News of the Times - Unlocking the vaults of historical crime

The Walworth Murderer - William Godfrey Youngman: Serial Killer Saturdays News of the Times Episode 183 | 1860 Serial Killer William Godfrey Youngman – The Walworth Murderer – has a plan. In this episode, we recount the plan through Godfrey’s actual letters as he woos and charmingly convinces his target to fall into step with his wishes.  This story also has a surprising twist with what looks to b...

News of the Times Episode 182 | 1874 & 1878 Infamous Murders in Wales: Frightful Fridays Beautiful Wales has had its own share of Infamous murders which rocked the respective communities at the time. Our first murder story from 1874 involves a known liar and deception artist James Gibbs.  Gibbs has latched onto kind-hearted and much older spinster Susan Ann Ingram and has married her and then,...

News of the Times Episode 181 | 1694 - 1909 Notorious Cases of Family Annihilations ***DISTURBING CONTENT*** Today’s episode of Wicked Wednesdays looks at three stories where a family was utterly annihilated.  Parents, partners, aunts, uncles, children – no one was safe. Our first story from 1694 looks at infamous Thomas Austin as recounted from the Newgate Calendar. Our second story from Germany...

News of the Times Episode 53 | 1840 The Eltham Murder Mystery: Murderous Mondays The Eltham Murder Mystery of 1871 involves pregnant Jane Clouson and her “young man”, Edward “Ned” Pook, who is none other than the son of the head of the household from which she has just been dismissed. Pretty Jane Clouson is ecstatic to receive a letter from her Ned wishing to meet with her that night to give her s...

Martin Dumollard: The Maid Killer - Serial Killer Saturdays News of the Times Episode 179 | 1862 Martin Dumollard, renowned in French history, is infamous for a series of gruesome murders that is believed to have taken place in France between  1855 to 1861. The case was significant in French criminal history and attracted widespread international attention. Dumollard, posing as a head gardener of...

Murderous Stories From the Stage News of the Times Episode 178 | 1850 & 1897 In today’s episode of Frightful Fridays, we look at two stories from the Victorian stage involving obsession and murder. Our first story centres on newly widowed Martha Sharpe who imagines herself in a new life with handsome popular actor of his day, James Elphinstone.  Martha’s stalking of the famed actor turns deadl...

Fatal Attractions - Wicked Wednesdays News of the Times Episode 177 | 1845 - 1895 Today we look at stories that reveal a darker side of the Victorian age, where love has turned deadly. The fine upstanding quaker, John Tawell, with the inconvenient mistress on the side.  The baronet’s son with a murderous mistress, Flora Davies, he may becoming tired of.  Was it an accident or was it purposeful? An...

News of the Times Episode 176 | 1933 The Papin Sister Murderers ***Adult theme *** In the annals of true crime history, there are cases that continue to intrigue and shock us. Today, we journey back to a chilling and enigmatic tale that shook France to its core. It was the year 1933, a time of economic hardship, class struggle, and a society on the brink of change. And in the midst of it all, two...

The Shapwick Poisoner - Sarah Freeman News of the Times Episode 175 | 1845 Sarah Freeman, from 1845, became notorious for the series of murders she committed on her own family.  Unpitying and relentless, anyone who thwarted her or got in her way was disposed of including, her mother at least 1 child, a husband and a brother.  Even to the very end, Sarah Freeman, the Shapwick Poisoner, was attempti...

The Crumbles Murders - Part 2: Frightful Fridays News of the Times Episode 174 | 1920 This 1920 murder in the beauty spot of “Crumbles” on the Eastbourne seaside was the first of two murders that took place in the scenic area some 4 years apart.  Lovely 19-year-old Irene Munro, on her first holiday on her own, goes missing.  Within a few days, a boy on a picnic with his mother discovers a foot sti...

News of the Times Episode 173 | 1911 The Mussoorie Mystery - A Locked Room Murder Mystery The Mussoorie Mystery is a famous locked room mystery that took place in Mussoorie India in 1911 at the opulent Savoy Hotel at the foothill of the Himalayas.  Miss Frances Garnet-Orme, and her travelling companion, arrive to stay.  Miss Orme is a noted spiritualist, and her companion has some local fame as a...

News of the Times Episode 172 | 1935 The Jigsaw Murderer - Buck Ruxton: Murderous Mondays ***WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT *** Buck Ruxton, the genial, well liked local doctor, had a volatile relationship with his common law wife, Isabella Kerr, until one day, he utterly snapped. He killed her, and killed the nurse maid as well.  Then, with surgical skill, he cut up the body parts into 70 pieces, whilst...

