Podcast Summary: My Victorian Nightmare, Episode 34 - "Coffin Torpedos for Body Snatchers"
Host: Genevieve Manion
Release Date: March 17, 2025
Introduction
In Episode 34 of My Victorian Nightmare, host Genevieve Manion delves into the macabre world of Victorian-era body snatchers, exploring the grim realities of resurrectionists and the extreme measures taken to protect the dead from these grave robbers. This episode intertwines historical facts with chilling narratives, providing listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the societal tensions surrounding death and medical advancements during the 19th century.
Historical Context
Genevieve sets the stage by tracing the origins of anatomical science back to ancient Greece, highlighting the longstanding human quest to understand the human body. She explains how, between the 1300s and 1800s, the demand for cadavers in medical education clashed with societal and religious reverence for the dead.
Notable Quote:
"Between the 1300s and 1800s, there was a lot of tension between developing medical sciences, legal systems, and spiritual leaders." (02:15)
The host discusses the varying laws across regions regarding who could be legally dissected, noting that in places like early 1800s Scotland, individuals who died by suicide, prisoners, executed criminals, and orphans were eligible for dissection. In contrast, London and parts of Italy restricted dissections primarily to executed criminals.
Notable Quote:
"In Henry VIII's time, a law was passed that barbers needed to use a red and white pole to do their bloodletting to distinguish themselves from the surgeons who were to use only a red pole." (04:30)
The Rise of Body Snatching
As medical schools expanded, particularly in Edinburgh and London, the limited supply of legal cadavers led to the emergence of resurrectionists—individuals who illicitly exhumed bodies to sell to surgeons. Genevieve explains how the "Bloody Code" in England, which increased the number of capital offenses, unintentionally fueled the body snatching trade by providing more executed bodies for dissection.
Notable Quote:
"Surgeons would simply place this bloodletting pole outside their shops to let folks know that they were open for business." (06:45)
The scarcity of legal corpses resulted in violent confrontations at execution sites, where body snatchers and the families of the deceased clashed fiercely. The target demographic was predominantly the poor and marginalized, including enslaved individuals whose bodies were viewed with even less reverence.
Notable Quote:
"Their society as a whole, from Europe to Australia to Canada to the United States and beyond, was in many ways defined by their respect, admiration and at times, fetishization of the dead." (09:10)
Notable Body Snatchers and Incidents
Genevieve introduces William Cunningham, also known as "Old Cunny Rigabelle," a notorious body snatcher from Cincinnati in the early to mid-1800s. Known for his fearless demeanor, Cunningham famously confessed to body snatching despite the risks, even claiming to have conversations with the corpses he exhumed.
Notable Quote:
"He was said to be so good at the trade that he alone provided entire schools with all of the fresh cadavers they could ever want." (12:05)
Another figure mentioned is Frank from Maryland University, a janitor who was essentially on the payroll of the university to supply bodies. The university ingeniously used whiskey barrels to preserve and transport corpses, charging other institutions for the supply.
Notable Quote:
"To ship bodies, you run into two distinct challenges. One is that you don't want to be caught doing it. And the other is bodies, especially in warm weather, don't last very long." (14:50)
Protection Measures Against Body Snatching
To combat the rampant body snatching, Victorians implemented various protective measures. These included:
- Mort Safes: Iron cages surrounding coffins to prevent access.
- Temporary Burial Practices: Shallow graves that allowed bodies to decompose before deeper burial.
- Gravediggers' Tactics: Paying gravediggers extra to deepen graves or watch them vigilantly.
Notable Quote:
"If you were concerned that your sarcophagus, iron cage or pounds of straw wasn't enough to keep you safe, maybe you'd just use a gun. You could have a gun situated at the foot of your grave that was operated by trip wires which were hard to see in the dark." (20:30)
Genevieve also recounts the invention of coffin torpedoes—explosive devices designed to deter or eliminate body snatchers attempting to exhume corpses.
Notable Quote:
"The coffin torpedo, patented by Thomas N. Howell, included essentially a landmine, like an explosive shell that was tripped by the disturbance of wiring." (21:15)
An incident from January 30, 1881, is highlighted where a coffin torpedo accidentally killed one body snatcher and maimed another, underscoring the deadly lengths to which Victorians went to protect their dead.
Burke and Hare Murders
The episode delves deeply into the infamous case of William Burke and William Hare, two body snatchers from Scotland who turned to murder to supply their illicit business. Over ten months in 1828, they killed 16 people, including men, women, a mentally disabled individual, and even a child, disposing of the bodies in mass graves and selling them to anatomist Robert Knox.
Notable Quote:
"Their movie was suffocation. A person would come to stay at the house and they would get their victims drunk and suffocate them to death by Burke, laying on top of their semi-conscious bodies to keep them still, while Hare would use bedding to suffocate them." (25:40)
The episode narrates their methodical approach to murder, the involvement of their wives, and the eventual unraveling of their scheme when one of their intended victims survived and alerted the authorities. The trial's outcome saw Burke executed and publicly dissected, while Hare received immunity by testifying against Burke. The aftermath for their accomplices remains shrouded in mystery.
Notable Quote:
"He was said to be so good at the trade that he alone provided entire schools with all of the fresh cadavers they could ever want." (30:55)
Evolution of Attitudes Towards Cadaver Use
Concluding the episode, Genevieve reflects on the transformation of societal attitudes towards body donation. From the dark days of body snatching and resurrectionists, there has been a significant shift towards viewing body donation as a noble and respectful contribution to science and medicine. Initiatives encouraging the voluntary donation of bodies have helped alleviate the demand for cadavers, and technological advancements have further reduced reliance on physical remains.
Notable Quote:
"Society, as we know, evolved over time in regard to the procurement of bodies for science, to the point where many people happily dedicate their bodies to science." (35:20)
Genevieve emphasizes the importance of honoring those who willingly donate their bodies, contrasting it with the forced exhumations of the past. She underscores the ethical advancements that protect both the deceased and the integrity of medical science today.
Conclusion
Episode 34 of My Victorian Nightmare offers a chilling yet informative exploration of the dark underbelly of Victorian society's obsession with anatomical study. By intertwining historical accounts with vivid storytelling, Genevieve Manion sheds light on the profound ethical dilemmas and societal fears that gave rise to practices like body snatching. The episode serves as a compelling reminder of the lengths humanity will go to advance knowledge, often at great moral and ethical costs.
Final Quote:
"May we too, honor all those who have given their bodies willfully and those who have given unwillfully for the lives that they've given to others." (42:10)
Listeners are encouraged to reflect on the evolution of societal values regarding death and the continued importance of ethical practices in scientific advancement.
Connect with Genevieve:
- Instagram: @myvictoriannightmare
- Email: me@myvictoriannightmareail.com
- Patreon: Join here
This summary is crafted to provide a comprehensive overview of the episode's content, capturing the essence of the discussions and the historical insights shared by Genevieve Manion.