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assembled the previous day at the place of execution in the forenoon, and remained there the whole day; and when in the evening the fatal beam was placed upright, three tremendous cheers were given by a great crowd who waited on notwithstanding the heavy rain and snow. Windows adjoining were let at great prices, chiefly to wealthy foreigners. Thus perished this fiend in human shape.
CONFESSION.
On the 3d Jan. 1829, Burke confessed in presence of the Sheriff, that he had committed the following murders, viz:—1st, A woman from Gilmerton,—2d, Joseph the Miller,—3d, An old woman who lodged in his house in May 1828,—4th, An Englishman who was very ill of the jaundice,—5th, An old woman named Halden,—6th, a cinder-gatherer,—7-8th, A Highland woman with her son or grandson, about 12 years of age.—9th, A woman whom he brought to the house as a lodger,—10th, A woman whom Hare murdered in his absence,—11th, A woman named Margaret Halden, daughter of the woman Halden before-mentioned,—12th, the girl Paterson,—13th, A washer-woman named Ostler,—14th, A woman named M'Dougal, who came on a visit to his wife,—15, Daft Jamie,—16th, The old woman Docherty. They also sold the body of a man named Donald, who died in his house and for whose body they received 7l 10s from Mr Knox. He declared that the whole of these persons were suffocated as mentioned in the Trial, and that this mode of killing first occurred to Hare, and was afterwards continued, because it was effectual, and showed no marks. He also declared that Hare generally took the most active part in these murders.—That all the bodies were sufficiently cold to prevent suspicion, and that the whole were sold to Dr Knox, who never asked any questions concerning them.
FINIS.
