The Case of The Vengeful Grandmother
News of the Times Episode 489 | 1874
Frances Stewart, 42, lives with her daughter, son-in-law, and their one-year-old child. But life under one roof has become tense. Frances, whispered to have a drinking problem, has worn out her welcome.

The young family makes a decision: they’re moving to new lodgings—and Frances is not coming with them.

What happens next is shocking.

Determined to express her heartbreak in the most devastating way, Frances disappears from the house… taking her infant grandson with her.

Left behind is a chilling note:
“We shall soon be in the water.”

What begins as a suspected abduction quickly unravels into something far more harrowing. Frances is eventually found—but she refuses to reveal where the child is. Not to the authorities. Not even to her own daughter.

Days drag on. There are whispers. Possible sightings. Then—silence.
Until the River Thames speaks.

This tragic case gripped Victorian England and was considered one of the first of its kind.

In this episode, we explore the heartbreaking background, the crime itself, and the dramatic courtroom verdict.

And stay tuned for our “Further Particulars” case, where we leap ahead to 1894—and the astonishing tale of a real live mermaid said to have been caught by accident.
If you're in the United States, you might just find her… at the Smithsonian Museum. We tell the strange and salty story.😉
Hosted by Robin Coles.

#NewsofTheTimes #truecrimedocumentary #truecrime #truecrimepodcast #victorian #history

Patreon: patreon.com/NewsoftheTimesHistoricalCrime
YouTube Chronicle of the Times: @chronicleofthetimes2024

EPISODE
If you like this, here are links to some other recommended videos:
1872: The Victorian Borgia- Lydia Sherman | EP353
https://youtu.be/mHSeZwy02N0
1875: Victorian Strychnine Stories | EP354
https://youtu.be/AziIspnr9KA
1877: Case of the Body in Parts - The Case of the River Packages | EP371
https://youtu.be/I2FPE4NrSqE
1878: Murder in Edinburough | EP375
https://youtu.be/zpPiP7C6nuY
1873 - 1898: Crime Tales from The Raj | EP376
https://youtu.be/F_Q1Rw-7bXQ
1874: FRANCE Murderous Mother Daughter Love Triangle | EP377
https://youtu.be/22HllMIaXH4
1877: The Case of Serial Killer Count De Tourville | EP379
https://youtu.be/C-2LGyCAMqw

***
Who are News of the Times?
We are an independent group of historians, researchers , and actor with a passion for historical crime!

Unlocking the Vaults of Historical Crime, your gateway to a captivating journey through the darker pages of history. We dive deep into the annals of crime, unearthing forgotten storie

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

Murder at Plummers Plain House
News of the Times Episode 488 | 1927
In today’s episode, we journey to 1927 Sussex—where autumn’s quiet beauty masks something far more sinister.

At a peaceful country home, a brutal attack leaves a young woman fighting for her life... and her brother accused of an unthinkable crime.

James Gillon, a gardener from Scotland, allegedly turned on his sister with a knife and razor—over a breakfast dispute and a trip to Brighton. The result? A severed spine... and a family shattered.

What truly happened that morning?
And how did a sibling bond twist into something so violent?

In today's emd of episode “Further Particulars” segment, we are in Hyde Park, 1900—where free speech meets fierce resistance.

A lone clerk preaches on his interpetation of religion at Speakers’ Corner… and nearly pays the price for his words.

Two crimes. Two very different scenes. One haunting thread: when ordinary moments spiral into the extraordinary.
Hosted by Robin Coles.

#NewsofTheTimes #truecrimedocumentary #truecrime #truecrimepodcast #victorian #history

Patreon: patreon.com/NewsoftheTimesHistoricalCrime
YouTube Chronicle of the Times: @chronicleofthetimes2024

EPISODE
If you like this, here are links to some other recommended videos:
1384 to 1922: Dark International Murder Cases from 1384 to 1922 | EP386
https://youtu.be/7P8dVj2lEp8
1924: The Byfleet hotel Murder | EP413
https://youtu.be/UH5xnUF5kpk
1888 - 1925: A Round Robin of December Murders | EP417
https://youtu.be/wnIVPmRuEUY
1924: The Shocking Chicken Farm Case: Murder Most Fowl | EP418
https://youtu.be/zPqmEb8BBrs
1922: A True Case of Murder - Scotland Yard Casebook | EP430
https://youtu.be/jo4AcvPbLfk
1926: Case of The Dykebar Murder Affair | EP437
https://youtu.be/XvHNAVkad6Y

***
Who are News of the Times?
We are an independent group of historians, researchers , and actor with a passion for historical crime!

