News of the Times - Unlocking the vaults of historical crime

The Case of the Discovered Teeth News of the Times Episode 364  | 1913 In today’s episode it is 1913 and we are in a small village in Dorset with a population of 160. A 24 year old cook who works in the manner house has gone missing.  Where has she gone?  It is the gossip that consumes the whole of the village.  Speculation is rife that she has gone to London for a job or that she emigrated to Can...

The London Oven Horror News of the Times Episode 363 | 1898 This story from 1898 London captivated the press and the public for the sheer gruesomeness of the crime. An out of work baker assistant, 36, whose place had been taken by a young 19 year old lad is unable to find work.  His resentment grows until one day, in the very early morning hours whilst the lad is at work, he unleashes all fury upo...

The Camberley Outrage - Scotland Yard Casebook News of the Times Episode 362 | 1906 It is 1906 Camberley, Surrey and independently wealthy, eccentric, senior spinsters, the Hogg sisters, are going about their usual tasks on a June afternoon.  Suddenly, 62 year old Caroline Hogg, clutching her throat, staggers to a neighbours house and, struggling to speak, manages to relay that her sister is in tr...

Love, Jealousy, and Murder News of the Times Episode 361 | 1884 In today’s episode it is 1884.  Mr and Mrs Gibbons have, with tremendous hard work, built their lives up from common labourer and factory girl, to owning their own business employing 12 people. Childless and settled, the couple agree to take in Mrs Gibbons second cousin to help the girl and to help her family.  She will be like a surr...

The Shocking Case of Miss Maclean News of the Times Episode 360  | 1880 Evil manifests itself in many ways, but this case from 1880 utterly shocked everyone at the time. With echoes of the Staunton and Seddon cases, young, vulnerable and possessing some physical challenges, Annie Maclean basically finds herself alone upon the death of her mother and the departure of her brother to America. Miss Ma...

The Mysterious Case of Sarah Duckett News of the Times Episode 359 | 1881 March 1874 in the quiet village of Stretton Church.  Sarah Duckett arrives back to her home town by train with two, broken and dilapidated boxes.  And then she just vanishes. September 1881 and William Roberts is walking the two miles at night back home from a business meeting.  He senses someone following, sees a woman on t...

The Many Crimes of Marcel Petiot - Serial Killer News of the Times Episode 358 | 1946 It is 1944 France, and a house in a better quarter of Paris has been chugging out a black acrid smoke with a terrible stench for days. Finally, neighbours go to the door to complain, only to find a note on the door stating that the owner of the house is away.  Neighbours phone the police. With the owner not arriv...

The Mystery of Room 144 News of the Times Episode 357  | 1885 1885 St Louis Missouri. An Englishman arrives at a higher-class hotel in St Louis awaiting his English friend who has a number of business appointments around America and Canada.  The two, who had travelled together from Liverpool to Boston appear to be very good friends. The business gentleman is clearly flushed with money.  His good f...

The Infamouse Rutherford Case - Scotland Yard Casebook News of the Times Episode 355 | 1919 In 1919, England was shocked by the murder of a Major by a good friend, a Lieutenant Colonel.  The major was such a good friend, he was godfather to his murderer’s youngest son. Both would be considered to socialise in the highest sectors of society. The murder was cold-blooded and planned and there was no...

Victorian Strychnine Stories News of the Times Episode 355 | 1875 As methods of murder go, strychnine is particularly painful. Today we look at two poisoning by strychnine cases from 1875.  Both used this method to poison their victim, and both had beyond the norm motives for murder. Our first case takes place in County Durham with Elizabeth Pearson being allowed to stay with her family at her unc...

The Victorian Borgia- Lydia Sherman, Serial Killer News of the Times Episode 353 | 1872 In today’s episode it is 1872 New haven Connecticut, and concerns have been raised from the neighbours regarding the tragic quick death of Lydia’s third husband.  The body is duly exhumed and found to be riddled with arsenic. It occurs to authorities that all of Lydia’s husbands had died unexpectedly.  And all...

The German Brinvillier - Anna Margaretha Zwanziger News of the Times Episode 352 | 1810 In today’s episode it is 1810 Germany and a woman, described as 50 years old and ugly, but with a helpful and sweet nature is leaving a trail of death wherever she goes.  With three definitive deaths and at least 14 murder attempts – she was referred to as the German Marquise de Villier. Our regular listeners w...

