Historical True Crime

Lizzie
  • 4.7 (37)
  • True Crime
  • Updated Weekly

Step into the shadows of the past with "Historical True Crime," the podcast that takes you on a gripping journey through some of history's most captivating and chilling criminal stories. Each episode is a meticulously researched exploration into the depths of history, where true crime meets the intriguing backdrop of different eras. From legendary criminals and unsolved mysteries to the groundbreaking investigations that shaped the course of justice, our narratives paint a vivid picture of the darker side of humanity throughout time.

  1. 1d ago

    John Tawell: Murder, Poison and the Electric Telegraph

    When Sarah Hart died suddenly in 1845, suspicion quickly fell on John Tawell. His attempt to leave by train became one of the earliest famous examples of the electric telegraph being used to track a murder suspect. But behind the technological milestone was a complicated case involving poison, disputedforensic evidence, and a woman whose story was often overshadowed by the method used to catch her killer. For more exclusive content, check out our Patreon at patreon.com/historicaltruecrime Source Materials Carol Baxter, The Peculiar Case of the Electric Constable: A True Tale of Passion, Poison & Pursuit (Oneworld, 2013) David Skae, Trial of John Tawell for the Murder of Sarah Hart by Prussic Acid: With Remarks (1845) G. L. Strauss, Remarks and Comments on the Medical and Chemical Evidence Adduced at the Trial of John Tawell (1845) G. Lathom Browne and C. G. Stewart, Reports of Trials for Murder by Poisoning (1883) Iwan Rhys Morus, “‘The Nervous System of Britain’: Space, Time and the Electric Telegraph in the Victorian Age,” British Journal for the History of Science, Vol. 33 (2000) The Sydney Morning Herald, “English News / Trial of John Tawell,” July 11, 1845 The Commercial Journal and Advertiser (Sydney), report on the trial of John Tawell, July 12, 1845 The Melbourne Courier, “Trial of John Tawell,” July 21, 1845 The Australian, “The Convict John Tawell,” July 1845 The Australian, “John Tawell,” July 22, 1845, reprinted from the Hampshire Advertiser The Launceston Advertiser, “Execution of John Tawell,” July 10, 1845 Contemporary 1845 biographical accounts of John Tawell reprinted in the Australian press Andrew Wynter, “The Electric Telegraph,” The Quarterly Review (1854)

    John Tawell: Murder, Poison and the Electric Telegraph

  2. Aug 31

    Mary Ashford: Murder, Acquittal and Trial by Battle

    In 1817, twenty-year-old Mary Ashford was found dead after attending a dance near Birmingham. Abraham Thornton was tried and acquitted of her murder, but the case was far from over. What followed was an extraordinary legal battle involving an ancient appeal of murder, a demand for trial by combat, and a law England had somehow never abolished. Check out our Patreon at patreon.com/historicaltruecrime Source Materials Naomi Clifford, The Murder of Mary Ashford: The Crime That Changed English Legal History (2018) John Cooper, A Report of the Proceedings Against Abraham Thornton at Warwick Summer Assizes, 1817, for the Murder of Mary Ashford; and Subsequently in the Court of King’s Bench (1818) John Fairburn, The Affecting Case of Mary Ashford (1817) John Fairburn, Thornton’s Second Trial: The Whole Proceedings of the Extraordinary Trial of Abraham Thornton, for the Murder of Mary Ashford (c. 1818) Edward Holroyd, Observations upon the Case of Abraham Thornton, Who Was Tried at Warwick, for the Murder of Mary Ashford: Shewing the Danger of Pressing Presumptive Evidence Too Far (1819) Ashford v. Thornton (1818), 1 Barnewall & Alderson 405; 106 English Reports 149 Robert Megarry, A New Miscellany-at-Law: Yet Another Diversion for Lawyers (2005) Michael Lobban, “The Glorious Uncertainty of the Law: Life at the Bar, 1810–1830” 59 Geo. III c. 46 (1819)

    Mary Ashford: Murder, Acquittal and Trial by Battle

  3. Aug 24

    Frank Butler and the Blue Mountains Murder

    In 1896, three men left Sydney on prospecting trips with a man using the name Frank Butler. None returned. When their bodies were discovered, police launched an international manhunt that ended aboard the Swanhilda in San Francisco. This episode follows the Blue Mountains murders, Butler’s many aliases, the investigation, trial, and the questions that still remain about his true identity and possible victims. For more exclusive content check out our Patreon at patreon.com/historicaltruecrime Source Materials Jason K. Foster, The Devil’s Butterfly: Hunting Australia’s First Serial Killer (2024) The Sydney Morning Herald, 1896–1897 The Argus, 1896 The Queenslander, 1897 The West Australian, 1897 The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser, 1897 The Western Mail, 1897 Russell O. Atkinson, “Amazing Story of Blue Mountain Murders,” Townsville Daily Bulletin, 1952

