In touch with Swansea's dark side

The face of serial killer William Hare who sold some of his victims' bodies

The forgotten face of one of Scotland's most infamous murderers has come to light in Swansea.

Serial killers William Burke and William Hare sold the corpses of at least 16 of their victims to an Edinburgh anatomist for dissection.

But with little tangible proof against them Hare was offered immunity if he turned Kings Evidence against his friend Burke.

Subsequently Burke was publicly hanged and in 1829 Hare was released.

Now a model of his head features in an exhibition at Swansea Museum on crime and punishment.

It is part of the museum's 'phrenology' collection. Popular in the 19th Century, phrenology was a theory that attempted to link the shape of the skull with personality traits.

Among the items on display are a variety of police truncheons

A cast was made of Burke's head after he was hanged and a life mask was made of Hare during the trial.

"He looks horrible," said Roger Gale, the museum's exhibitions and events officer, "but it's difficult to tell because the mask is white and has no hair."

The story of how the cast found its way to Swansea is probably bound up with the fact that the museum, originally known as the Royal Institution of South Wales, is the oldest in Wales and had a number of avid collectors.

"The members collected anything and everything, including heads of notorious figures," said Mr Gale.

However the exhibition details not just the deeds of notorious individuals like Hare, but the punishment meted out to protestors such as those transported to Australia for their role in the Rebecca Riots.

The changing style of police uniform is also documented

Unnerving images of women prisoners stare out from the walls of this Victorian building.

Many of these 'unfortunates' turned to crime to survive and, unable to pay their fines, took their seven days in jail.

Harriet Griffiths committed various offences including stealing a lamb, and assault.

She was sent to prison a number of times, and was also sentenced to hard labour. She died aged 40 in the Workhouse Infirmary Swansea.

Elizabeth O'Brien was jailed at the tender age of 12 for stealing eggs. She too died in the workhouse just 13 years after that conviction.

Among the grim objects displayed are a full-size stocks, a scold's bridle and a scaffold.

Also detailed are the stories of those that met their end at the hangman's rope in Swansea, some at the hand of Albert Pierrepoint.

Mr Gale said that the executioner would try to keep a low profile, staying in a local pub or inn, until his task here was over.

Crime and Punishment is on show until November 30 2009, from 10am until 5pm at Swansea Museum, Victoria Road, Swansea SA1 1SN.