Unlocking the Vaults of Historical Crime, your gateway to a captivating journey through the darker pages of history. We dive deep into the annals of crime, unearthing forgotten stories, unsolved mysteries, and notorious criminals from the past.

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

The Case of Backstabbing Henry Bevan
News of the Times Episode 487 | 1887
In today’s episode, we journey back to the year 1887—Crewe, Cheshire. A modest labourer, Henry Griffiths, returns home for a quiet midday meal… only to stumble upon a scene of unimaginable horror.

His wife lies savagely beaten, ribs shattered and torn from her spine—as though someone had trampled her with brutal intent. Beside her, nine-year-old Mary—his niece—clings to life, battered nearly beyond recognition, the fireplace tongs used in the attack now twisted and warped from the force.

But before slipping once more into unconsciousness, young Mary names her attacker: her own half-brother, Henry Bevan.

Today, we peel back the layers of this chilling case: the crime, the investigation, the motives, and the verdict that followed.

And in our ‘Further Particulars’—we jump ahead to 1910, where whispers are circulating in government halls… Nurses, it seems, are offering massages of a most unorthodox kind—and those receiving such pleasures are finding themselves the targets of a cunning blackmail scheme…
Hosted by Robin Coles.

#NewsofTheTimes #truecrimedocumentary #truecrime #truecrimepodcast #victorian #history

Patreon: patreon.com/NewsoftheTimesHistoricalCrime
YouTube Chronicle of the Times: @chronicleofthetimes2024

EPISODE
If you like this, here are links to some other recommended videos:
1888 - 1925: A Round Robin of December Murders | EP417
https://youtu.be/wnIVPmRuEUY
1888: The Huddersfield Murder | EP428
https://youtu.be/5wdWCcatYKc
1888: Case of the 1888 Marylebone Murder Mystery | EP434
https://youtu.be/JgLiiT-f_xY
1883 & 1927: The Curious Case of James Kelly - | EP441
https://youtu.be/JlPJSl6iTlY
1881: The Case of the Cambridge Killing | EP448
https://youtu.be/lZvxvOwnjPA
1881: A Hatchet, A Gunshot & A Widow’s Denial | EP450
https://youtu.be/c9vHh0p9wb0

***
Who are News of the Times?
We are an independent group of historians, researchers , and actor with a passion for historical crime!

Unlocking the Vaults of Historical Crime, your gateway to a captivating journey through the darker pages of history. We dive deep into the annals of crime, unearthing forgotten stories, unsolved mysteries, and notorious criminals from the past.

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

Murderous Mary Brophy
News of the Times Episode 486 | 1886
In today’s episode, we journey back to 1886 Ireland, where a bitter sibling rivalry within the struggling Brophy family takes a shockingly violent turn.

The Brophys are a large, impoverished family—two older sons, two younger boys, a daughter, and 23-year-old Mary Brophy, the eldest. But it’s Mary’s turbulent relationship with her 18-year-old brother Timothy that becomes antagonistic —and ultimately, horrifying.

Their animosity isn'ta secret. The two are known to come to blows—witnessed not only by family, but by neighbors as well.

But then comes the night everything changed resulting is one of the most brutal crimes the community would ever witness.

Timothy Brophy was found with 18 stab wounds, his tongue cut out, and multiple blows from both hatchet and knife. A scene so savage, no local crime since has rivaled its sheer horror.

We delve into this chilling tale of hatred, revenge, and familial violence, a case that haunted the region for decades.
https://youtu.be/0v5BCjOFEj8
And don’t miss today’s End of Episode Further Particulars—a peculiar case where fashion nearly leads to death. But the question remains: who’s really to blame?
Hosted by Robin Coles.

