"Several towns in Cornwall were last week visited by large bodies of Miners, from the different works, in search of concealed corn, which they insist upon is intended for exportation to France. At Wadebridge, they found about 25,000 bushels in store, which they obliged the Owners to sell at reduced prices. At Looe upwards of 6000 bushels of grain were stopped by them from being shipped, but we do not hear of their committing any other outrage. Part of the first regiment of dragoons is gone from Devonshire, to assist the magistrates in restoring peace."—(Times, Feb. 6, 1793.)
Highway robberies were of daily occurrence, so much so, that they are not worth chronicling, unless some special circumstance occurs in connection with them.
"The pickpockets are all turned highwaymen. Thus far the metropolis has been delivered from these free-booters: and the relief is certainly owing to the new Police Bill."—(Times, March 9, 1793.)
"At Oxford, a person was convicted of having robbed the Worcester and Oxford Coach, near Woodstock, of a portmanteau, and this peculiar circumstance attended it:—The man committed the offence, was taken, indicted, tried, and convicted, within twelve hours after the commission of the crime. He was indicted for petty larceny only."—(Times, March 28, 1793.)
"Mr. Burdon, the Member for the County of Durham, had 25,000 guineas in his chaise when he was stopped, the other evening by footpads, who robbed him of 25 guineas only. Mr. Burdon was carrying down this sum, for the relief of the Durham Bank."—(Times, April 26, 1793.)
A shocking trade had sprung up, which was not long in developing. As Science grew, so was a knowledge of Anatomy becoming of more vital importance to the medical profession—but subjects for operation were scarce. True, those malefactors who were hanged, and had no friends, were given over to the Surgeons for dissection, but this means of supply, fell far short of the demand—which, however, was met, by the ghastly device of robbing the grave-yards of their newly buried dead. Here are some contemporary records of the doings of these ghouls:—
"Friday, a gang of persons, called Resurrection men, were apprehended between two, and three, o'clock in the morning, near the Churchyard at Hampstead; they had dug up the body of a Mr. John Lloyd, who had been buried the day before, put it into a sack, and a hackney-coach was waiting to receive it; but, by the vigilance, and resolution, of the watchmen, they lost their prey; for, having stopt the coach, they found the body in it, and two men, whose names are Tom Paine, and Peter Mackintosh, together with their shovels, and tools, for opening the coffin. They were both carried before Master Montague, together with John Peach, the driver of the Coach, and were committed to gaol upon the fullest evidence. There were two others of the party, who made their escape. One of them had the appearance of a Gentleman, and is supposed to be a surgeon."—(Times, March 15, 1794.)
"On Monday evening, a set of Resurrectionists, were apprehended at a house near the Turnpike, Mile end. That morning, a coach was observed to stop at this house, and an ill looking man came out of it with a sack; containing as it was supposed, a body, which he carried into the house, and returned immediately with a large hamper:—they then drove off to a neighbouring public-house, when, after a short stay, they took up some others, and were traced to the Launch, at Deptford. In the meantime, the parish officers were informed of the circumstance. About six in the evening, the coach again returned with a similar lading, which was deposited in the house. Some constables, accompanied by a number of people, surrounded the house, and forcing an entrance, they found two men, and a woman, drinking tea on a bench, at one end of which lay the bodies of two children. They were secured: and, on entering an adjoining room, the bodies of six adults were discovered, unmutilated; besides which, the floor was strewed with limbs, in a state too shocking for public description."—(Times, March 20, 1794.)
"A very particular account has been sent to this Paper, of the late shocking discovery of dead bodies at Mile-End: but we deem it unfit for publication, as the circumstances are too horrid to meet the public eye. Every room in the house was a scene of the most shocking brutality, and it is supposed there were upwards of 100 bodies, some whole, others mangled. The remains found at this house have since been removed to Bethnal Green church-yard, for a second interment. We most sincerely hope that his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury will move for a bill in Parliament, making it death to rob a church yard."—(Times, March 22, 1794.)
(Adv.) "Robberies in Churchyards and Burial Grounds.