Whispers of Wickedness

Big news from the host of the Whispers of Wickedness

Teenage rebelion is nothing new. Hear the story of Bodelia Knockton, who by the age of 21 had served over 40 sentences for drunk and disorderly, assault, criminal damage and theft.

Sidney was very good at what he did. He could produce a bottle of 'first rate' spirit that the public could afford. The only catch, it was illegal.

At the time the nation was gripped by the murder of Mr Briggs on a London train another murder shocked the community of Buckingham when 17 year old Annie Neeson was attacked in the middle of the street.

New Years Eve 1875 did not go as John Wheeler planned when he was held at gunpoint on his way home just outside Guildford. A bitesized look at Victorian crime.

Effie Jane Burgin could have never known the danger she was in when she called as usual at the home of her aunt and uncle in Wellington Street on her evening off. There was no question of who ended Effie's life, or how, the only question was,, was it murder?

John Carter had a string of bad luck when it came to his wives. The first died following a fall down stairs, the second disappeared, ran off with another man, and the third also left unexpectedly after just a few months. Was there more to it?

In the summer of 1851 Charles Johnson was walking his dog on the outskirts of Norwich when it came bounding out of the hedge carrying something in its mouth and ran off back home. When Charles caught up with him the dog presented him with his prize, a human hand. Advisory - This episode contains graphic descriptions.

August 1st 1869 the bodies of Emma Townsend and William De la Motte are found together at the ladies lodgings in New Cross, the day before she is due to depart with her husband and children for America. Is it murder? Is it suicide? What will the investigation uncover?

On 22nd July 1889 young shop assistant Walter Davies starts his day like any other, but before 9:30sm he is dead, his throat cut. Was it robbery gone wrong? And was the man that stood trial for the killing really guilty?

In this Snippets of Wickedness episode we take a look a the life of Phoebe Clarke an unremarkable woman from Warrington who can easily represent thousands of others from across the country in the 1890s through to the 20th Century,

Before internet dating and swiping right if you couldn't find love among your acquaintances the only option was personal adverts and Marriage Agencies. But were they all operating in your best interest? Could you put a price on love and what happens if those that promise to find you your life partner fail to deliver?

When we think of violence in Victorian England we think of the victims as women. Even now domestic violence is more often perpetrated by men against women. But in 1869 James Cook became a victim to just such an attack at the hands of his wife

A 5 minute lighthearted account of how an unnamed woman deceived a rich Californian

In February 1873 PC James Green goes missing while on duty. His body is found 3 days later in the canal. The police have a prime suspect, but did he do it?

In a bitesized edition we look at the story of Abraham West. In the eyes of the law a thief, but was there more to him?

In May 1889 the bodies of Sydney Bolton and William Sutton are exhumed from Brockley Cemetery in Lewisham. Were they poisoned?

On 11th June 1861 Martha Halliday is found dead on her bedroom floor. The only clue to her attacker, a length of cord around her wrists and feet and a bundle of German papers.

Conman? Adulterer? Villan? We follow the twists and turns of the life of Thomas Whitchurch as he criss crosses the country always on the move to escape the scandal that followed him wherever he went.

On 9th August 1859 the body of a young woman was found in a dell hole not far from Summeries Hill. She was still warm, the blood still flowing from a deep wound to her throat, Who had killed Jane Castle and why?

William Watts, alias Brackley Jack made frequent appearances in the courtrooms of Buckingham. Ever fond of a drink we follow his tale as he bounces from court appearance to court appearance. Just one of thousands on Victorian working class men who were famous in their town for many years and are now forgotten.

An introduction to the new podcast, coming soon