#NewsofTheTimes #truecrimedocumentary #truecrime #truecrimepodcast #victorian #history

Patreon: patreon.com/NewsoftheTimesHistoricalCrime
YouTube Chronicle of the Times: @chronicleofthetimes2024

EPISODE
If you like this, here are links to some other recommended videos:
1881: The Mysterious Case of Sarah Duckett | EP359
https://youtu.be/EY23YkuYu5Y
1880: The Shocking Case of Miss Maclean | EP360
https://youtu.be/0v5BCjOFEj8
1884: Love, Jealousy, and Murder | EP361
https://youtu.be/KLjcAcYc9ik
1889: The Mystery of the Hansom Cab Murder | EP368
https://youtu.be/OObOZ1J_-Mk
1884: The Vienna Murders - Serial Killer Hugo Schenk | EP387
https://youtu.be/oKINEcehrdA
1887: The Horrific Case of Lydia Green | EP395
https://youtu.be/mITEfcw9T4U
1880 - 1885: Disturbing Cases of Severed Heads | EP397
https://youtu.be/2y4MQWn4eV8
1808 & 1888: The Butcher Bichel - The Butcher and the Ripper | EP408
https://youtu.be/NL-BKDIkpYk

***
Who are News of the Times?
We are an independent group of historians, researchers , and actor with a passion for historical crime!

Unlocking the Vaults of Historical Crime, your gateway to a captivating journey through the darker pages of history. We dive deep into the annals of crime, unearthing forgotten stories, unsolved mysteries, and notorious criminals from the past.

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

A Derby Poisoning Case Whodunit
News of the Times Episode 485 | 1881
Today’s episode brings something a little different for our fantastic subscribers and curious newcomers.

We’re heading back to Derby, 1881, where a landlady makes a chilling accusation: she believes one of her lodgers is being poisoned—by her own husband.

So, what truly happened?
Was the wife truly being poisoned?
Is the husband behind it?
Or... could this be a clever scheme by the wife herself—perhaps to win back the attention of a straying spouse?

We set the scene, review the evidence, and then hand it over to you, our brilliant News of the Times jury. Can you guess how the Victorian court ruled?

While you’re mulling over your verdict, stick around for our End of Episode Furtehr Particulars—a shocking tale of an attempted (and eventually successful) murder of a bridegroom at the altar. It’s one of the more unusual stories from the historical headlines!

Finally, we’ll return to reveal the real verdict in the Derby Poisoning Case.
Did you guess right? Let us know in the comments!
Hosted by Robin Coles.

#NewsofTheTimes #truecrimedocumentary #truecrime #truecrimepodcast #victorian #history

Patreon: patreon.com/NewsoftheTimesHistoricalCrime
YouTube Chronicle of the Times: @chronicleofthetimes2024

EPISODE
If you like this, here are links to some other recommended videos:
1888: The Huddersfield Murder | EP428
https://youtu.be/5wdWCcatYKc
1888: Case of the 1888 Marylebone Murder Mystery | EP434
https://youtu.be/JgLiiT-f_xY
1883 & 1927: The Curious Case of James Kelly - | EP441
https://youtu.be/JlPJSl6iTlY
1881: The Case of the Cambridge Killing | EP448
https://youtu.be/lZvxvOwnjPA
1881: A Hatchet, A Gunshot & A Widow’s Denial |EP450
https://youtu.be/c9vHh0p9wb0
1884 - 1887: Deadly Love Turns Into Murder In Shocking True Crime Cases | EP453
https://youtu.be/aCirfAOQoHs
1881: Jealousy and Murder Near St Columb || Exploring a Deadly Case of Jealousy and Murder | EP455
https://youtu.be/Oxo-TuZLHXw
1880: the Harley Street Mystery | EP457
https://youtu.be/F6V2OuSfi68
st=PLuj5alJ9fVqviNyb9w-Xabw6nD1_ES2r7
***
Who are News of the Times?
We are an independent group of historians, researchers , and actor with a passion for historical crime!

