The History of Murder

Let us know what you think about the episode It was a massive story in the year before the Civil War. A sitting US congressman killed the son of an American legend. Why had he done it? And who was really the victim? It wasn't an easy question to answer then - or now. And what happened after the trial is also up for debate.   More about the show: 🌐 https://thehistoryofmurder.com Team & Co...

Let us know what you think about the episode In 1927, in a small town in Michigan, children and teachers walked into class, celebrating their last day of school before summer break. But within an hour, half of the school was reduced to rubble as dynamite brought down the building. Those inside were trapped under the debris and parents rushed to save their children. The explosion was devastating –...

Let us know what you think about the episode On a bridge in Morrison, Colorado, the fate of two men intersected. One man had everything going for him, the other should have. What happened there led to a search, a gruesome discovery and a manhunt through multiple states and two countries. The result wasn’t just the loss of a life, but the destruction of part of the most famous family in Colorado. M...

Let us know what you think about the episode In September of 1861, Osceola Missouri was burned to the ground, men were killed and homes were plundered. Led by a Kansas senator and aided by a local minister, the raid was theoretically on behalf of the Union cause. But given the actions of the men who rode into town, the question of their true purpose remains. More about the show: 🌐 https://thehist...

Let us know what you think about the episode During WW2, over 400,000 German and Italian POWs were imprisoned in camps around the United States. The ordinary soldiers were thrilled that they had plenty to eat, could play soccer, put on shows, and work on farms. But those who held onto Nazi doctrine would punish their fellow POWs for what they saw as fraternizing with the enemy. In some cases, that...

Let us know what you think about the episode More about the show: 🌐 https://thehistoryofmurder.com We’ve all heard of him. But do you know why? There were lots of men who didn’t settle back into their old lives following the Civil War, and some of them turned to the outlaw life, like Jesse and Frank James. But why do we know these names? It’s a surprising answer that likely contributed to Jesse’s...

Let us know what you think about the episode She was the head of a vicious gang of robbers, killers and kidnappers. She was a nice lady who was kind to neighborhood kids. She was a simple woman who enjoyed the finer things and never asked questions about where the money came from. She was a “Karen” who defended her boys to the police, her husband, and anyone who got in her way. So, who was Kate “M...

Let us know what you think about the episode On a bridge in Morrison Colorado, the fate of two men intersected. One man had everything going for him, the other should have. What happened there led to a search, a gruesome discovery and a manhunt through multiple states and two countries. The result wasn’t just the loss of a life, but the destruction of part of the most famous family in Colorado. Mo...

Let us know what you think about the episode A local doctor, known to help anyone who asked, disappeared. The rumors started. Had he run away with a married woman? Gone back to his native Ireland? Or was he a British spy? It soon became public knowledge that he was a member of a secret organization to help bring about Irish independence, and it became clear that there had been some trouble connect...

Let us know what you think about the episode He used his words to persuade, and he died because of them. In 1837, Elijah Lovejoy became a martyr to the first amendment, specifically freedom of the press, because as a newspaper editor, he believed in speaking out on the biggest injustice of his day. But after he was murdered, was there any justice for him? More about the show: 🌐 https://thehistory...

Let us know what you think about the episode Bridge was a national obsession in 1929, and it was the personal obsession of an upper middle-class woman in Kansas City, Missouri. Myrtle Bennett poured over books about how to improve her game. She played whenever she had the chance. Her husband Jack was her frequent partner, but one night during a game, Myrtle and Jack got into a fight that led to a...

Let us know what you think about the episode The most famous event of Prohibition happened in a garage on Chicago’s North Side. We all know that Al Capone tried to kill Bugs Moran but instead killed a bunch of his guys. Except, maybe that isn’t what happened. There are lots of theories about who and why but not as many answers. What we do know is that February 14, 1929, changed everything for Capo...

