collateral by the United States until the pro- posed special issue to the district shall have been re- deemed and cancelled. The total debt proponed to be funded in United States four per cent bonds is $21,685,650, including $13,743,150 of three-sixty-five bonds, which is the total amount of them outstand- ing. The Commissioners are confident that by fund- ing the debt us proposed there will be # saving of principal to be paid at maturity amounting te $1,455,372, and in payment of annual interest a saving of $1 i. This saving of interest, invested yearly in the four per cent bonds at par, would pay off the entire debt in forty-four years, The Commissioners way: The 3.65 bonds form nearly two-thirds of the in- debtedness for which the District revenues are made 'o provide. ‘These are obligations of the United States. fhe act of June 14, 1874, commits the United States to the met percent expenses ti the Brgeretguverumebt: interest and Alakiog ire rete crac on Siateee Aar measure that relieves the Dberict of # portion of the burden of this debt relieves the Uni States to tho same extent. THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE. It is expected that there will be a full attendance or members of the House Committee on Appropria- tions at their meeting on the 20th inst. They will hold continuous sessions until the reassembling of Congress, The clerk of the committee has already procured data and estimates of appropriations which will enable the committee to prepare by that time the Fortification, the Pension, the Indian and the Military Academy bills, which are not likely to occasion aug considerable controversy in committee. FUGITIVE ARRESTED, [BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.) Rioamonp, Va., Nov. 8, 1878, Thomas F. Nagent, who gives hia occupation as tha of @ stenographer, and whose residence is at Jersey City, was arrested here to-night on a telegram charging him with being # fugitive from justice from New York or New Jersey. The pfisoner declines to upon what charge be has been arrested, and the omeere are wise reticent.