Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford The Edinburgh Body Snatchers: Murder at Halloween
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Oct 25, 2024 In 1827 Edinburgh, the grim duo Burke and Hare exploit a cadaver shortage for profit, leading to a chilling tale of murder and moral decay. They consider the ethics of body snatching amidst a fascinating backdrop of medical training dilemmas. The narrative dives into the public outrage surrounding their actions and the dark practices of a medical community driven by greed. Halloween proves pivotal as their arrogance leads to a fateful mistake, intertwining true crime with reflections on our perceptions of acceptable markets.
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Madgie Doherty's Murder
- On Halloween 1828, Madgie Doherty arrived in Edinburgh searching for her son.
- William Burke befriended her, offered her lodging, and then murdered her.
The First Body
- William Hare's lodger died, leaving Hare with a body and no way to dispose of it.
- Burke and Hare sold the body to Dr. Knox for £7.10, initiating their criminal enterprise.
Legal Loophole
- Selling bodies wasn't illegal in 1820s Edinburgh because bodies weren't considered property.
- This legal loophole allowed a black market for cadavers to thrive.