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The Lord Justice Clerk then addressed the prisoner nearly as follows:—William Burke, you now stand convicted of the atrocious crime of murder, upon evidence which could not leave a doubt of your guilt on the mind of any one who heard it. I so fully concur in the view which has been so eloquente given by my Learned Brother of the nature of the offence, that I will not occupy the time of the Court with commenting on it.—A crime more atrocious, a more cold blooded, deliberate, and systematic preparation for murder, and the motive so, was really unexampled in the annals of the country. It is now my duty to inform you, that if ever it was clear beyond all possibilty of a doubt, that the sentence would in any case be carried into full execution, this is one of these cases. You may rest assured that you have no other chance; and now I would solemnly warn you to prepare your mind in the most suitable manner to appear in a very short time, before the Throne of Almighty God to answer for this crime, and for every other with which you stand chargeable in your own conscience. The necessity of repressing crimes of this nature precludes the possibility of your intertaining the slighest hope of a remission of your sentence. The only doubt I have in my mind is, whether to satisfy the violated laws of your country and the voice of public indignation, your body ought to be hung in chains, to bleach in the winds, in order to deter others from the commisson of similar offences. But taken into consideration that the public eye would be offended by so dismal a spectacle, am willing to accede to a more lenient execution of your sentence, and that your body should be publicly dissected. I trust that if it is ever customary to preserve skeletons, yours shall be preserved, in order that posterity may keep in remembrance your atrocious crimes. I earnestly advise you to lose no time in humbling your self in the sight of God, and that you will seek the aid of the ministers of religion, to whatever profession you
