"A Skeleton in the Cupboard"

[Seoras]

I know the  pub that was the Star where the trial took place.The upper floors were once used as a courtroom for the Bedminster district.Allegedly a former landlord once kept a tiger in a cage out the back for the amusement of the customers.Once they tired of it he upped the ante by getting in the cage where it killed and ate some of him.
The gate house of the gaol from where this chap was hung still exists,the rest was detroyed in the Bristol Riots in the 1800's.

[Ruskie]

Interesting yet macabre story. I've got to admit I just don't get the full on funeral with black coffin, mourners and all the 'trimmings' after 190 years - a burial certainly, but not such a 'showy' event.  Just my opinion.

[Seoras]

Tis indeed Ruskie,and after all he did kill someone.

[fifer1947]

I agree Ruskie.  

I also feel the need to say that the sentence was all wrong.  Clearly "the victim" died after the intervention of the surgeon and not as a direct result of the blow from the stone.  I would also question the charge of murder which suggests premeditation, manslaughter would surely have been more appropriate.

[Seoras]

They were hanging people for less serious crimes then fifer.I went to look round the old gaol in Bodmin a few weeks ago and they had a list of people and why they were hung.One 20 year old girl copped it for setting fire to a haystack.

[Ruskie]

Thanks - I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels that way.
Shades of the Victorian love of funerals and ceremony methinks.  

[fifer1947]

I know what you mean but ........... a small injury and surviving several days, then the surgeon bores a hole in her skull from which she develops an abscess which kills her.  Seems to me the surgeon/doctor were in cahoots and maybe short of a body or two to practise on!   

Poor young lad suffered a horrendous death so a couple of quacks with sadistic tendencies could practise medicine, there were lots of ways of "body snatching" and doctors were in the thick of illegality of it.

I made a solemn promise to my gran that when she died I would collect her ashes (cremated 1976) and her late husband's (cremated 1930) and scatter them where their first cottage had stood.  I did, but not till my mum was very very ill and I had authority to do so in 2001.  So it was something I had to do because of a familial promise made.