Page:West-Port murders.pdf/4

4 ously and effectually excluded from the minds of those by whom this singular case was tried, and that they were swayed by no consideration except a stern regard to the sanction of their oaths, and purity of justice, and the import of the evidence laid before them. These are without any precedent in the records of our criminal practice, and, in fact, amount to the realization of a nursery tale. The recent deplorable increase of crime, has made us familiar with several new atrocities, and murder has grown so common that it has almost ceased to be viewed with that instinctive and inexpressible dread which the commission of the greatest crime against the laws of God and society, used to excite. But this is the first instance of murder perpetrated with the aforethought purpose of selling the murdered body as a subject for dissection to anatomists: It is a new species of murder for hire, and was certainly calculated to make a deep impression on the public mind, and to awake feelings of strong and appalling interest in the issue of the trial.

So early as seven o'clock, a great crowd had assembled at the doors of the court, which encreased during the day, while the utmost order was maintained by a strong body of police, and two regiments of military, &c.

About ten o'clock, the prisoners were placed at the bar. Burke is a native of Ireland. He is rather below the middle size, but stoutly made, and of a determined, though not peculiarly sinister expression of countenance. His features are round, with high check bones, grey eyes, a good deal sunk in the head; a short snubbish nose, and a round chin, but altogether of a small cast: his hair and whiskers, which are of a light sandy colour, comported well with the make of the head and the complexion, which is nearly of the same hue. He was dressed in a shabby blue surtout, buttoned close to the throat, and had, upon the whole, what is called in this country a waugh rather than a ferocious appearance, though there is a hardness about the features, mixed