From The History of Burke and Hare and of the Resurrectionist Times by George Mac Gregor (Glasgow: Thomas D. Morison, 1884), page 294:


MRS. WILSON'S LAMENTATION ON HEARING OF THE
CRUEL MURDER OF HER SON.

Why didst thou wander from my side,
My joy, my treasure, and my pride?
Though others little thought of thee,
Though wert a treasure dear to me.

I little thought when thee I left,
So soon of thee to be bereft;
Or that when after me you sought
You would by ruffian men be caught.

Thy playful manners fill'd with joy
The aged sire and sportive boy;
Of real joy you had enough,
When you could give or take a snuff.

The tricks you play'd with childish art,
Bound you the closer to my heart;
Thy kindness to thy mother prov'd
How dearly she by thee was lov'd.

What horrid monsters were these men
Who lur'd thee to their fatal den;
That den, whose deeds as yet untold,
Were done for sake of sordid gold.

But they alone were not to blame;
For when these dauntless monsters came
With human creatures scarcely cold,
The doctors took them, we were told.

Nor did they leave the doctor's door
Without an order to bring more!
But Justice stern aloud doth cry—
"Let all who wink at murder die!"

And justice shall to me be done,
On all who murder'd my poor son;—
I'll make appeal to Britain's King,
That one and all of them may swing.

But that will not restore my son,
Or remedy the mischief done;
He murder'd is—no peace I have,
I shall go mourning to my grave.