Giles Yarde

Born in Crediton in 1782, Giles Yarde married Ann Stadden of Upton Pyne when he was 20. They then moved to Exeter where they had at least four children.

In 1817 he was a farm labourer, living in Friernhay Street in Exeter.

In 1823 he was remanded in custody on a charge of violently assaulting his wife; however the case appears to have been dropped.

On Thursday morning 9th November 1826 it was revealed that an “outrage of the most revolting nature had been committed during the night in St David’s churchyard, Exeter by the disinterment of the body of Elizabeth Taylor, 67 years of age, buried the preceding afternoon”.

[Elizabeth Taylor, nee Bulled, had been previously married to James Gerred, by whom she had a son, Thomas. After her husband died she married William Taylor in 1800.]

The grave was open, the coffin lying on its side, the upper side having been forced from the screws and turned up, part of the cover ripped and turned back, and a sheet, in which the body had been wrapped, with a cord, supposed to have been used in dragging the body from the grave, laying by;-there were evident marks of the body having been taken over the wall at the north-east angle and into the fields beyond. Taylor, the officer was immediately put on the alert and soon apprehended Giles Yarde, he also obtained such positive information, that the Magistrates issued a warrant for searching the house of Mr. Wm. Cooke, surgeon, 116, St. Sidwell-street. Mr. E. Ellis, one of the corps of constables, accompanied Taylor in the search, and on informing Mr. C. of the object of their visit, he said 'You will proceed immediately- you are sure to find it-it is useless to deny having it ;" and then accompanying them to the top of the house, unlocked the door of a room, where the body, partly dissected, was laying on a board placed on a table. At a subsequent search by the same officers, assisted by Messrs. Wilmott, F Chapple and Rodd, constables, the grave-clothes of the deceased were found in an aperture between the ceiling and the roof, and afterwards sworn to by the relatives and the nurse. Mr. Cooke was taken into custody, and after an examination (during which he was attended by Mr.C. Brutton) admitted to bail, himself in £200 and two sureties in £100 each, to appear and answer at the Sessions such indictment as shall then be preferred against him. Yarde was remanded for further examination.

At the Exeter City Sessions held on 16 January 1827 Cooke successfully applied to have judgement of his case determined by the King's Bench in London. He later stated that this was because of "the effect of popular prejudice".

At a hearing in Exeter in March the following additional information came to light: Christian Jones was present at the death of Elizabeth Taylor; she saw her put in the coffin, where she was till the time of her funeral; saw her carried out to be buried. Cross examined: she had on when buried a cap, a white handkerchief on her neck, a shift, a bed gown, and a pair of white cotton stockings with a T on them.

Thomas Jerrard examined - I am the son of the deceased, and I followed her to her grave; she was buried in St David’s churchyard in this city. In consequence of what I had heard I went the next morning- at 7 o’clock it was hardly light, and found the grave open. The coffin was also open, and the body gone—there had been a frost in the night, and I found tracks towards Mr. Cooke's house - I afterwards went for warrant to search his house—l went with the officers there between 10 and 11 o'clock—l saw two persons there, one of whom I believe was Mr. Cooke—the constables went into the house first—l went up stairs, being sent for, and saw the body of my mother on the table, it was covered with a cloth.

John Taylor—l am a constable, and apprehended the defendant, Yarde, who lives in St. Mary Arches Lane. On going to his house I saw him and his son [John]—his son had a spade—it had the appearance of having been used lately—there was earth on it the same kind as that in St. David's Church - I took notice of his shoes—l went afterwards to the Church Yard, and saw the foot marks, which went to the north east corner; the shoes had nails; compared the shoe with the tracks, and the nails fitted. ---- Reynolds: I am sexton of St. David's; I remember Mrs Taylor being buried; the grave was filled up the same night; left about a quarter before 6 o'clock; I saw Yard about halt past four walking backwards and forwards; the funeral took place about 5 o'clock it was not quite dark; it was moonlight; went the next morning, and found the coffin nearly on one side, and all the earth out the grave; the bran was on the outside of the grave, and the body gone; I observed the tracks and heavy footsteps.