    Frank Butler and the Blue Mountains Murder

  4. Aug 16

    Clara Ford and the Murder of Frank Westwood

    In 1894, eighteen-year-old Frank Westwood was shot at the door of his Toronto home. Weeks later, Clara Ford confessed, then recanted. Her sensational trial raised questions about police interrogation, race, gender and the reliability of theevidence. The murder remains unsolved. Check out our Patreon at patreon.com/historicaltruecrime Source Materials  Patrick Brode, Death in the Queen City: Clara Ford on Trial, 1895  Carolyn Whitzman, Clara at the Door with a Revolver Carolyn Strange, “Wounded Womanhood and Dead Men: Chivalry and the Trials of Clara Ford and Carrie Davies” Barrington Walker, Race on Trial: Black Defendants in Ontario’s Criminal Courts, 1858–1958 Barrington Walker’s review of Death in the Queen City Contemporary coverage from Toronto newspapers including the Globe, Toronto Mail, Toronto World, Toronto Telegram, Evening Star and News Archival court and police material cited in the above works, including Chancellor John Alexander Boyd’s benchbooks, Toronto Police records and the 1871 Canadian census Interviews and published commentary by Carolyn Whitzman discussing her research into Clara Ford’s life and the later mythology surrounding the case

    Clara Ford and the Murder of Frank Westwood

  5. Aug 10

    Buck Ruxton: The Jigsaw Murders of 1935

    In 1935, two mutilated bodies were discovered beneath a bridge near Moffat, Scotland. The victims had been deliberately made difficult to identify, but an extraordinary forensic investigation using anatomy, dental records, photographic superimposition, fingerprints and blood evidence slowly led police back to Dr. Buck Ruxton and his home in Lancaster. Check out our Patreon for bonus episodes, exclusive content and more ways to support Historical True Crime: Patreon.com/HistoricalTrueCrime Source Materials Jeremy Craddock, The Jigsaw Murders R. H. Blundell and G. Haswell Wilson, eds., Trial of Buck Ruxton (Notable British Trials, 1937) John Glaister and James Couper Brash, Medico-Legal Aspects of the Ruxton Case (1937) Bertie James Hammond, “Finger Prints and the Ruxton Murders,” Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, Vol. 43, No. 6 (1953) “Medico-Legal Aspects of the Ruxton Case,” contemporary medical journal review (1938) Capital Punishment UK, “Dr. Buck Ruxton – The ‘Jigsaw Murders’ of 1935” Glasgow Police Museum, “The Ruxton Murders – 1935” Vickie Scullard, “The chilling story of Jigsaw Killer Dr Buck Ruxton – and the Manchester trial that made history,” Manchester Evening News, July 19, 2020 U.S. National Library of Medicine, Visible Proofs: Forensic Views of the Body — Buck Ruxton / Jigsaw Murders case materials

    Buck Ruxton: The Jigsaw Murders of 1935

  6. Aug 3

    Ruth Snyder and Judd Gray: The Double Indemnity Murder

    In 1927, Ruth Snyder and Judd Gray were accused of murdering Ruth’s husband, Albert, after months of planning, an affair and a life insurance scheme. Their trial became a tabloid spectacle, but it was the forbidden photograph taken during Ruth’s execution that would define how the case was remembered. A huge thank you to everyone supporting Historical True Crime on Patreon. Your support helps me continue researching and producing the show. You can find bonus episodes and support the podcast at patreon.com/historicaltruecrime.Source Materials Landis MacKellar, The “Double Indemnity” Murder: Ruth Snyder, Judd Gray, and New York’s Crime of the Century Stevie Simkin, Cultural Constructions of the Femme Fatale: From Pandora’s Box to Basic Instinct People v. Snyder, New York Court of Appeals decision, November 22, 1927 The New York Times, “Mrs. Snyder and Gray Die in Chair,” January 13, 1928 The Washington Times, contemporary coverage of the investigation, trial, appeals, clemency requests and executions Smithsonian Magazine, “The First and Last Time a Photographer Was Allowed in the Electric Chair” TIME magazine archive coverage of the Snyder–Gray case History.com, coverage of Ruth Snyder’s execution and the hidden-camera photograph JSTOR Daily, historical analysis of Ruth Snyder, the tabloid press and the execution photograph Contemporary reporting from the New York Daily News, including the January 13, 1928 front page featuring Tom Howard’s photograph James M. Cain, Double Indemnity, for the case’s later influence on crime fiction and popular culture

