Burke and Hare murders doctors, the Burkes and Hares were charged with murder. As part of his investigation Christison interviewed Knox, who asserted that Burke and Hare had watched poor lodging houses in Edinburgh and purchased bodies before anyone claimed them for burial. Christison thought Knox was "deficient in principle and heart", but did not think he had broken the law. Although the police were sure murder had taken place, and that at least one of the four was guilty, they were uncertain whether they could secure a conviction. Police also suspected there had been other murders committed, but the lack of bodies hampered
West Port, Edinburgh the main street through the western part of the burgh of Portsburgh - a burgh of barony from 1649 to 1856. The name "West Port" originally referred only to the gate itself, but was used for the entire length of the street leading away from the gate in maps from around 1837 onwards. "Wester Portsburgh" still appeared as the name of the street on maps as late as 1831. "Portsburgh" can also be seen as the name for the same street in a map from 1836. However, this does not serve to distinguish it from the eastern part of Portsburgh