Unlocking the Vaults of Historical Crime, your gateway to a captivating journey through the darker pages of history. We dive deep into the annals of crime, unearthing forgotten stories, unsolved mysteries, and notorious criminals from the past.

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

The Sinister Mr Salmon
News of the Times Episode 484 | 1900
Today, we take you back to East London in the year 1900, to the working-class district of Bow—a modest but respectable community.

At the heart of our story is Lucy Smith, her husband, and their young daughter, living a seemingly peaceful and content life. In a gesture of generosity, the couple invites Lucy’s down-on-his-luck cousin, Sampson Salmon, to lodge with them. Mr. Smith even helps him find work.

But goodwill soon turns to terror.

Sampson’s behavior takes a dark and disturbing turn—his mood swings intensify, his threats grow more violent, and it becomes clear that a dangerous obsession with Lucy is at play. Fueled by alcohol and jealousy, Sampson is ultimately forced out of the house.

The family believes the nightmare is behind them.
But it’s not.

Sampson returns—this time with a murderous intent that shocks even the most hardened detectives. What follows is a gruesome crime, a severed head, and a trial that hinges on the question of guilt... or insanity.

Will the jury believe Sampson was mad—or will he be held fully accountable?

And stay tuned for our "Further Particulars" segment at the end of the episode, where we uncover a chilling tale of a blood-spattered phantom with a knack for recovering lost objects... in a haunted house!
Hosted by Robin Coles.

#NewsofTheTimes #truecrimedocumentary #truecrime #truecrimepodcast #victorian #history

Patreon: patreon.com/NewsoftheTimesHistoricalCrime
YouTube Chronicle of the Times: @chronicleofthetimes2024

EPISODE
If you like this, here are links to some other recommended videos:
1881 & 1897 & 1905: Till Death Do Us Part – Wedding Day Murders | EP345
https://youtu.be/9Dq3D_iDvDc
1909-1921: Gentleman Girard - The Bio Serial Killer | EP351
https://youtu.be/b-kbIEATVAE
1906: SYC Camberley Outrage | EP362
https://youtu.be/ssIbjUkjCP0
1908: SYC The luard case mystery - syc kindle page 93 | EP366
https://youtu.be/nofXENXN2Z4
1905: SYC: Deadly Devereaux - The Trunk Murderer | EP394
https://youtu.be/t9MUvoDMl4w
1903: Marston Moor Murders | EP403
https://youtu.be/GmxBwDEUz1M

***
Who are News of the Times?
We are an independent group of historians, researchers , and actor with a passion for historical crime!

Unlocking the Vaults of Historical Crime, your gateway to a captivating journey through the darker pages of history. We dive deep into the annals of crime, unearthing forgotten stories, unsolved mysteries, and notorious criminals from the past.

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

The Killing in Couty Mayo
News of the Times Episode 482 | 1881
n today’s episode, we journey to Balla, County Mayo, in the year 1881 — a quiet Irish village soon to be rocked by a brutal and deeply disturbing crime.

The body of Edward Lavelle, a local laborer recently returned from England, is discovered — his lifeless form bearing the marks of savage blows and multiple stab wounds, believed to be inflicted with a hay pitchfork. The attack is nothing short of frenzied.

But what shocks the community most? The alleged culprits: Edward’s own wife, Mary Lavelle, and their two children, Edward and Catherine.

In this episode, we uncover the chilling details of the murder, the desperate attempts to cover it up, and the investigation that followed. It’s a tale of betrayal, family secrets, and a crime that left a lasting stain on a small Irish town.

And in today’s Further Particulars segment — a bit late for Good Friday — we bring you a charming and unexpected tale from Wye: the story of an orphaned wild rabbit who becomes a local celebrity with a taste for cake and stout. Yes, you heard that right — cake and stout. A delightful Edwardian curiosity to lighten the mood after https://youtu.be/z1jvqgo9dJUtoday’s grim tale.
Hosted by Robin Coles.

