0:16:50 > 0:16:57.
0:17:15 > 0:17:18I am the court reporter.
0:17:18 > 0:17:20Since 1674,
0:17:20 > 0:17:22every trial that's been played out
0:17:22 > 0:17:25between these walls at London's Old Bailey court,
0:17:25 > 0:17:26every single one of them,
0:17:26 > 0:17:30has been faithfully recorded by a reporter like me.
0:17:30 > 0:17:32I sit just here.
0:17:34 > 0:17:36I write down what was said by whom.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39And now, you, somewhat later,
0:17:39 > 0:17:41can listen in.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43You can put your ear to the walls
0:17:43 > 0:17:46and hear, once again, these voices from the past.
0:17:49 > 0:17:53Now, here's a case that sends a shiver down the spine.
0:17:56 > 0:17:58A grisly crime.
0:17:58 > 0:18:00A dark deed indeed.
0:18:02 > 0:18:05Even the dead, it seems, are not safe from thieves.
0:18:06 > 0:18:09This is a case of body snatching.
0:18:09 > 0:18:12The dead dug up.
0:18:19 > 0:18:21The year is 1843.
0:18:24 > 0:18:26But it's a curious one, this.
0:18:26 > 0:18:28As medical science blossomed,
0:18:28 > 0:18:30body snatching had become such a concern
0:18:30 > 0:18:32that they introduced an act
0:18:32 > 0:18:36to set out a legal avenue for students to access corpses,
0:18:36 > 0:18:39to aid the study of anatomy and disease.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42That was 1832.
0:18:42 > 0:18:4511 years later and up pops this mysterious case.
0:18:53 > 0:18:57John White Bridgman and Isaac Bridgman,
0:18:57 > 0:19:00indicted for unlawfully breaking and entering
0:19:00 > 0:19:03the grave of Thomas Ghorst Tawney
0:19:03 > 0:19:05and taking away the said body.
0:19:06 > 0:19:10Here accused are a man of the church and his son.
0:19:10 > 0:19:12The minister and guardian, no less,
0:19:12 > 0:19:15of the village chapel where the crime occurred.
0:19:15 > 0:19:17A father, the son
0:19:17 > 0:19:20and the wholly unholy business of the dead undone.
0:19:20 > 0:19:24And in the very place where they should rest in peace.
0:19:26 > 0:19:27Gentlemen.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30We're here, are we not, for such a fleeting time.
0:19:30 > 0:19:33And when our journey on this earth is done,
0:19:33 > 0:19:35when we go to meet our maker,
0:19:35 > 0:19:38what do we ask for but the simplest request -
0:19:38 > 0:19:40to rest in peace.
0:19:42 > 0:19:44Imagine, then, to discover
0:19:44 > 0:19:47that your family, duly laid to rest,
0:19:47 > 0:19:49found that peace shattered.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52Their coffins forced open,
0:19:52 > 0:19:54their bones tossed asunder.
0:19:56 > 0:19:57I call my first witness,
0:19:57 > 0:20:00Mr James Dodsley Tawney.
0:20:07 > 0:20:09I swear by Almighty God
0:20:09 > 0:20:11that the evidence I shall give shall be the truth,
0:20:11 > 0:20:14the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
0:20:14 > 0:20:16Mr Tawney,
0:20:16 > 0:20:18your family has a vault at the chapel of St John's,
0:20:18 > 0:20:19is that correct?
0:20:19 > 0:20:21That's correct.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24My father, the late Thomas Ghorst Tawney,
0:20:24 > 0:20:27died in November of 1803 and was buried there.
0:20:27 > 0:20:31My elder brother Thomas and my mother both died in 1837
0:20:31 > 0:20:33and were buried in the same vault.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36Mr Tawney, please can you explain to the court
0:20:36 > 0:20:41how you came to discover that your family tomb had been disturbed?
0:20:41 > 0:20:44I was at home, on Cheapside,
0:20:44 > 0:20:46and I came in receipt of some information
0:20:46 > 0:20:49in consequence of which I went to the house of Mr Bridgman.
0:20:53 > 0:20:55'I told Mr Bridgman I came there for the purpose
0:20:55 > 0:20:57'of opening my family vault.
0:20:57 > 0:20:59'He said nothing.