    Ruth Snyder and Judd Gray: The Double Indemnity Murder

  7. Jul 27

    The Shark Arm Case: Two Unsolved Murders in Sydney

    In 1935, a tiger shark on display at Sydney’s Coogee Aquarium regurgitated a human arm. The victim was identified as missing man Jim Smith, but the discovery only opened a far more complicated investigation involving insurance fraud, harbour smuggling, conflicting statements, a second murder and several suspects who were ultimately acquitted. Nearly a century later, both deaths remain unsolved. Support Historical True Crime on Patreon at patreon.com/historicaltruecrime. Members get access to bonus episodes and additional historical cases not released on the main feed.Source Materials Phillip Roope and Kevin Meagher, Shark Arm: A Shark, a Tattooed Arm and Two Unsolved Murders Alan J. Whiticker, Twelve Crimes That Shocked the Nation Alex Castles, The Shark Arm Murders Dictionary of Sydney, “Shark Arm Murder 1935” ABC Radio National, “The Shark Arm Case,” featuring Alex Castles Contemporary Australian newspaper coverage of the discovery of the arm, the investigation, the inquest, Patrick Brady’s trial and the murder of Reginald Holmes New South Wales police records, witness statements and court material as reproduced and discussed in the works above

    The Shark Arm Case: Two Unsolved Murders in Sydney

  8. Jul 20

    The Harem Conspiracy: The Murder of Ramesses III

    A conspiracy inside the royal household ended with the murder of Pharaoh Ramesses III. This episode follows the struggle over Egypt’s throne, the trials that followed, and the modern forensic evidence that  revealed how the king died more than three thousand years later. Love Historical True Crime? Support the podcast on Patreon for as little as $2 a month. Your support helps cover the time and costs involved in researching, writing, and producing the show—and you’ll also get access to exclusive Patreon episodes. Join at patreon.com/historicaltruecrime Source Materials A. de Buck, “The Judicial Papyrus of Turin,” The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, Vol. 23, No. 2, 1937, pp. 152–164. Susan Redford, The Harem Conspiracy: The Murder of Ramesses III, Northern Illinois University Press, 2002. Eric H. Cline and David O’Connor, editors, Ramesses III: The Life and Times of Egypt’s Last Hero, University of Michigan Press, 2012. Zahi Hawass, Somaia Ismail, Ashraf Selim, Sahar N. Saleem, Dina Fathalla, Sally Wasef, Ahmed Z. Gad, Rama Saad, Suzan Fares, Hany Amer, Paul Gostner, Yehia Z. Gad, Carsten M. Pusch and Albert R. Zink, “Revisiting the Harem Conspiracy and Death of Ramesses III: Anthropological, Forensic, Radiological, and Genetic Study,” British Medical Journal, Vol. 345, 2012. Alexandre Loktionov, “Convicting ‘Great Criminals’: A New Look at Punishment in the Turin Judicial Papyrus.” Hans Goedicke, “Was Magic Used in the Harem Conspiracy Against Ramesses III? (P. Rollin and P. Lee),” The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, Vol. 49, 1963, pp. 71–92. Mark Collier, Aidan Dodson and Gottfried Hamernik, “P. BM EA 10052, Anthony Harris, and Queen Tyti,” The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, Vol. 96, 2010, pp. 242–247. Erin Blakemore, “Who Killed Ramesses III? How Science Solved an Ancient Egyptian Murder Mystery,” National Geographic, August 2, 2024.

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4.7
out of 5
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About

Step into the shadows of the past with "Historical True Crime," the podcast that takes you on a gripping journey through some of history's most captivating and chilling criminal stories. Each episode is a meticulously researched exploration into the depths of history, where true crime meets the intriguing backdrop of different eras. From legendary criminals and unsolved mysteries to the groundbreaking investigations that shaped the course of justice, our narratives paint a vivid picture of the darker side of humanity throughout time.

Information

  • Creator
    Lizzie
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    195
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Lizzie
  • Show Website
    Historical True Crime

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