News of the Times - Unlocking the vaults of historical crime

Monte Carlo Trunk Murder News of the Times Episode 284 | 1907 Marseille, 1907 and the porter has noticed a terrible odour and what seems to be blood oozing from one of the trunks of Sir and Lady Goold who have only just arrived from Monte Carlo.  Insisting that police become involved, a naked dismembered body of a woman is revealed.  An accompanying valise holds the head and the limbs. The hand lu...

The Leiden Poisoner News of the Times Episode 282 | 1883 In 1883 Netherlands, Leiden was rocked by the realisation that they had a serial killer on their hands who had been killing for years without anyone suspecting a thing. Maria van Der Linden, as the British press referred to her, like Helen Jegado, was so kind, so thoughtful, everyone’s auntie, that no one suspected a thing as she speculative...

A Scottish Murder Love Triangle - Frightful Fridays News of the Times Episode 281 | 1765 1765 County Forfar Scotland and 21 year old newly married Katharine Nairn, wed to 40ish bookish Thomas Ogilvie, is the topic of gossip within the household and the community.  Dashing younger brother Lieutenant Patrick Ogilvie has arrived back from East India and a warm, and some say, intimate relationship has...

Two Cases of Killer Catherines - Wicked Wednesdays News of the Times Episode 280 | 1850 & 1890 In today’s episode we look at two cases where the killer was named Catherine. Our first case from 1840 Ireland tells a famous murder case in its day.  Catherine has left her drunken husband and moved back with her mother.  Although the drunken husband leaves for a while, he returns.  The murder that...

he Case of Mme Bessarabo - Murderous Mondays News of the Times Episode 279 | 1921 1920’s Paris was mesmerised by the case of Mme Bessarabo.  A flamboyant and dramatic woman, she was also a well-known writer in her sphere of “spiritual fiction”, In July 1920, M Bessarabo does not appear for collection with his chauffeur.  It was claimed by the chauffeur that Bessarabo would be depositing a large su...

The Village of Assassins - Serial Killer Saturdays News of the Times Episode 53 | 1840 It is 1929 in a small village in Hungary – a village which over several years is going against the growth rate taking place in the surrounding villages.  What is odder still, the incredible death rate seems to be striking the predominantly middle to older male population. The village statistics in terms of perce...

The Cropton Murders - Frightful Fridays News of the Times Episode 277 | 1872 1872 Pickering in Yorkshire and well off farmer Joseph Wood and his middle son, also named Joseph have vanished.  Joseph’s cousin, who coincidentally was the last person to see Joseph alive, has kindly stepped in to take over and run Joseph’s farm for him whilst he is away.  Indeed, cousin Robert has even received a lette...

The Littlehampton Poison Pen Letter Mystery News of the Times Episode 276 | 1920 - 1923 1920 Littlehampton Surrey residents are being bombarded by vile language, threats, and libellous comments through letters and post cards.  The centre recipient, it would seem, is quiet and highly respectable Miss Swan and anyone who is associated with her.  Then, the vile letters move onto other respectalble re...

The Murder of Helen Priestly - Murderous Mondays News of the Times Episode 275 | 1934 In 1934 Aberdeen, a shocking crime of the murder of Helen Priestly takes place.  Within 15 hours her body is discovered in a potato sack, in a recess under the stairs of a residence of 8 apartments. Helen’s shoes are clean despite the constant rain and accompanying mud indicating that she must have been killed be...

Notorious Nurse Wilmot Mystery - Serial Killer Saturdays News of the Times Episode 274 | 1880 It is 1880 Sheffield and tragedy continues to strike again and again at the Booth residence coincidentally shortly after the hiring of Nurse Mary Ann Wilmot.  Things come to a head when Mrs Wilmot, devasted by the rapid succession of the deaths of her children, is also placed under the daily care of Nurse...

An Irish Family Affair of Murder - Frightful Fridays News of the Times Episode 273 | 1852 1853 County Clare Ireland and James Stackpoole, just shy of his 21st birthday, has been horrifically butchered and murdered.  His body has been placed miles from his home, with identifying clothing placed near the body. Investigations uncover that James was nearly due to collect on a healthy inheritance, but...

The Infamous Go-Cart Murder Case - Wicked Wednesdays News of the Times Episode 272 | 1923 1923 Scotland, not far from Glasgow, and a horrific murder has been uncovered of a young boy.  A tragic story, absolutely, but what unfolds as the case is investigated is an unbelievable story of how the crime was committed and the incredible attempts to hide the body. This case certainly falls into the categ...