#NewsofTheTimes #truecrimedocumentary #truecrime #truecrimepodcast #victorian #history

Patreon: patreon.com/NewsoftheTimesHistoricalCrime
YouTube Chronicle of the Times: @chronicleofthetimes2024

EPISODE
If you like this, here are links to some other recommended videos:
1550s - 1911: Murder and Mysteries | EP283
https://youtu.be/V1DBDvjFqPk
1917: SYC: The Regent Square Murder | EP301
https://youtu.be/7j6QKTA751U
1911: Scotland Yard Casebook: The Seddon Case | EP331
https://youtu.be/wkyfr9cgSwY
1912: The Reverend and the Sunday School Teacher | EP341
https://youtu.be/dJDnwXjKgxE
1919: SYC: The Infamouse Rutherford Case | EP355
https://youtu.be/M01tNoGPl2A
1913: The Case of the Discovered Teeth | EP364
https://youtu.be/z1jvqgo9dJU
1916: The Playboy Murderer: Murder in American High Life | EP384
https://youtu.be/e0Z7vLZnS88
1915: SYC: The Horrifying Hyde Park Murder | EP404
https://youtu.be/GOghvgjymtY
1911: The Murder of "Lord" George Sanger | EP416

https://youtu.be/dYiTOTj7wII
1919: The Sandhills Christmas Tragedy - The Killing of Kitty | EP422
https://youtu.be/dWkkbNUtavo

***
Who are News of the Times?
We are an independent group of historians, researchers , and actor with a passion for historical crime!

Un

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

Tragic Love Story Unfolds at Blackburn Mill in 1912
News of the Times Episode 481 | 1912
Welcome to today’s episode. We’re going back to the year 1912, in the bustling industrial town of Blackburn, Lancashire — a place known for its weaving mills and working-class spirit.
Our story centers on 18-year-old Alice, a young mill worker who has been seeing 22-year-old Arthur, her co-worker, for just over a month. Their courtship seemed innocent enough — until Alice decides she no longer feels the same way. What follows is a devastating turn of events that shook the town to its core.
This wasn’t just any breakup. It led to a crime so tragic that it captured national attention, with locals rallying behind young Arthur and even a petition reaching the hands of Queen Mary herself. But would royal intervention be enough?
We’ll explore the background, the relationship, the crime, and the shocking aftermath of a love story gone horribly wrong.
And stay tuned for our “Further Particulars” segment at the end of the episode, where we head to Wales — also in 1912 — for a light-hearted courtroom tale involving a town crier and some particularly wicked chickens. It’s a case full of Edwardian charm, rural eccentricity, and a good dose of humor.
Hosted by Robin Coles.

#NewsofTheTimes #truecrimedocumentary #truecrime #truecrimepodcast #victorian #history

Patreon: patreon.com/NewsoftheTimesHistoricalCrime
YouTube Chronicle of the Times: @chronicleofthetimes2024

EPISODE
If you like this, here are links to some other recommended videos:
1913: Marcel Redureau - Child Mass Murderer | Ep244
https://youtu.be/042uBCTnHD8
1871 - 1910: Scorned: Jilted Partners and Vengeance | Ep264
https://youtu.be/IyU0PpewCD0
1911 - 1929: The Village of Assassins - Frau Fazekas | Ep278
https://youtu.be/TcWn9EDXebg
1550s - 1911: Murder and Mysteries | EP283
https://youtu.be/V1DBDvjFqPk
1917: SYC: The Regent Square Murder | EP301
https://youtu.be/7j6QKTA751U
1911: Scotland Yard Casebook: The Seddon Case | EP331
https://youtu.be/wkyfr9cgSwY
1912: The Reverend and the Sunday School Teacher | EP341
https://youtu.be/dJDnwXjKgxE
1919: SYC: The Infamouse Rutherford Case | EP355
https://youtu.be/M01tNoGPl2A
1913: The Case of the Discovered Teeth | EP364
https://youtu.be/z1jvqgo9dJU

***
Who are News of the Times?
We are an independent group of historians, researchers , and actor with a passion for historical crime!

Unlocking the Vaults of Historical Crime, your gateway to a captivating journey through the darker pages of history. We dive deep into the annals of crime, unea

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