0:20:59 > 0:21:01'I said, "I will view my family vault,"
0:21:01 > 0:21:02'and I walked into the passage.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05'Still, Mr Bridgman said nothing to me.
0:21:07 > 0:21:08'Could you describe what you found?
0:21:11 > 0:21:14'When I got to the vault, I saw that the large stone at the top
0:21:14 > 0:21:17'had evidently been removed and the brickwork damaged.
0:21:18 > 0:21:19'When I looked inside,
0:21:19 > 0:21:22'I could see my mother's coffin was turned on its side
0:21:22 > 0:21:25'and my father's coffin was gone.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28'There were some pieces of wood lying at the bottom of the tomb
0:21:28 > 0:21:32'and a patch of hair about the size of my hand.'
0:21:32 > 0:21:34Did you seek to speak with Mr Bridgman again?
0:21:34 > 0:21:37I went directly back through the chapel and into Mr Bridgman's house,
0:21:37 > 0:21:40not exceeding ten minutes after I'd first arrived.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44I could not find Mr Bridgman.
0:21:44 > 0:21:47You then sought a warrant through appropriate channels
0:21:47 > 0:21:49to search the premises, correct?
0:21:49 > 0:21:50Yes, that's correct.
0:21:51 > 0:21:55'When I had the warrant, I went to the chapel yard.
0:21:55 > 0:21:58'There, I observed a spot where the earth had been recently removed.
0:22:00 > 0:22:04'It was 15 yards from the defendant's back premises.
0:22:09 > 0:22:13'I found three skulls and then, in another spot, quite close by,
0:22:13 > 0:22:15'I found another skull.'
0:22:16 > 0:22:19On what grounds do you stand that some of this material
0:22:19 > 0:22:22might be taken from your father's grave?
0:22:22 > 0:22:25The fragments of wood that I'd found in the tomb
0:22:25 > 0:22:27were applied to the coffin.
0:22:27 > 0:22:29When the whole was put together,
0:22:29 > 0:22:31it fitted exactly.
0:22:31 > 0:22:33Thank you, Mr Tawney.
0:22:35 > 0:22:36Four skulls.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39He said four skulls.
0:22:39 > 0:22:40Does that not beg the question
0:22:40 > 0:22:44that perhaps Mr Tawney's poor father might not be the only one disturbed?
0:22:44 > 0:22:46And is it not a bit baffling
0:22:46 > 0:22:48that you might dig the bones up in one place
0:22:48 > 0:22:51and then bury them again a short distance away?
0:22:51 > 0:22:54Whatever purpose they served, would it not make more sense
0:22:54 > 0:22:56to put them back where you found them afterward?
0:22:58 > 0:23:01I will show that the accused, Mr Isaac Bridgman,
0:23:01 > 0:23:04was not at home in Walworth on the night in question -
0:23:04 > 0:23:05Wednesday, 6th of September.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09I should like to call Mrs Margaret Thompson.
0:23:15 > 0:23:17Mrs Thompson,
0:23:17 > 0:23:21please tell the court where you saw Mr Bridgman on September 6th last.
0:23:21 > 0:23:25I was with Mr Bridgman in Ramsgate on Wednesday morning.
0:23:25 > 0:23:31I spoke to him and was in company with him for an hour and a half,
0:23:31 > 0:23:34watching the ships come from Ramsgate pier.
0:23:34 > 0:23:37I asked him to dine with me that evening, which he did.
0:23:37 > 0:23:39Are you able to state, on your oath,
0:23:39 > 0:23:42that he dined with you on Wednesday, 6th September?
0:23:42 > 0:23:46Certainly, I've not the slightest doubt about it.
0:23:46 > 0:23:49I dined at six o'clock and that I told him.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52It was rather later that day,
0:23:52 > 0:23:56being in consequence of some little addition made.
0:23:56 > 0:23:57He had been to chapel
0:23:57 > 0:24:00and he told me the text and particulars.
0:24:00 > 0:24:01Do you remember the text?
0:24:01 > 0:24:06Yes, it was, "Fear not to go down into Egypt,
0:24:06 > 0:24:09"for I will go with thee."
0:24:09 > 0:24:11Or something of that sort.
