The Edinburgh Body Snatchers: Murder at Halloween
Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford
Deep Dive
Why did William Burke and William Hare start selling bodies to medical schools in Edinburgh?
In 1827, Edinburgh was a world center for anatomical study, but there was a severe shortage of cadavers for medical students. Burke and Hare saw a business opportunity after one of Hare's lodgers died, and they discovered they could sell the body to Dr. Knox's medical school for £7.10, equivalent to three months of hard manual labor.
What legal loophole allowed Burke and Hare to sell bodies without breaking the law?
Under Scottish law, a dead person's possessions passed to their next of kin, but the body itself was not considered property and could not be owned or stolen. This meant Burke and Hare could legally sell bodies to medical schools as long as they removed any clothing, which was considered property.
How did the Anatomy Act of 1828 change the supply of cadavers for medical schools?
The Anatomy Act allowed medical schools to claim unclaimed bodies from workhouses, prisons, or hospitals within 48 hours of death. This reduced the need for grave robbing and eliminated the incentive for murder, as seen in the Burke and Hare case.
What was Dr. Knox's role in the Burke and Hare murders?
Dr. Knox, a prominent anatomist, purchased bodies from Burke and Hare without asking questions about their origins. His demand for cadavers to teach his students created a market that incentivized the murders. Despite public outrage, Knox continued his lectures and faced no legal consequences.
Why did the public find the idea of a legal market for cadavers repugnant?
The public objected to the idea of a legal market for cadavers because it exploited the poor, whose bodies were often taken from workhouses. Campaigners argued that it was unjust to use the bodies of the poor to train doctors who primarily served the wealthy.
What was the significance of the 'not proven' verdict in Scottish law during Burke's trial?
Scottish law includes a 'not proven' verdict, which means the jury believes the accused is likely guilty but lacks sufficient evidence for a conviction. This verdict allowed Burke's wife to avoid punishment, while Burke was found guilty and sentenced to hang.
How did Alvin Roth's concept of 'repugnant markets' apply to the Burke and Hare case?
Alvin Roth's concept of 'repugnant markets' refers to markets society bans due to moral objections, such as selling kidneys or cadavers. In the Burke and Hare case, the lack of a legal market for cadavers created a black market that incentivized murder, highlighting the societal costs of banning such markets.
What was the public reaction to Dr. Knox's involvement in the Burke and Hare murders?
The public was outraged by Dr. Knox's role in the murders, as he failed to question the origins of the bodies he purchased. Protesters gathered outside his home and lecture hall, and his effigy was hung from a tree. Despite this, Knox remained unrepentant and continued his work.
What happened to William Hare after he turned King's evidence?
William Hare avoided prosecution by testifying against Burke, confessing to 16 murders. He and his wife were chased out of Edinburgh by angry mobs and disappeared from public records, escaping legal punishment.
How did the Burke and Hare case influence the medical profession's use of cadavers?
The Burke and Hare case led to the Anatomy Act of 1828, which regulated the supply of cadavers to medical schools. This act shifted the focus from using executed criminals' bodies to unclaimed bodies from institutions, reducing the need for illegal activities like grave robbing and murder.
- Announcement of a cautionary club.
- Listener survey invitation.
- Podcast credits and outro.
Shownotes Transcript