History is Criminal

A young girl is brutally murdered in 1913 Atlanta, Georgia. Atlanta PD will focus on a "Jewish Carpetbagger" from New York as the killer. But was this a horrible miscarriage of justice. In a case that would highlight the social conflict in a post-Reconstruction New South was Leo Frank railroaded in a show trial by those with political ambitions?

Punch a bishop in the face, get some kids out of a pickle barrel, and have your bones stolen, just a day in the life of Jolly old Saint Nick. Just wanted to try it with the music, same episode as 1-15.

A punch in the mouth, and stolen bones. We take a look at the life and after-life of the patron saint of sailors, thieves, and children. Jolly old Saint Nick is the subject of a special Saint Nicholas day holiday episode of History is Criminal.

The Story every American knows. An actor and southern sympathizer, John Wilks Booth, shoots and kills President Abraham Lincoln. Booth is then hunted down and killed by members of the Union Army. But the rest of the story includes additional assassination attempts, a manhunt, and heroes who might not be playing with a full deck. With intro and outro music from Halloween Horror Creepy Piano | Horro...

What do you do when you can't find enough bodies to meet the needs of the local medical community. The obvious answer create a few more dead. We will take a look at the crimes of William Burke and William Hare two capitalist who will find a way to meet the growing demand for bodies in 1820s Edinburgh. With intro and outro music from Halloween Horror Creepy Piano | Horror by Alex-Productions | http...

What do you do when young girls start to behave like they are being attacked by invisible tormentors. First pray and starve them, if that doesn't work, hunt some witches. In 1692 Salem village would lose their collective minds. Happy Halloween, as we look at the witch crazy that swept Massachusetts.

A woman of great wealth and power is accused of killing hundreds of young women. Was she a psychotic serial killer, a cautionary tale of power gone unchecked, or the victim of a plot to rob her of her land and wealth? We will attempt to dig past the myth to find the facts about Elizabeth Bathory.

In our longest episode, just couldn't think what to leave out, we take a look at murder on the high seas. Captain William Stewart in a fit of paranoia will attack his own crew.

She went through 4 husbands, numerous children and stepchildren, benefiting from many of their deaths. Was she a cold blooded killer for profit, or a woman with poor luck, who loved a little too freely for 19th century England? Shout to sources used The Invention of Murder: How the Victorians reveled in Death and Detection and Created Modern Crime, by Judith Flanders. Historyhit.com, and Allthatis...

What happens when paranoid delusions are treated with nothing but alcohol? The answer in 1715 Newport, Rhode Island is bad things happen.

The seventh President of the United States is steeped in controversy. Indian removal, a war with the Bank of the United States, and a threatened invasion of South Carolina, all make Jackson a powerful, but questionable chief executive. But his life before the White House borders on pure lunacy. Between gunfights, war, and bigamy allegations it is a wonder he was ever able to get elected in the fir...

In the 1500s in Bedberg, Germany when children and young women go missing the locals believe it to be the actions of a werewolf. After decades of disappearances and attacks they take action, only to find it is one of their own behind the grizzle murders.

A rapscallion and rogue, Thomas Blood attempted the most outlandish theft, the theft of the Crown Jewels of England. But that is just the beginning of the story for this rebel, spy, and thief.

We take a look at the first convicted murder in the English colonies, a second murder with a jury trial and crimes involving sex and animals. What fun.

Jack Sheppard became the OG escape artist in 1720s London. A charming rogue who thrilled Londoners with his ingenious escapes from prison.

We look at the story of the Princes in the Tower and the role played by Richard III in their deaths. Was Richard the vile Shakespearian troll history has painted him to be or was something else going on?

In this our first episode we take a look at the deaths of Philip II of Macedonia and his son, Alexander the Great. Was Alexander murdered, did he play a part in the death of his father, why does everyone seem to have the same name?

A brief description of what we are all about at History is Criminal. Just think real crime a real long time ago. Welcome to History is Criminal.