News of the Times - Unlocking the vaults of historical crime

The Notorious French Ogress  Serial Killer - Jeanne Weber Serial Killer Saturdays News of the Times Episode 232 | 1905 - 1908 Today’s episode, from 1905 to 1908 France, investigates the case of Jeanne Weber, a thrice accused serial killer who managed to avoid justice twice.  Employing strangulation techniques which were difficult to spot in Edwardian England, Jeanne Weber managed to evade justice...

A Grisly Murder in Nottingham - Frightful Fridays News of the Times Episode 231 | 1905 ‘A murder so despicable the like which hasn’t been seen in a long time’ was how this murder from Nottingham in 1905 was described. The victim, a young boy just short of his 5th birthday, was so brutally beaten that his mangled body was nearly decapitated.  The murderer – the friendly lodger taken in who seemed f...

Firsts in Murder - Frightful Fridays News of the Times Episode 230 | 1822 & 1886 In today’s episode we look at two cases which were “firsts” in their day for murder. Our first episode takes place in France in 1823.  Newly graduated Dr Castaing, with a mistress with expensive social and financial requirements, a household of 5 children and a large outstanding promissory note due, is in severe f...

The Scandalous Murder of William Whiteley - Murderous Mondays News of the Times Episode 229 | 1907 In today’s episode, we dive deep into the intriguing and haunting tale of the scandalous murder of William Whiteley. It is 1907, London, a time of elegance and innovation.  William Whiteley, a successful businessman known for his luxury department store, is unexpectedly publicly murdered – but why? W...

Crime Stories That Made History - History Compilation Special News of the Times Episode 228 | 1815 - 1882 In today’s special episode, we look at 4 cases that left their mark in the annals for historical crime. The Eliza Fenning case of 1815 – did she or didn’t she?   The Francois Courvoisier Case 1837 – some 50 years before Jack the Ripper, London is gripped with cruel attacks on women that culmin...

The Walworth Tragedy - Murders in London News of the Times Episode 53 | 1840  Walworth London, late December 1856 and the horrific murder of two children whose throats are slit from ear to ear is discovered in the residence of the Bacons. The story of a man who came in through the window and attacked the children and wife for a few articles is quickly uncovered as false leading to the mother as th...

The Holywood Murders  of Ireland - Frightful Fridays News of the Times Episode 226 | 1873 It is the 31st of December, 1872 in Holywood, Ireland, near Belfast.  A daily milk delivery is not collected by any member of the Croft Lodge despite the relative late hour of the morning. As concerned neighbours peep through the windows, a gory sight unveils of the battered body of elderly and well respected...

Stories of Hand of God Wicked Wednesdays News of the Times Episode 225 | 1650 & 1860 In today’s episode we look at two different sides of Hand of God stories. Our first story, from 1650, recounts the tale of a woman who, having become pregnant by the insistent advances of a member of the household in which she worked, attests that she miscarried.  Not knowing what to do, she buries the corpse...

The Great Coram Street Murder Mystery News of the Times Episode 224 | 1872 Christmas Day, 1872, London.  When Harriet Buswell, stage name Clara Burton, does not get up as usual in her lodging house, her door is broken down where she is found slaughtered on her bed from a gaping wound in her throat and some lacerations on her body. The Great Coram Street Murder case was in all the papers.  A bloody...

Mini Murder Mysteries: Murder at Bucklebury Manor News of the Times Episode MMM01 A mystery murder puzzle!  Mr Maxwell, a puppet enthusiast, whilst once again re-arranging his impressive puppet collection has been murdered! Three servants are in the house – three suspects. Chief Inspector Wayne is called in to solve this diabolical crime. Can you discover who the murderer is? Follow the clues and...

The Benbecula Island Serial Killer News of the Times Episode 223 | 1857 In today’s episode, it is 1857 on a small island in Scotland in the Outer Hebrides and a madman is loose in the small isolated community.  Body after body after body is discovered and the horror grows as it is realised that the person responsible is their son.  This case was a sensation in the day and, we believe, an inspirati...

Murder and Scandal in Oxfordshire - Frightful Fridays News of the Times Episode 222 | 1829 & 1851 In today’s episode we are in Oxfordshire looking at a case of scandal and a case of murder. Our scandal case from 1851 we came across accidentally whilst researching a different case.  The Reverend Mr Charles James is slapped with a court summons regarding a fraud case he is alleged to be involved...

