Burke & Hare Mystery Cache
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Size: 
(micro)
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Medical schools during the 1820's in Great Britain had a problem. Not enough people were donating their bodies to science to use in anatomy classes. Sometimes anatomy professors would employ the talents of resurrectionists, commonly known as grave robbers Such was the case at the Edinburgh Medical College.
Enter two Irishmen, William Burke and William Hare. They had emigrated to Scotland to work on the building of a canal. When that work was completed, they began digging up fresh graves at night to sell bodies to Dr. Robert Knox, a prominent anatomist. This proved to be more profitable that working on the canal. The only problem was that people weren't dying fast enough. So they decided to carouse the pubs of Edinburgh, looking for potential cadavers. They preferred people who were visitors since they were more likely not to be missed. Upon the promise of more ale or beer, they would lure the unsuspecting victims back to a boarding house owned by William Hare's girlfriend, Margaret Laird. When the person passed out due to drunkenness, Burke would sit upon their chest and hold their nose and mouth closed until they were sufficiently dead. In fact the term "burking" still refers to this method of murder. They would then transport the recently deceased to Dr. Knox, who would pay them according to the quality of the body.
Business was going splendidly until a couple of boarders returned to the boarding house to retrieve something they had left behind and discovered the body of a lady they had recently seen alive tucked under the bed. Burke, Hare, Laird and Margaret McDougal (Burke's girlfriend) were all arrested. The two women were released due to lack of evidence. Hare pled King's Evidence and testified against his former business partner in exchange for immunity.
On 29 January 1829, William Burke was hung and in an ironic twist , his body was publically dissected by students at the Edinburgh Medical College. The dissecting professor, Alexander Munro, dipped his pen in Burke's blood and wrote, "This is written with the blood of Wm Burke, who was hanged in Edinburgh." His skeleton, his death mask and items made from his tanned skin are still on display at the college's museum.
William Hare fled to England where unsubstantiated reports that he became a blind beggar reportedly died in London. The two ladies also left town and it is not known their fate. Knox, although knowledgeable of Burke and Hare's business practices, was not arrested and remained at the medical school for several years until he moved to London.
Scottish children used to sing this rhyme while jumping rope:
"Up the close and down the stair,
But and ben with Burke and Hare.
Burke's the butcher. Hare's the thief,
Knox's the boy who buys the beef."
The cache is appropriately enough, in a cemetery. Please refrain from going there at night, especially if there is a fresh grave. People might become suspicious of your activity. No shovels are required. The cache is a 35 mm film canister, so bring your own writing tool.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Gb svaq guvf obql, lbh zhfg qvt va zl trb-tenirlneq.