News of the Times Episode 171 | 1895 The Mansfield Massacre - Serial Killer Saturdays ***WARNING DISTURBING CONTENT*** The Mansfield Massacre involved the brutal slaying of a family of four, which, if he had been successful, would have killed  7.  The brutality inflicted on Mary Reynolds by Henry Wright was said by the police to be worse than anything inflicted on any of the victims of the ripper...

News of the Times Episode 170 | 1924  The Crumbles Murder - Part 1: Frightful Fridays In this episode, we delve into the gripping tale of 'The Crumbles Murders,' a haunting and tragic story that unfolded in 1920. In this Part 1 episode, we focus on the shocking murder of Emily Kaye by none other than Patrick Mahon. Set against the backdrop of Eastbourne's eerie Crumbles area, this s...

Murder by Starvation: Wicked Wednesdays In this episode, we plunge deep into the darkest and most harrowing cases from the annals of history where the murder was caused by the purposeful starvation of the victim. We explore the chilling tales of murder by the cruellest means imaginable. Throughout history, there have been cases where individuals met their untimely demise not through weapons or poi...

News of the Times Episode 168 | 1752 Infamous Killer Elizabeth Jeffries: Murderous Mondays In this episode, we delve into the enigmatic life of infamous Elizabeth Jeffries, a name that has resonated through the annals of history. Elizabeth Jeffries, infamous murderer – her crime took place around the same time as Mary Blandy (episode 139).  What makes her tale so unusual is her motivation.  This p...

News of the Times Episode 167 | 1894 Martha Needle - The Serial Poisoner: Serial Killer Saturday Martha Needle was an Australian woman who became infamous for her involvement in a series of murders that occurred in the 1890’s in Australia. Martha is a classic example of a female serial poisoner. Martha Needle's crimes revolved around poisoning family members and anyone who got in her way to a...

News of the Times Episode 166 | 1886 - 1946 Lancashire Murder Stories: Frightful Fridays ***WARNING DISTURBING STORIES*** In today’s episode of Frightful Fridays, we look at 3 Lancashire murder stories: The famous Mary Ann Britland story of unfulfilled lust, Methodically, Mary Ann kills off everyone in her path to get the man of her dreams, including an inconvenient child. The story of the battere...

News of the Times Episode 165 | 1810 - 1924 Curious Cases of Scotland Yard: Wicked Wednesdays In today’s episode of Wicked Wednesdays, we take a look at some of cases of Scotland Yard. Starting with the horrific Ratcliffe Highway murders with the Bow Street Runners – the precursor to Scotland Yard, we move onto the unsolved torso case found in the cellar of New Scotland Yard building site.  From t...

News of the Times Episode 164 | 1903 The Peasenhall Mystery: Murderous Mondays The "Peasenhall Mystery" was an unsolved murder case that took place in the village of Peasenhall in Suffolk, England, in 1902. The case revolves around the murder of a young woman named Rose Harsent who, it is discovered, is 6 months pregnant.  Her throat had been slashed, and a failed attempt at burning her...

News of the Times Episode 163 | 1921 The French Bluebeard - Henri Desire Landru: Serial Killer Saturdays Henri Désiré Landru was a notorious French serial killer who gained infamy as "The Bluebeard of Gambais" or "The French Bluebeard." He is one of the most well-known serial killers in French criminal history. Landru's crimes took place during and after World War I, prima...

News of the Times Episode 162 | 1760 and 1825 Aristocracy: Murder and Scandal - Frightful Fridays Laurence, Earl Ferrer, had a wicked temper. The murder he committed was so premeditated and considered so cruel for its time, there could be no pardon by rank, even as judged by The House of Lords, his peers.  Instead he was doomed to swing at the scaffold of the commoners. A beautiful heiress worth m...

News of the Times Episode 161 | 1726-1784 Stories of Burnt at the Stake: Wicked Wednesdays In this episode of stories of burnt at the stake, we look at cases for petty treason: a murderous wife and her unfortunate husband with the accompanying punishment of being burnt at the stake. We start with the infamously barbaric crime by wild girl Catherine Hayes. We follow this with the story of Elizabeth...

News of the Times Episode 160 | 1923 The Courtesan Who Got Away With Murder: Murderous Mondays Marguerite Alibert Fahmy, also known as Marguerite Alibert, was a French socialite and courtesan.  Her life was associated with scandal and intrigue due to her relationships with several prominent men, including royalty and nobility, most notably the future King Edward VIII. Marguerite Alibert married Eg...

News of the Times Episode 159 | 1898 The French Ripper - Joseph Vacher : Serial Killer Saturdays Joseph Vacher, also known as "The French Ripper" or "The Killer of Little Shepherds," was a notorious French serial killer and criminal. He operated for approximatley 4 years across the French countryside and is known for his gruesome and violent crimes. Between 1894 and 1897, Vache...