The necessity of disinterment, under existing circumstances, being an apology, &c., in a letter to the Mayor of Exeter / by William Cooke, Surgeon.

  • Cooke, William, 1802-1834.
Date:
1827
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The necessity of disinterment, under existing circumstances, being an apology, &c., in a letter to the Mayor of Exeter / by William Cooke, Surgeon. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    had almost said, less than none to shield public and private feelings from the grossest outrage. Under such circumstances, was it not the duty of the parish officers to search for the body, to re-inter it, and to punish the offenders ? Certainly; and had that appeared to have been their only aim,—had they temperately removed the body, and then indicted me (as it was found in my possession) for a mis¬ demeanor,—I should not have thought of changing the venue of the late trial into the adjoining county. But, the desperate proceedings of my prosecutors alarmed me, and induced me to re¬ solve, that I would not be tried by men who seemed actuated by a sort of fury. Nemesis, or some of the destinies of Arimanes, seemed to be employed upon them, and to be working almost as monstrous evils, as when they i 11 From the dull,— Do shape out oracles to rule the world.” . . . W % • \ ... ? I need not inform you, Sir, but I am anxious to explain to the public, that four constables were sent to my house, as if some strong opposition had been expected, or as if there was reason to apprehend murderous proceedings. The body was found, identified, and quietly surrendered, and, I believe, there were no particular marks of violence upon it. I was conducted to the Guild¬ hall, as I supposed to account for my possession of it; and this I was prepared to do. The usual proceedings were gone through with no lack of that awful gravity which suited with the case, and after the ordinary forms. The body lost was