News of the Times - Unlocking the vaults of historical crime

Terrible Theodore Gardelle - Murderous Mondays News of the Times Episode 53 | 1840  It is 1761 London, and Theodore Gazelle, a Swiss painter drawing inspiration from his visit to England, is slighted by his landlady’s non-appreciation of his work.  Words are exchanged leading up to a violent incident. Gazelle’s actions after the event drenches a room in blood and takes workmen hired by the police...

The Inn of Death - Serial Killer Saturdays News of the Times Episode 207 | 1831 It is 1831 and we are in France.  Travellers in the Ardeche passing the Red Inn are vanishing along their way.  Neighbours complain of terrible smells being regularly emitted from the Red Inn chimney.  Under breath mutterings speak of body parts being used in stews and pates. The isolated Red Inn run by the Martin fami...

News of the Times Episode 206 | 1882 A seemingly average Victorian family in 1882 is anything but! The scandal filled family, with the genteel façade, holds dark secrets between the various family members with behaviour from all parties that would raise eyebrows even in today’s more jaded society. The case, with its various permutations shocked the Victorian public at the time as once again, it wo...

The Dark Side of Lighthouses - Wicked Wednesdays News of the Times Episode 205 | 1755-1933 In today’s episode we look at some of the dark history surrounding lighthouses.  Madness, fatal accidents, fire and poisoning are only some of the many ways to die in a lighthouse.  We start with the conundrum – what to do with a dead body in a remote lighthouse?  Throwing it into the sea may very well have...

Mr Dove and The Wizard - Murderous Mondays News of the Times Episode 204 | 1855 In 1855, William Dove, a troubled man, is convinced that the wizard he had been seeing for some two years is authentic and can help him to improve his life.  When the wizard proclaims that William’s future holds a new wife – an attractive, auburn haired beauty with money, William sees the likely prospect in his neighbo...

Jonathan Balls : Kill Count: 22 News of the Times Episode 203 | 1846 Today’s episode of serial killer Saturdays reviews the case of Jonathan Balls from a small seaside village in 1846.  Jonathan is not particularly liked within the small village, but he seems close with his family.  Sadly though, a long list of unfortunate deaths dating back 20 years seems to blight his family in their village of...

Scandal, Murder and the Duke of Cumberland News of the Times Episode 202 | 1810 & 1833 Ernest Augustus, The Duke of Cumberland, had a spectacular chequered life.  In the time of King George III, The Duke of Cumberland was generally reviled by press and public, and some would say his own royal family.  He had many a scandal including an alleged attack in the dead of night with a cutlas by a sup...

The Missing News of the Times Episode 53 | 1840 Today’s episode looks at three cases where people have gone missing. Our first case with the Reverend Speke from 1868 investigates this notorious vanishing of the good Reverend.  His disappearance made national and international headlines at the time.  How he is discovered is almost a twist of fate. Our second story quickly reviews the terrible missi...

The Mysterious Murder of Georgie  Moore Murderous Mondays News of the Times Episode 200 | 1881 This death of seven-year-old Georgie Moore in 1881, found strangled and thrown into the river some distance from her home, is tragic in its own right.  But as we delve into the case, the back story of the possible motive for her killing gains in horror.  Was this a revenge killing against a family from a...

The Plumstead Poisoner - Serial Killer Saturdays News of the Times Episode 199 | 1833 In today’s episode, it is 1833 Plumstead and wealthy and hale George Bodle has his usual morning breakfast of coffee and toast.  His wife, still in bed, has a cup of coffee brought up to her.  The servants boil the coffee grinds a second time for their allotted coffee.  Then the charwoman takes the coffee grounds...

Murderous Stories from Suffolk - Frightful Fridays News of the Times Episode 198 | 1851 & 1920 In today’s episode, we are in Suffolk investigating two grisly murders that took place there.  In our first story, it is 1851 and pretty milk maid Mary Baker has been stabbed openly at a county fair, by her master, well to do farmer John Mickleburgh.    We take a look at the antecedents to the crime...

Spectral Sleuths - Ghost Quest for Justice News of the Times Episode 197  | 1749 & 1828 In today’s episode we look at two cases of spectral sleuths – ghosts who come back to help solve their own murder – from 1749 and 1828. Our first case of a haunting to solve a murder takes place in Aberdeenshire when a farmer’s servant is visited by a ghost informing hm of the location of his bones and requ...