Let us know what you think about the episode Prohibition became law in the U.S. in January 1920. But in Chicago, it was more of a suggestion. It turned ordinary people into criminals, and criminals into superstars. Explore where true crime meets commerce in a documentary about a time when Chicago’s underworld became household names.  More about the show: 🌐 https://thehistoryofmurder.com Team &amp...

Let us know what you think about the episode Meriwether Lewis is known for being half of Lewis and Clark, who in 1804 led an extraordinary expedition into the lands of the Louisiana Purchase. But having survived that harrowing journey, just five years later, Lewis was found shot to death in a remote cabin in Tennessee. Is this a true crime? The question of what happened to him has plagued historia...

Let us know what you think about the episode His death is often cited on lists called, “Stupid Ways People Have Died” … and it was stupid. But the life of attorney and politician Clement Vallandigham was complicated. During the Civil War he was a free speech advocate and a convicted traitor. He was beloved by some in Ohio, hated by others and, ultimately, laughed about by most. The true crime is a...

Let us know what you think about the episode On August 21, 1863, the residents of Lawrence, Kansas woke up to chaos.  The Civil War was raging, and this Midwestern town, far from the front lines, was at the center. 500 men rode into town, killing men and boys, burning down the homes and businesses. They said they were fighting for the Confederacy but were they really just criminals looking to stea...

Let us know what you think about the episode The stakes were high – and not just for the young man on trial for murder. But also for his defense attorney, Abraham Lincoln. Not only did he know both the victim and the killer, but the case marked the only time the full trial would be written down and published for everyone to see. One major slip could lead to the gallows for his client and end his h...

Let us know what you think about the episode Is it true crime or military might? The President of the United States ordered the army to remove peaceful protestors from Washington DC. The army used tear gas, torches, bayonets, and tanks to get the job done. Three people died. The year was 1932. The president was Herbert Hoover. And the actions taken changed the United States to this day.  More abou...

Let us know what you think about the episode In October of 1871, a mob in Los Angeles descended upon a poor neighborhood and hunted down every Chinese man they could find. The killing spree would last four hours. There were several trials, but many of the witnesses stayed away – and one group, the surviving Chinese, were kept from testifying. Then the entire event was buried so deep in the history...

Let us know what you think about the episode In 1909, a major philanthropist in Missouri died. He was 81 and had a number of health issues. His death might have been natural…. Except…. In the same house a family member had died just weeks before, and another would die weeks later. Fingers pointed to one man. The trials that followed divided a family and left a legacy of doubt that haunts Missouri...

Let us know what you think about the episode In 1926, one invention was changing lives all across America. And in rural Wisconsin it was about to change the life of a young woman who thought she was on the road to her future. When she disappeared, her father did everything to find her, but what he uncovered not only changed his life – it changed everything. More about the show: 🌐 https://thehisto...

Let us know what you think about the episode In 1925 Detroit, Michigan a Black family moved into a White neighborhood. A  mob attacked their home with rocks, and one man was killed. 10 men went to trial for first-degree murder. With Clarence Darrow leading the defense, the attorneys and the NAACP had to convince an all-White jury that defending one's home was not a crime, but a right. Please...

Let us know what you think about the episode Love the movie “His Girl Friday”? It’s tied to a 1920 murder in Chicago where two newspaper men looked behind the headlines to get the real story of a double homicide in the entryway to a home.  Go to our website for more information on the show The History of Murder Executive Producer- Clare O'Donohue www.clareodonohue.com Executive Producer - Mar...

Let us know what you think about the episode If you want love, you might advertise. That was certainly true in 1908 La Porte, Indiana when a Norwegian immigrant went looking for a mate in the newspaper’s Lonely-Hearts section. But it didn’t lead to love, it led to murder – and lots of it. Go to our website for more information on the show The History of Murder Executive Producer- Clare O'Dono...

Let us know what you think about the episode A taste of the new podcast The History of Murder. Our first episode is about two members of the press, and the double murder they helped solve.