News of the Times - Unlocking the vaults of historical crime

Blood Money: The Dark Side of Child Support Evasion News of the Times Episode 337 | 1823 & 1896 COur first case from 1823 was quite a famous story in its day.  Samuel Fellowes, who has been having intimate relations with one young lady from the village who comes from a respectable family, has now become pregnant and Fellowes seems to have lost interest. He is busy in a second relationship but...

Evil Allan Mair - a Scottish Murderous Tale News of the Times Episode 336 | 1843 Co1843 Stirling Scotland, and an all too familiar scene has occurred of a husband practically beating his wife to death. But, the case becomes convoluted. 84 year old Allan Mair has a penchant for beating his wife 85 year old wife Mary.  He regularly starves her, and occasionally shuts her in a trunk after a beating w...

The Stickney Murderess News of the Times Episode 335 | 1869 It is 1868 Stickney in Lincolnshire and Priscilla Biggadike and her alleged lover, lodger Thomas Proctor stand accused of the murder of her husband, Richard. The couple, with three children, have had a notoriously explosive relationship – well known within the community and there is no doubt that Richard has been purposefully murdered by...

Wicked Watchmaker of Montreuil News of the Times Episode 334 | 1884-1885 1884 France, and watchmaker Albert Pel is in every headline. It all starts with a missing girl and alarming smells coming from his house.  As with most serial killers, it is that last crime that unravels all the others. As policer investigate the unassuming watchmaker’s house, they discover bloodstains under the floorboards,...

Jealousy in Nottingham Turning to Murder News of the Times Episode 53 | 1840 In today’s episode it is 1825 in the city of Nottingham.  We have two cases where jealousy leads to murder. In our first case, married Thomas Dewey, who lives with his wife, has been having a side fling with the neighbour, separated Maria Austin.  Maria has spent the day with her husband to help get their son out of the H...

The Achill Atrocity - Ireland True crime News of the Times Episode 332 | 1894 It is 1894 on a remote island in Ireland and a fire has taken place at one of the larger estate houses. Agnes M’Donnel is found, barely alive, her face has been bashed repeatedly and it appears that her nose and part of her lip have been bitten off.  She unexpectedly and miraculously survives. Once fully conscious, Agnes...

Scotland Yard Casebook – The Seddon Case News of the Times Episode 331 | 1911 In today’s episode, it is 1911 North London.  A wealthy spinster lodger has died in the Seddon household.  She has been poorly for a few weeks.  The doctor issues the death certificate and Eliza Barrow, the spinster, is buried in a cheap grave. But, by chance, Eliza’s relatives have heard of her death and are baffled why...

Thomas Jeffries, - The Monster News of the Times Episode 330 | 1826 In today’s episode it is 1826 Van Diemen’s Land, now known as Tasmania.  As the arguably worst of the penal colonies, and with rush rangers running wild attacking lone farm settlers, it can be a dangerous place to be. Of all the convicts and all the bush rangers, there is one who stands out.  So evil, that a rival bush ranger gang...

The Wood Green Affair News of the Times Episode 330 | 1825 In today’s episode it is 1869 in North London. Frederick Hinson, who is undergoing some monetary issues, and who is known to have an occasional drinking problem, suspects his live in partner of having an affair with their neighbour, wealthy, known playboy William Boyd. His partner, Maria, was a governess of a well to do family and socially...

Killing to Catch a Husband News of the Times Episode 327 | 1831 & 1835 Today we look at two stories where the ultimate motivation of killing is to catch a husband. Our first case from 1831 takes place in Coventry, where Mary Ann Higgins, orphan, has been taken in by her kindly uncle who treats her as a daughter.  Mary Ann has many admirers but settles on good looking Edward Clarke.  Alas, Clar...

The Curious Case of William Chevis News of the Times Episode 326 | 1931 1931 Aldershot and Lieut Chevis, halfway through his favourite meal, Manchurian Partridge, very shortly afterwards is beset by excruciating pain and dies within a few hours by strychnine poisoning. To add to the mystery, the family dog vanishes shortly afterwards and is then found dead. On the day of his son’s funeral, Lieut C...

The Camden Town Murder Mystery News of the Times Episode 324 | 1907 1907 Camden Town London and upon returning home from his night shift on the train, Mr Shaw comes home to discover his girlfriend, pretty flirtatious Emily Dimmock brutally slain, half naked in bed.  An effort seems to have been made to stage a robbery, but police are unconvinced. The severity of the crime, whilst Emily was sleepin...

