The Morning Chronicle, Tuesday, November 18, 1823

EXHUMATION OF A DEAD BODY

At a weekly meeting of the Magistrates of the Borough of St. Alban's, and the County of Hertford, in the Town Hall of that place, on Saturday last, present - the Earl of Verulam, Sir William Domville, Bart., Rev. Dr. Bowen, Rev. Mr. Gape, Mr. Brown (Mayor), and Mr. Kinder.

John Jerome, of No. 3, Kingsland-road, labourer, and John Holloway, of Gloucester-place, Hackney-road, gardener, were charged with having disinterred and carried away a male corpse from the church-yard of the parish of Luton, in the night of the 14th, or early on the morning of the 15th instant.

Mr. William Yardley, a farmer, and one of the church­wardens of the parish of Luton, in Bedfordshire, stated, that he was informed of the exhumation of the corpse that morning by Mr. John Deacon, keeper of the House of Correction of the Borough of St. Alban's, whom he had accompanied on his return, for the purpose of prosecuting the investigation.

James Finder, a labourer, residing at Harpenden, deposed that he left home at about five o'clock in the morning to go to Mr. Fowler's, at Simberlock-green; when he reached the St. Alban's road, from Staker's-lane, he observed a cart, driven by the prisoner Jerome, and behind which, the other prisoner Holloway was walking; he had not long proceeded down the road, when the smell of something offensive came towards him as from the cart; he thought it that of a putrid corpse, and suspected the prisoners to be resurrection men; shortly after­wards he was overtaken by his brother Thomas, to whom he communicated his suspicions; they increased their pace until they arrived at Mr. Fowler's, where they were going to work; they informed Mr. F. of the circumstance, and when the cart came up, that gentleman told the men to stop ; they refused, but witness and others took hold of the horse's head ; the cart was then searched, and a male corpse (that of a very elderly man) was found in a sack under a quantity of straw; witness assisted in conveying the corpse to St. Peter's workhouse.

Thomas Foster, an elderly man, deposed that he was sexton of the parish of Luton; saw Mr. John Deacon that morning in the church-yard, and observed that a grave had been disturbed in the night; the body of William Gilman was buried there on the 2d instant (thirteen days since); the grave was not much disturbed; should have thought the cows had trampled over it, cows being, allowed to graze in the church yard; has seen the corpse since it has been in St. Peter's workhouse; knows it to be that of the late William Gilman, with whom he had been acquainted for upwards of 45 years; the shroud and coffin were left behind ; the lid of the coffin was taken entirely off, and all the screws taken out; it had been forced open at the shoulders. Is sure he had never seen the prisoners before, nor ever received any money from them.

The witness Finder and his brother stated that they saw the prisoners about the same spot three or four days back; they were driving a cart very heavily loaded, and the smell was then offensive; the repetition of this circumstance prompted them to act as they had done.

Mr. Yardley observed that their conduct should not go unrewarded. Thomas Potter, Master of St. Peter's Workhouse, deposed to the corpse having been brought there about eight o'clock in the morning. Jerome, on being asked if he had anything to say, observed that he should reserve his defence. Holloway was silent. The prisoners were committed for trial at the ensuing Quarter Sessions. Jerome said, he had borrowed the horse of William Clark, of Busby Street, Spital-square; the cart was hired of John Phillips, of Horseferry-road, whose name was on the off-side. Brown, Esq. the Mayor of St. Alban's, directed the prisoners to be detained for a short time, and then securely conveyed to the House of Correction. He particularly cautioned the constables to protect the men from the mob. The Court-room, which is very spacious, was extremely crowded. The prisoners were much hooted on their way from the Town Hall.

William Gilman, aged 75, was buried 2 Nov 1823 (NBI2)

The distance between Luton and where the culprits lived at Hackney and Shoreditch is approx. 33 miles by the modern roads or 29 miles as the crow might fly.

Jerome was 25 years old and 5' 6" tall, dark brown hair and a ruddy complexion. Holloway was 45, the same height with dark hair and complexion.

The Criminal Registers shows the conviction of Holloway and Jerome at the following Lent Assizes - 3 months each for robbing a grave; interestingly John Brooks at the same session got 7 years for the maiming of a cow. Other crimes that would get you 3 months were stealing turnips and hay, snaring and shooting game, and deserting the union house and taking the clothes.

Peter Haizelden