Tales of Toxicity: The Chronicles of Two French Poisoners News of the Times Episode 351 | 1921 & 1930 We are in France looking at two cases from 1921 and 1930.  Both cases, when we started ot investigate them were rather shocking, even by us hardened crime researchers. The first case, from 1921, is in a post-World War 1 environment with its first use of biological weapons and its tragic impact...

The Niagara Murder - Canadian True Crime Story News of the Times Episode 350 | 1890 In 1890, Canada was fending off what it perceived as influx of immigrants who had come only to be involved in crime. Enter Regnald Birchall and wife, a once promising student, sports enthusiast, and sketch artist turned committed gambler and con artist. In a previous ploy: he and his wife as Lord and Lady Somerset,...

Astounding American True Tales Of Crime News of the Times Episode 349 | 1929-1930 In today’s episode it is 1929 to 1930 Texas.  Coming across one of the stories in our research, we were astounded – and we are hardened long time crime researchers!  This then led us on to more stories – all from Texas and all around the same time! The stories include a man carrying on an affair who attempts to blow...

The Remarkable Case of William Chester Minor:  The Lambeth Tragedy News of the Times Episode 348 | 1872 1872 Lambeth and a man, on his way to work in the early morning hours to the local brewery, is chased, shot, then repeatedly stabbed by an unknown assailant.  A policeman on his beat nearby hears the shots and catches up with the assailant, American William Chester Minor. Yale graduate, doctor i...

The Four-Fold Murders in France News of the Times Episode 347 | 1864 In today’s episode it is 1864 in the Haute Pyrenees of France and a dilapidated chateau, run by an elderly gentleman with his four servant, remains shuttered unusually.  The gentleman who owns the run down chateau is known as a bit of an eccentric – rumours have it that he is very rich, but he tends to keep himself to himself.  Y...

Tales of Assassination of the Aged News of the Times Episode 347 | 1893 & 1897 Today we look at two cases where the intended victim was of more senior years. The first case from 1893 is a terrible crime using an axe on the woman running the shop.  The police took the case very seriously and managed to trace the suspect to Belgium and extradite him – a feat rather more difficult in Victorian Ti...

Till Death Do Us Part – Wedding Day Murders News of the Times Episode 53 | 1840 In today’s episode we look at three cases related to weddings. Our first case from 1881 in Preston is perhaps one of the most heartless crimes we have researched.  A very young girl of 16 has become pregnant from an older unemployed rake.  He promises her marriage and allegedly makes all the arrangements.  On their sup...

The Fenayrou Case - A French Murder Tale News of the Times Episode 344 | 1882 1882 France and the Fenayrou marriage has been disintegrating.  Filled with infidelities, gambling, and fraud. Facing financial ruin, the wife confesses her infidelities which includes their now successful previous apprentice.  The news sends the husband into an absolute fury. This case was THE topic of discussion in Fra...

The Poisoning Prince News of the Times Episode 343 | 1875 1875 Baroda India and tension is mounting between Colonel Phayre, new to his post as the representative of the British Government in the state of Baroda and Malhar Rao Gaekwad, the young Prince Maharaja of Baroda.  The Prince, who gained succession upon the death of his brother has been using funds earmarked for the area and redirected them...

Dismembered in Paris News of the Times Episode 342 | 1878 1878 Paris.  An owner of a small hostel roams her small hostelry to trace a pervading strong smell.  She manages to trace it to a room that had been rented for a week by two students.  Inside a cupboard is a package emitting the terrible stench.  She opens it and inside she finds two arms and two legs.  The head and trunk missing. The missi...

The Reverend and the Sunday School Teacher News of the Times Episode 341 | 1911 1911 Hyannis Cape Cod Massachusetts and 19 year old Miss Avis Linnell is found dead on the bathroom floor of her room at the YMCA.  Miss Linnell was a music student at the college and also worked as a Sunday School teacher. Coincidentally, her long time beau, the Reverend Mr Richeson has just publicly announced his eng...

Scotland Yard Casebook: The Wimbledon Murderer News of the Times Episode 340 | 1881 In this episode it is 1881 London, and Dr Lamson’s life is spinning out of control. Pursued by creditors and in desperation having just committed cheque fraud, he had days before the fraud would be discovered.  He has gone through all of the money of his wealthy wife and is running out of options,  In his wife’s fa...

The Case of Burke and Hare News of the Times Episode 338 | 1828 - 1831 1828 Edinburgh was rocked by the news of a murder couple within their midst who has been killing unfortunates and then selling the freshly murdered bodies who have been smothered specifically to leave the corpse “natural looking”.  Their gain is between £8 to £10 a body – approximately £1200 per body in today’s money. Burke and...