The Mysterious Case of Ellen Kittel - Murderous Mondays News of the Times Episode 271 | 1872 It is 1872 Essex and Elizabeth Kittel, wife of farm labourer William Kittel, has just died a surprise agonising death.  Ellen Wenden, the 20 year old daughter of the famer on whose land William works, swoops in and takes control.  The neighbours have been gossiping for some time about the intimacy that see...

Murderess Martha Marek  - Serial Killer Saturdays News of the Times Episode 270 | 1938 In today’s episode it is 1937 Austria and Martha Marek, a supposed feeble, nearly sightless woman has reported thefts from her house - luckily, she is insured. From this attempted insurance fraud, the reported stolen items found in a warehouse she is renting, unravels activity dating back to her first known insu...

Tales of Women Killers in Ireland News of the Times Episode 269  | 1881 - 1902 In today’s episode we look at three cases where women were the murderers. Our first case from Derry 1881 tells the take of an 80 year old man who has committed suicide according to his 40 year old wife.  Did the man even have the strength to pull a trigger is one of the many questions that arise in this case. Our second...

The Gibetted Ones - Wicked Wednesdays News of the Times Episode 268 | 1776 - 1832 Today’s episode of gibbeted ones looks at three cases where those found guilty of their crime are condemned to what was considered the worst death: gibbeting and hung for all to see as their bodies where slowly eaten by birds. Our first case from 1776 recounts the story of a butcher who wishes to see for himself if h...

The Mysterious Disappearance of Mr Stanger Scotland Yard Casebook News of the Times Episode 267 | 1882 1882 Whitechapel and immigrants Mr Stanger and his wife, Elizabeth Stanger, start up what becomes a very successful bakery. It is so successful, additional help is needed.  Enter family friend, Mr Fritz Stumm. Local gossips quickly start to whisper about the clear affection between Mrs Stanger an...

Bluebeard Bela Kiss - Serial Killer Saturdays News of the Times Episode 266  | 1912 - 1929? From 1912 Hungary, one of the worst serial killers, enticing women around the world with promises of marriage, began his horrific spree.  Bela Kiss, popular with neighbours and always with plenty of money to spend, killed woman after woman, girl after girl, and then pickled them n alcohol or buried them aro...

Murder and Scandal in Wales - Frightful Fridays News of the Times Episode 265 | 1875 & 1892 1892 Abergavenny and frequent visitor of the local police, who has only just been released, is found dead in a heap with her throat cut all the way to the spine.  As the country as a whole is still recovering from the nightmare of Jack the Ripper, there is an element of panic. Our second tale from 1875...

corned: Jilted Partners and Vengeance - Wicked Wednesdays News of the Times Episode 264 | 1910 Rejection not being taken well is a theme that has not changed over time.  In today’s episode we look at five cases involving jilted lovers and the vengeance they extract. Our first story from 1871 involves an older lodger and his attraction to the young maiden of the house who kindly declines.  What hap...

The Notorious Case of Charles Peace - Murderous Mondays News of the Times Episode 263  | 1879 Charles Peace, a notorious figure in Victorian England, was infamous for his criminal activities as a master burglar and murderer. Born in Sheffield in 1832, Peace developed a knack for deception and disguise, earning him the moniker of the "man of a thousand faces." As a type of “Moriarty” char...

The 10 Fold Bolton Murderess - Serial Killer Saturdays News of the Times Episode 261 | 1842 1842 Little Bolton, and there have been two unexpected successive deaths in the Eccles household.  As Mrs Eccles goes to the factory to collect on the insurance policy of one of the dead, questions are asked.  What unfolds is a stream of deaths dating back years to people within her immediate household.  Wh...

Murders in Cheshire - Frightful Fridays News of the Times Episode 260 | 1861 & 1881 Our first case from 1861 is the famous Martin Doyle case – one of the few prisoners who, quite unusually, was executed for attempted murder.  The absolute repeated battering in the face of his victim who he left for dead was thwarted as she survived and managed to crawl into the road for help.  As she gave evid...

Love and Murder in 1700's - Wicked Wednesdays News of the Times Episode 259 | 1700s Love and Murder, a dark timeless theme. In today’s episode we jump back to American revolutionary times to look at three cases where the dark side of love combines with murder. 1721 and Matthew Clarke, in want of money, slays a barmaid.  What made this crime so horrific is that he did it whilst kissing her. 17...

The Kilkenny Horror News of the Times Episode 258 | 1890 This case from 1890 County Kilkenny Ireland is horrific by any standard, The brutality of the killing was said to rival the ripper – justifiably so.  Quiet Edward Hart invests all his spare time and any spare money he earns from fishing to upgrade the farm of his wife’s family.  Then, they sell the farm without telling hm and he is booted of...