Murder or Mercy? The Witney Shooting That Shocked 1884
News of the Times | Episode 516 [1884
In the quiet town of Witney, Oxfordshire, 1884, a desperate son pulls the trigger—and Victorian England must decide whether he is a murderer… or a saviour.

John William Rose claimed he fired to stop his father from killing his mother. The evidence? A terrified family, a long-suffering wife, and a courtroom gripped by the ethics of justice, duty, and family protection.

Was it murder—or mercy?
This shocking tale from Victorian headlines gripped the nation in 1884. Today, we bring it vividly back to life.

💥 Expect:
Domestic horror behind closed doors
A courtroom divided
One of the most sympathetic verdicts in Victorian criminal history

🎩 Further Particulars:
A Liverpool constable loses not just his wife—but also his teaspoons. When love elopes in a different uniform, who does the law pursue first?
👤 Hosted by Robin Coles

📅 New uploads every Monday, Wednesday & Friday
🎥 Special 2+ hour compilation on the **last Sunday of every month**

▶️ **Related episodes from the vault:**
1884 & 1928: Murders in County Durham | Ep239
https://youtu.be/WuEUFfWK7qA
1884: Love, Jealousy, and Murder | EP361
https://youtu.be/KLjcAcYc9ik
1884: The Vienna Murders - Serial Killer Hugo Schenk | EP387
https://youtu.be/oKINEcehrdA
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Every bit helps keep our small team caffeinated and Colin the Cactus in monocles.
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🕯 About News of the Times
We are a small (and mildly chaotic) band of history enthusiasts uncovering the darker corners of Britain’s past. No corporate sponsors, no boardroom edits — just a genuine love of weird and wonderful crime.

Expect forgotten headlines, dusty trial transcripts, and the occasional Victorian scandal involving pie

Hear about our ad-free archive on Patreon – 650+ episodes and counting! 🎩 https://www.patreon.com/c/NewsoftheTimesHistoricalCrime

Fancy a chuckle between corpses? Discover our first lovingly illustrated volume of wildly unreliable memoirs.

Grab it here: https://ko-fi.com/s/b406f6f11e

Support us on Patreon for ad-free early access and exclusive bonus episodes.

https://www.patreon.com/c/NewsoftheTimesHistoricalCrime

Support the show

Thanks for listening! You can also connect with us on
Our YouTube Channel: | https://www.youtube.com/@newsofthetimes
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Have a question or comment? Get in touch with us at newsofthetimespodcast@gmail.com
If you would like to donate, we love coffee! Warmly appreciated :-) | https://www.buymeacoffee.com/newsofthetd

Bridget Durgan: The Maid, The Murder, and the Smile That Haunted 1867
News of the Times | Episode 515 | 1867
Domestic Servant or Cold-Blooded Killer? The Gruesome Case That Shocked 1867

In a quiet New Jersey town in 1867, a physician’s wife is found brutally murdered — stabbed, slashed, and burned — and the only suspect? Her Irish maid, Bridget Durgan. With 50 wounds, bite marks, and a suspicious lack of robbery, this was no ordinary Victorian murder…

Was Bridget a jealous killer or the perfect scapegoat in a time steeped in prejudice and paranoia?

Join us as we unravel one of the most horrifying domestic crimes of the 19th century — a case so shocking it made headlines across the Atlantic.

But that’s not all…

In our “Further Particulars,” we uncover the bizarre tale of The Iron Masked Man — a mystery gent pushing a pram across Britain in a wager worth a fortune.
👤 Hosted by Robin Coles

📅 New uploads every Monday, Wednesday & Friday
🎥 Special 2+ hour compilation on the **last Sunday of every month**

▶️ **Related episodes from the vault:**
1861 & 1881: Murders in Cheshire | Ep260
https://youtu.be/KGeOfdR5ivY
1868: Baroness Killing of a Countess | EP288
https://youtu.be/eJ-zRG4G8eA
1837 & 1861: Stories of Inconvenient In-Laws | EP307
https://youtu.be/iPGLnzWXhgs
1860: The Sinister Schoolmaster | EP314
https://youtu.be/p27_HuNNZEs
--
👉 Patreon – Early access, no ads, and over 650 exclusives with extra content:
https://www.patreon.com/NewsOfTheTimesHistoricalCrime

🌐 Explore the full Robin & Co. Curios Collection on Ko-fi:
Behind-the-scenes whimsy, digital oddities, and more delightful nonsense:
https://ko-fi.com/robinandco

☕ Prefer a one-off thank-you?
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/newsofthetd

Every bit helps keep our small team caffeinated and Colin the Cactus in monocles.

And if donations aren’t your thing, a like, comment, or share is just as cherished — and rumour has it, Colin blushes green when you hit that thumbs up. 🌵
--
🕯 About News of the Times
We are a small (and mildly chaotic) band of history enthusiasts uncovering the darker corners of Britain’s past. No corporate sponsors, no boardroom edits — just a genuine love of weird and wonderful crime.

Hear about our ad-free archive on Patreon – 650+ episodes and counting! 🎩 https://www.patreon.com/c/NewsoftheTimesHistoricalCrime

Fancy a chuckle between corpses? Discover our first lovingly illustrated volume of wildly unreliable memoirs.

Grab it here: https://ko-fi.com/s/b406f6f11e

Support us on Patreon for ad-free early access and exclusive bonus episodes.

https://www.patreon.com/c/NewsoftheTimesHistoricalCrime

Support the show

Thanks for listening! You can also connect with us on
Our YouTube Channel: | https://www.youtube.com/@newsofthetimes
Our Facebook Page: | https://www.facebook.com/News-of-the-Times-101108282697405
Have a question or comment? Get in touch with us at newsofthetimespodcast@gmail.com
If you would like to donate, we love coffee! Warmly appreciated :-) | https://www.buymeacoffee.com/newsofthetd