Page:West-Port murders.pdf/11

 ing in one of Dr. Knox's rooms, in Surgeon's Square, along with Dr, Jones, one of Dr. K's assistants. This was between twelve and two. Either Burke or Hare bold Dr K. that they had a dead body, which they would deliver there last night, and he was ordered by Dr K. to be in the way, and receive any package they might bring. Witness was at the proper place about seven o'clock, when Burke and Hare and a porter came with a package. Has seen the porter to-day. It was an old tea-box they brought, such as the one now shown him. They carried it to a cellar; Mr Jones was present, and after it was locked into a cellar, went to Newington, and told Dr. Knox that it had been brought. Burke, Hare, and the porter, had either gone before or followed. When witness came out of the Dr's house, he found them there. Dr. Knox gave witness five pounds to give them, with orders to divide it between them; and in order to do so, witness took them to a public house, got change, and divided the money, when each took his share, and gave something to the porter. It was understood they were to return on Monday, by which Dr. K. would have seen the subject, and they would get the remainder of the price, which witness believes is generally eight pounds. Saw no women along with the men at that time, nor afterwards. Next morning, Lieut. Paterson and Sergeant Fisher called on him, and went with him to the cellar, and gave them to package just as it had been received. It was then opened, and found to contain the body of an elderly female, fresh. and apparently never interred. The body was doubled up in the box—all the extremities doubled on the chest or thorax; and the head was pressed down on the breast, seemingly for want of room. Examined the body externally stretched upon a table. The face had a very livid colour, and blood flowing from the mouth. Appearance indicated strangulation, or suffocation from pressure. Found no ex-