| Administrative History | Charles Souter was convicted of violating the the sepulchres of the dead and raising and carrying away dead bodies out of their graves in October 1882. His purported crime was the removal of the body of Alexander William Crawford, 25th Earl of Crawford and 8th Earl of Balcarres (1812 - 1880) from his family vault at Dunecht House, some time between 1 April and 8 September 1881. The case was sensasionallly reported in local and national newspapers, where it was rumoured to be a massive publicity stunt. It was also widely believed that Souter was used as scapegoat. |
| Custodial History | Formerly in the Anatomy Class Library (ref. Misc D9). Presented to Robert Lockhart by George [Taffy] Davidson in 1954. Inscribed on fly leaf 'Ex. T.D. Castlegate Aberdeen 19 - XI 54' |
| Description | Volume containing:
Contemporary journal and newspaper cuttings relating to 'The Dunecht Violation of Sepulchre Case', 1881 - 1903, including articles from 'The Penny Illustrated Paper and Illustrated Times', 'The Penny Pictorial News', 'The People's Journal' and drawing depicting robbery of the Earl of Crawford's body, entitled 'The Earl of Crawford's Last Long Journey';
Copy of the High Court indictment against Charles Soutar, c October 1882;
Pamphlet by James Collier, entitled 'The Dunecht Mystery: a startling romance. Truth stranger than fiction' (Glasgow: North British Publishing Company, c 1882);
Silhouette of John Philip, a witness and suspect in the case, n.d.;
Letter sent from Skene House (signatory uncertain, possibly Nicol) to 'My Dear Sir' discussing the case, stating that he has been in the Dunecht vault and thinks that it has 48 recesses, but cannot be sure, n.d. |