0:24:11 > 0:24:15I should like to add I have known him ten or 12 years
0:24:15 > 0:24:19and always considered him a most excellent man.
0:24:19 > 0:24:22Mrs Thompson has sworn
0:24:22 > 0:24:25that Mr Bridgman dined with her on the evening of September 6th,
0:24:25 > 0:24:28rendering it impossible that that same night
0:24:28 > 0:24:31he might also be a half day's journey away, in Walworth.
0:24:31 > 0:24:34No further questions, thank you.
0:24:36 > 0:24:41Gentlemen, I will turn my attention to the younger Mr Bridgman.
0:24:41 > 0:24:44I have witnesses who place him indisputably
0:24:44 > 0:24:47at the scene of the crime.
0:24:47 > 0:24:50I would like to call the Bridgmans' neighbour, Mr George Garford.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57Mr Garford, please tell the court where you were
0:24:57 > 0:24:59on the night of September 6th, and what you saw.
0:24:59 > 0:25:01'At the time in question,
0:25:01 > 0:25:03'I resided next door to Mr Bridgman's.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08'I went to bed about 11 o'clock.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12'I fancied I saw something moving in the burial ground.
0:25:15 > 0:25:16'I looked again
0:25:16 > 0:25:21'and I observed two men going in the direction of Mr Tawney's tomb.
0:25:22 > 0:25:25'One of the persons appeared to have nothing on
0:25:25 > 0:25:27'but a shirt and a cloak over it.
0:25:27 > 0:25:30'The other was dressed in plain black.
0:25:32 > 0:25:34'I did not see the tomb opened.
0:25:34 > 0:25:36'I observed that it was open.
0:25:39 > 0:25:43'I saw one of the men descend into the tomb with a lantern.
0:25:44 > 0:25:46'I saw some ropes.
0:25:48 > 0:25:51'I saw something carried away by the two of them,
0:25:51 > 0:25:53'one carrying it at each end.'
0:25:56 > 0:25:58Had you, in the course of this time,
0:25:58 > 0:26:02an opportunity to observe the identity of the persons?
0:26:03 > 0:26:05'I could not see his face,
0:26:05 > 0:26:08'but I have known the young Bridgman for a long time.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11'The wind blew about his cloak,
0:26:11 > 0:26:15'which gave me an opportunity of seeing his person and appearance.'
0:26:16 > 0:26:18Can you elaborate? If you could not see his face,
0:26:18 > 0:26:20what do you mean by his appearance?
0:26:20 > 0:26:23I had observed his style and gait before.
0:26:23 > 0:26:26I cannot say that there's anything peculiar about it,
0:26:26 > 0:26:30but I was familiar with his mode of moving quickly.
0:26:31 > 0:26:33And I would say I am quite sure it was him.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36Did you attempt to speak with him?
0:26:36 > 0:26:40'I immediately hurried on what clothes I could and went downstairs.
0:26:40 > 0:26:42'When I got down, I heard Mr Bridgman's door open
0:26:42 > 0:26:45'and I observed a man come from the door.
0:26:45 > 0:26:47'He turned his head and saw me
0:26:47 > 0:26:50'and then he ran as fast as he could.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53'I ran after him for some time, but lost sight of him.'
0:26:55 > 0:26:59I then thought it my duty to examine the tomb to see to whom it belonged
0:26:59 > 0:27:01and, on ascertaining the name, I examined the directory,
0:27:01 > 0:27:03which led me to Mr Tawney's office,
0:27:03 > 0:27:07to whom I sent a note disclosing all I had seen.
0:27:07 > 0:27:09Thank you very much, Mr Garford.
0:27:10 > 0:27:12I should like to call my next witness,
0:27:12 > 0:27:14a servant to the Courtnall residence
0:27:14 > 0:27:17on the other either side of the chapel - Miss Priscilla Terry.
0:27:23 > 0:27:27Miss Terry, you are in service at Mr Courtnall's, are you not?
0:27:27 > 0:27:29Yes, sir, I am.
0:27:29 > 0:27:32And I understand that young Mr Bridgman
0:27:32 > 0:27:35called some weeks previous to the night in question
0:27:35 > 0:27:37to enquire about a dog.
0:27:37 > 0:27:38Yes, sir.