Crimes of the Many William Hills News of the Times Episode 324 | 1802 - 1837 This episode looks at three William Hills in England between 1802 to 1837.  All three Williams are accused of outraging (rape).  All three Williams hold very different positions in society.  All three Williams refute the charges against them. The first William from 1802 stands accused of ravishing a young student of his....

Stories of Jealous and Jilted News of the Times Episode 323 | 1844 & 1878 Our first case from 1844 was so famous it was commemorated with a memorial of the poor victim. Charlotte, a notably attractive milk maid with a list of men interested in her, works with Mathew Weekes.  Mathew, lame, pockmarked and missing several teeth, has been enamoured with Charlotte for some time.  On a quiet Sunday...

Capturing the Killer News of the Times Episode 322 | 1786 1783 England.  In today’s episode we look at two cases from 1873 where the emphasis is on catching the killer. In our first case, it is mid day and Mary is walking along the path on her way to do some tasks.  Martin Laas, spots her, follows her, and accosts her for money.  Mary declines.  The brutal murder that follows on from the robbery e...

The Sinful Saint - Franz Riembauer News of the Times Episode 321 | 1829 It is 1829 Bavaria and Pastor Franz Riembauer, who some refer to as a living saint, stands accused by a 17 year old girl of having stolen her family’s farm, gotten her sister pregnant, killed and buried another mistress and then killed her sister and more as witnesses. Her statements that are deemed improbable are nevertheless...

The Tollesbury Murder Mystery News of the Times Episode 320 | 1851 It is 1851 Tollesbury – a small fishing village in Essex.  The men have all gone to the local oyster harvesting business to start work.  All of the men, except one. As the women start the morning with the household chores, the air is pierced by the screams of a young child who, upon wakening, finds her mother brutally slaughtered i...

Stories of In-law Issues: Killing the Step-Parent News of the Times Episode 319 | 1870-1871 Is there such a thing as justifiable homicide?  Not in 1870 or 1871. In today’s episode we look at two cases where the cliché of evil step-parent holds true and where the victim breaks. In our first case from 1870, young William who holds down a steady job and also volunteers, has been in battle with his ne...

Julia Wallace Murder Mystery News of the Times Episode 318 | 1931 The Julia Wallace Murder Mystery remains enigmatic.  Many a theory abounds by various parties who believe they have solved the brutal crime. In this episode we look at the story from the standpoint of the papers.  What we have noticed is its eery similarity to the Ramsgate Mystery https://youtu.be/1mjH8qmy6NM some 40 years before. E...

Murderous Mary Ann Geering News of the Times Episode 316 | 1849 1849 Sussex, and the Geering family are having a string of death misfortunes.  First, the father of the family, Richard who was known to be a strong and healthy man, passes after an extreme bout of illness. His caring wife who nursed him states he suffered from a heart condition which is accepted. Then, within months, an older son die...

Stories of Employee Revenge News of the Times Episode 315 | 1751 & 1849 In today’s episode we look at murdering a different kind of mistress back in the day – one’s employer.  For centuries, this was considered one of the very worst crimes and punishment was meted out rigidly. In our first case, it is 1751 and Norman Ross, a bright lad, has gotten himself into extreme financial difficulties th...

The Case of the Sinister Schoolmaster News of the Times Episode 314 | 1860 CIt is 1860 Eastbourne and 15 year old Reginald Chancellor / Cancellor has been sent back after Easter holidays to his very expensive boarding school.  Reginald is a known slow student.  Although the family can see that Reginald has been on the receiving end of corporal punishment at his school, he also seems to be improvin...

The Ramsgate Murder Mystery News of the Times Episode 313 | 1893 It is 1893 Ramsgate and Mr Noel, butcher and Wesleyan treasurer and Sunday school teacher, has come home from the Sunday school class he has just taught only to find himself locked out of his house.  His wife, who should be home, does not answer.  Mr Noel goes to the side window, looks in, only to see his wife dead in a pool of blood...

Ruthless Richard Edwards News of the Times Episode 312 | 1842 It is 1848 in the mining town of Merthyr Tydfil in Wales.  72 year old Tamar Edwards has gone missing from her small dilapidated cottage within the village.  Her son, who has just recently reunited with his wife, has moved her into his mother’s cottage and explains his mother’s disappearance as her having gone to visit in the next paris...

Stories of Murders of Mothers News of the Times Episode 311 | 1775 & 1848 The killing of the mother, Matricide, has historically been considered one of the blackest of crimes. In today’s episode we look at two cases where the adult offspring has planned and carried out the murder of their respective mothers with chilling coldness. Our first case from 1775 involves a single mother who runs a gi...