Pies of Death News of the Times Episode 53 | 1840 In today’s episode of Wicked Wednesdays, we look at three stories of deadly pies. Our first story from 1783 involves a veal pie.  Interestingly, the news at this time was quite different from Victorian times.  The case seems to be reported in a perfunctory way, almost as if this was a common thing. Our second case from 1850, we have covered before...

Scotland Yard Casebook: Sinister Sidney Fox News of the Times Episode 216 | 1929 1929 Hotel Metropole Margate – a fire breaks out in an elderly woman’s room.  As her son looks for help, a fellow guest beats through the smoke and drags Mrs Fox from the bed.  She is quite dead. The event unfolds a twisted tale of scams, deceit and murder requiring the help of Scotland Yard to help decipher the murky...

The Axe and Tomahawk Killer News of the Times Episode 219 | 1842 Today we look at one of Australia’s most notorious Serial Killers, John Lynch.  With a confessed kill count of 10, Lynch’s known killings start in 1836 due to a supposition of being ratted on by a fellow convict. It is in 1842 when Lynch goes into a killing spree with anyone unlucky enough to come into his path.  His primary motive o...

The Limeslade Mystery - Frightful Fridays News of the Times Episode 218 | 1927 Limeslade South Wales in 1927 is the scene of a tragic yet unremarkable occurrence of a woman battered outside her own house door in the evening after a night at the cinema with her next-door neighbour. This sadly not uncommon event unfolds into a convoluted case involving blackmail, embezzlement, riches, mysterious ant...

Blood Bonds Broken: Killing Father - Wicked Wednesdays News of the Times Episode 216 | 1751 - 1890 In today’s episode we look at three cases of killing father. Our first case, from 1752 remains a famous one in the UK.  Mary Blandy, potential spinster, has a promise of love from a rogue already married, gambling indebted, Captain.  The only thing standing in the way of love and inheritance is her f...

Murder in Paris - Murderous Mondays News of the Times Episode 216 | 1856 In today’s episode we are in Paris France in 1856 where we look at a particularly gruesome crime with a poor attempt to dismember the body with a dull knife in a lodging house. The description of the crime is in far more detail than we normally see with English papers at the time. This crime leads into our second story regard...

Serial Killer Saturdays: The Infamous Elizabeth Berry News of the Times Episode 53 | 1840 In 1887, Elizabth Berry, a practising nurse in the local workhouse, has had an unfortunate string of deaths in her family.  As with many a serial killer episode we have uploaded, it is the last death with then unravels a string of deaths over years.  The fact all of the dead relatives were insured does not se...

Disturbing History: Children in Broadmoor Prison Frightful Fridays News of the Times Episode 214 | 1903 & 1930 In this episode we look at two cases of children being sent to Broadmoor prison for the criminally insane. Our first case from 1903 involves a possible, not proven, 8-year-old serial killer whose preferred victims are under two years old.  His preferred method of killing is to bury hi...

Fatal Transactions: When the Cash Register Rings Death Wicked Wednesdays News of the Times Episode 213 | 1872 & 1903 In today’s episode we take a look at two famous cases in their day involving shopkeepers.  We have covered before how dangerous being a housemaid could be – today we look at the dangers associated with being a shopkeeper. Our first story from 1872, named the Hoxton Horror by the...

The Bermondsey Tragedy  - Murderous Mondays News of the Times Episode 53 | 1840 This story from 1872 Bermondsey – not to be confused with the famous Manning case which occurred some 23 years earlier also in Bermondsey - titillated the public with its whiff of illicit relations, jealousy, brutality and ultimately, murder.  The crime itself was clearcut.  What became almost of more interest in the p...

The Leveson Street Horror - Serial Killer Saturdays News of the Times Episode 211 | 1849 Today’s shocking story from 1849 was considered so hideous that the city changed the street name where the crime was committed.  Heavily pregnant Anne Hinrichson, whose husband is away, is having a normal day with her two small children and her maid who helps in the house.  Anne has recently taken in a boarder...

Family Killings in Ripon - Frightful Fridays News of the Times Episode 210  | 1874 1874 was a remarkable year in Ripon North Yorkshire with two unrelated cases of family members killing other family members. Our first case is a soldier on return to his parents’ home.  It is not a happy return and William is eventually asked to leave the home by his father.  On the day of his departure his 16 year...

Scotland Yard Casebook - The Islington Murder News of the Times Episode 209 | 1840 In today’s episode we take a look at a Scotland Yard case from 1840 – The Islington Murder – a great story showcasing how Scotland Yard eventually get their man. A robbery and murder of a wealthy older man, not shy of flashing his cash, takes place.  It does not take long for the police to trace evidence to a primar...