How did the public perceive resurrectionists during their time?

During the 18th and 19th centuries, resurrectionists, or body snatchers, were often viewed with a mix of horror and fascination. Many saw them as criminals exploiting the dead for profit, while others recognized their role in advancing medical science through the supply of cadavers for dissection. Public sentiment was largely negative, fueled by moral and ethical concerns surrounding grave robbing.