Execution Of William Burke, Irish

by Science Source

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Execution Of William Burke, Irish

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Science Source

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The execution by hanging is taking place on a platform in a crowded metropolitan street. Spectators are leaning out windows, sitting on roof tops and fill the street around the platform and on into the background. William Burke (1792-1829) was born in Ireland and emigrated to Scotland about 1817 leaving behind a wife and two children. The Burke and Hare murders (West Port murders) were serial murders perpetrated in Edinburgh, Scotland, from November 1827 to October 1828 by William Burke and William Hare, who sold the corpses of their victims (17) to provide material for dissection. Hare was offered immunity from prosecution if he confessed and agreed to testify against Burke. Hare's testimony led to Burke's death sentence in December 1828. He was hanged on January 28,1829 and publicly dissected at the Edinburgh Medical College.

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March 13th, 2013

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