The New Cross Murder Mystery News of the Times Episode 196 | 1890 The New Cross Mystery was one of the names given in the papers of the finding of Emma Townsend, and her particular friend, William De la Motte, in her bedroom, dead by prussic poisoning.  Emma’s husband, Dr Townsend is away.  Was it a suicide pact?  Or was this something more sinister?  And what of the strange injury and death at th...

Helen Jegado - The Serial Killer Nun News of the Times Episode 195 | 1852 Join us on a chilling journey through the life of Helen Jagard, the deadly nun who left a trail of murder and theft wherever she went. From her humble beginnings as a peasant orphan to her twisted life as a serial killer, By the time Helene was finally caught, it is believed she had killed 42 people with estimates of up to 6...

Scandal and Murder Stories from the Stage News of the Times Episode 194 | 1825 & 1895 Scandal and murder stories from the world of the theatre consumed the masses in Victorian Times.  Today we look at two stories of the day. Edmund Kean, within England, is still remembered as one of the premier actors of his day, most notably for his performances of Shakespeare.  Kean’s private life seems to h...

Housemaid Stories of Betrayal and Murder News of the Times Episode 193 | 1824 - 1893 Housemaids made up almost 40% of the female workforce at one point.  Today’s episode looks at the unsuspecting dangers lurking in being a housemaid.  From deciding to receive or not receive the attentions from members of the household, or going up in flames – a regular Victorian horror, or being murdered as an eye...

Georgian Ghosts, Apparitions and Witches News of the Times Episode 192 | 1711 - 1739 Today’s episode of ghosts, apparitions, and witches recount stories from the newspapers of over 300 years ago.  As England was being governed by a series of George’s (I and II), sky spectral battles indicating doom, talking dogs, hauntings by dead children and the occasional witch were making the news in the paper...

Families Who Kill Families News of the Times Episode 53 | 1840   in today’s episode we look at two stories of families attempting to kill another family, reminiscent of the American saga of the Hatfields and McCoys,. In 1825 England, The Neal family are beholden to the Hales family.  The work relationship between the two families is fractured and the mother of the Neal family owes money to the Hal...

Murderous Stories from Cheshire News of the Times Episode 190 | 1844 - 1864 Today’s episode looks at three murderous stories form Cheshire between 1844 and 1863. In our first story from 1844, Mary Gallop is in love with a young man who has invited her to Liverpool for Christmas.  Her stern pious father says no.  Mary does not take no for an answer. In our second story from 1856 homeless William Ja...

News of the Times Episode 53 | 1840 Historical Crime Enigmas In today’s episode we look at 2 shocking historical crimes of their day – one which remains unsolved and the other which becomes resolved 41 years later. In 1843, Harriet Monckton, a pious and steady young lady of 23, is found dead in the church privy.  Her body is saturated with prussic acid – more than 30 times the amount needed to kil...

Bad Daniel Good - The Murderous Butcher News of the Times Episode 188 | 1842 In 1842 the horrific butchering of Jane Jones, followed by his attempts to burn her body parts in a fireplace sent shockwaves through the city. The culprit was known, but after a humiliating escape from police, Daniel Good absconds.  Nine police divisions are sent out to scour the city of London for the culprit. But the e...

Serial Killer Children -- Two Elizabeths and a Mary News of the Times Episode 187 | 1810 - 1867 In today’s episode of Serial Killer Saturdays, we look at three murder cases involving children under the age of 18.  The stories take place between 1810 and 1867.  As these are children, we have lowered the bar of serial killer label to two murders or murder attempts. In one of our two murder cases, Ma...

The Notorious Murders at Yarmouth News of the Times Episode 186 | 1900 & 1912 In today’s episode of frightful Fridays we are in Yarmouth 1900 and 1912 as we delve into the mysterious double murders that took place there. Pretty Mary Jane is found strangled with her own bootlace and left on the sand dunes of Yarmouth Beach in 1900.  Living there under an assumed identity, her true identity and...

News of the Times Episode 185 | 1859 The Life  and Trial  of Dr Smethurst The case of Dr Smethurst in Richmond was a sensation in its day as it appeared to many that he had gotten away with it and had actually profited from murder. He originally married a woman 20 years older than himself and it is implied that he was unhappy.  Then , whilst in his 50’s, as his wife is in her 70’s, a torrid affair...

William Sheward - The Dissector: Murderous Mondays News of the Times Episode 53 | 1840 1851 Norwich was terrified by people finding flesh and bone body parts sprinkled liberally across the city. Children playing, dogs walking, casual strollers all came across various body parts in different sizes and shapes around the city. Fast forward 18 years and a man, physically frail and mentally broken, goe...