0:27:38 > 0:27:41There was a lodger at the Courtnall residence who had a dog,
0:27:41 > 0:27:44which disturbed us by constantly barking.
0:27:44 > 0:27:49About a fortnight or three weeks before this tomb was disturbed,
0:27:49 > 0:27:52the younger Mr Bridgman called to borrow the dog.
0:27:52 > 0:27:56He said that his father had a horse that shied at dogs
0:27:56 > 0:27:59and he wanted to make it used to dogs.
0:27:59 > 0:28:01He returned the dog in about a week,
0:28:01 > 0:28:03saying that the horse was cured
0:28:03 > 0:28:05and he had no further need of it.
0:28:05 > 0:28:08Did the dog bark then in the same way it used to do?
0:28:10 > 0:28:14If strangers came into the ground, it would bark.
0:28:16 > 0:28:18He never barked at Bridgman after that.
0:28:20 > 0:28:22Thank you.
0:28:22 > 0:28:24Gentlemen, I would suggest to you
0:28:24 > 0:28:27that the young Mr Bridgman had good reason
0:28:27 > 0:28:31to make this neighbour's dog acquainted with himself,
0:28:31 > 0:28:34that it would not disturb his night-time activity
0:28:34 > 0:28:36in the graveyard.
0:28:36 > 0:28:38And all of this, gentlemen,
0:28:38 > 0:28:43begs the question - why would young Mr Bridgman go to such lengths?
0:28:45 > 0:28:48I should like to call my next witness - Mr Colson.
0:28:55 > 0:28:59Mr Colson, please tell the court the nature of your acquaintance
0:28:59 > 0:29:03with Mr Bridgman and your impression of him.
0:29:03 > 0:29:05I'm an officer of Guy's Hospital,
0:29:05 > 0:29:07the younger defendant has been a student of surgery there
0:29:07 > 0:29:09for some time.
0:29:09 > 0:29:12The young Mr Bridgman is certainly dedicated
0:29:12 > 0:29:17to the extent he is a most assiduous and zealous student.
0:29:18 > 0:29:21Mr Colson, in your opinion, what might a medical student want
0:29:21 > 0:29:24with a body some six years buried?
0:29:24 > 0:29:25It is not usual.
0:29:27 > 0:29:28I have no answer.
0:29:30 > 0:29:32Thank you, Mr Colson. No further questions.
0:29:34 > 0:29:38Gentlemen, it is now for you to decide,
0:29:38 > 0:29:42in the light of detached examination of the evidence before you,
0:29:42 > 0:29:44whether the defendants bear responsibility
0:29:44 > 0:29:46for the crime in question.
0:29:46 > 0:29:50For breaking and entering the Tawney family tomb.
0:29:57 > 0:30:00Well, well, well. Father and son.
0:30:00 > 0:30:03But, remember, the court are here charged
0:30:03 > 0:30:05only to answer the legal question
0:30:05 > 0:30:09of who is responsible for breaking and entering the Tawney tomb.
0:30:13 > 0:30:15That didn't take long.
0:30:22 > 0:30:25Gentlemen, have you reached a verdict?
0:30:27 > 0:30:32On the charge of breaking and entering the Tawney family tomb,
0:30:32 > 0:30:35we find the defendant Isaac Bridgman
0:30:35 > 0:30:37not guilty.
0:30:37 > 0:30:39On the same charge,
0:30:39 > 0:30:42we find the defendant John W Bridgman
0:30:42 > 0:30:44guilty.
0:30:47 > 0:30:50Isaac Bridgman, you are free to go.
0:30:51 > 0:30:53John W Bridgman,
0:30:53 > 0:30:56I sentence you to 12 months' imprisonment.
0:31:00 > 0:31:03So, the legal question has been answered.
0:31:03 > 0:31:06Young Bridgman did it.
0:31:06 > 0:31:10But it raises, does it not, so many more questions.
0:31:10 > 0:31:13If Mr Bridgman Junior was a student of surgery,
0:31:13 > 0:31:16then the suggestion is he was seeking a corpse
0:31:16 > 0:31:18on which to hone his surgical skills.
0:31:18 > 0:31:23But poor Mr Tawney's father had been in the ground some six years.
0:31:23 > 0:31:25So what would he want with a box of bones?
0:32:08 > 0:32:11Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd