#newsofthetimes

The Murderous Court Jester - Frightful Fridays 

News of the Times Episode 252 | 1650's 

In today’s episode, we are in Cumbria sometime in the 17th century, at Muncaster Castle owned by the Pennington family.  A favoured servant, Thomas Skelton, is with them. Historically, many a tale exists of Tom Skelton who could be the original killer clown.  As the court jester, his job was to amuse and sometimes act as confidant to the family he served.  Tom, it would seem, took his role to a new step.  There are many tales of Tom directing passers by that he took a dislike to to their death.  It was said that he had killed hundreds in this way. In this episode we look at the gory murder of the house carpenter who made the double mistake of teasing Tom and having an illicit relationship with the maiden of the house Helwise.   The murderous court jester, Thomas Skelton, is today’s episode of Frightful Fridays. We hope you enjoy the show! 

The Mystery of Room 144 

News of the Times Episode 357  | 1885 

1885 St Louis Missouri. 

An Englishman arrives at a higher-class hotel in St Louis awaiting his English friend who has a number of business appointments around America and Canada.  The two, who had travelled together from Liverpool to Boston appear to be very good friends. The business gentleman is clearly flushed with money.  His good friend who waited for him is much less so. The two dine together and then reception is told the next day that the business gentleman has some appointments but will be back in a week.  He pays for the room 1 week in advance and then departs. 

 A few days later a pervasive smell is coming from the paid room.  With management entering the room, a trunk is found.  The horror inside involves a very decomposed body, naked but for boxers.  

The body is so decomposed it is hard for the hotel staff to tell which gentleman it was. So unfolds an investigation and a chase that will take detectives to San Francisco and Auckland New Zealand, with witness testimony coming from England.  

The story captured the headlines of papers on both sides of the pond and is memorable for the remarkable and persistent detective work of the police at the time. The mystery of room 144 is today’s episode of Murderous Mondays. 

Astounding American True Tales Of Crime 

News of the Times Episode 349 | 1929-1930 

In today’s episode it is 1929 to 1930 Texas.   Coming across one of the stories in our research, we were astounded – and we are hardened long time crime researchers!  This then led us on to more stories – all from Texas and all around the same time! The stories include a man carrying on an affair who attempts to blow up his wife and children.  It is his 4th attempt to kill his wife and his patience is running thin.  Her body parts had to be scraped off buildings. 

Other stories include the 1930’s version of a Miss Universe contestant attempting to kill her bigamous husband, a sailor who has left a death trail around the world.  

Some people collect fridge magnets from each place they visit – he apparently killed in each port. There is also a lawyer who, upon finding out of his daughter’s secret marriage, kills her new husband and then believes he should get off based on old Texas law.   

And we have the young woman, with her friends, who finds out her boyfriend is cheating on her and does her best to both humiliate and punish him - harshly. A round robin of what we think are astounding cases from Texas is today’s episode of Wicked Wednesdays 

The Four-Fold Murders in France 

 News of the Times Episode 347 | 1864 

In today’s episode it is 1864 in the Haute Pyrenees of France and a dilapidated chateau, run by an elderly gentleman with his four servant, remains shuttered unusually.  The gentleman who owns the run down chateau is known as a bit of an eccentric – rumours have it that he is very rich, but he tends to keep himself to himself.  Yet, even though eccentric, the chateau would normally have been open by the servants by now. One of the locals goes in to investigate.  A scene of horror emerges with gruesome, bloody deaths of the three servants and the old man as well.  The cook’s head has nearly been cut off.  The murders are not merely murders, the nature of the destructive wounds would seem to almost indicate a type or frenzied vengeance. 

The four fold murder, as it became known in both France and England, was investigated zealously.  Questions still remain as to whether the police captured the right people or if a miscarriage of justice took place. We investigate the crime the evidence and the conclusion of the Fourfold murder in today’s episode of Sinister Saturdays. 

The Poisoning Prince

 News of the Times Episode 343 | 1875 

1875 Baroda India and tension is mounting between Colonel Phayre, new to his post as the representative of the British Government in the state of Baroda and Malhar Rao Gaekwad, the young Prince Maharaja of Baroda.  

The Prince, who gained succession upon the death of his brother has been using funds earmarked for the area and redirected them to items for his personal use: such as a rug made solely out of pearls and a solid gold cannon. Colonel Phayre, whose role is to ensure the good governance of the area is appalled. As both parties send in official reports to governing bodies complaining of the other, tensions increase.  Then one day, Colonel Phayre’s food is poisoned.  Colonel Phayre recovers, but the search for the culprit is on and suspicions run high that a sitting prince has attempted to take the life of a British governing representative. This explosive case captured the attention of both India and England with attempts to gain justice without creating an international incident or provoking an uprising We take a look at the background, the crime , the outcome and the postscript of the poisoning Prince in today’s episode of Sinister Saturdays. 

The Reverend and the Sunday School Teacher - True Crime Story 

News of the Times Episode 341 | 1911 

1911 Hyannis Cape Cod Massachusetts and 19 year old Miss Avis Linnell is found dead on the bathroom floor of her room at the YMCA.  Miss Linnell was a music student at the college and also worked as a Sunday School teacher. Coincidentally, her long time beau, the Reverend Mr Richeson has just publicly announced his engagement to wealthy heiress Miss Violet Edmands. 

Miss Linnell, found dead and in the family way, is initially suspected to have committed suicide due to her upset over being jilted by the man with whom she was engaged for several years.  But this proves not to be the case. What unfolds is a shocking murder by the very man she and her family trusted and who she thought herself firmly fiancéd to. We take a look at the backstory, the crime and the outcome of the Reverend and the Sunday School teacher in today’s episode of Wicked Wednesdays. 

Evil Allan Mair - a Scottish Murderous Tale

News of the Times Episode 336 | 1843 

1843 Stirling Scotland, and an all too familiar scene has occurred of a husband practically beating his wife to death. But, the case becomes convoluted. 84 year old Allan Mair has a penchant for beating his wife 85 year old wife Mary.  He regularly starves her, and occasionally shuts her in a trunk after a beating when he is particularly angry. 

The neighbours, who hear everything, take pity on Mary and check on her and attempt to feed her when Allan is away. 

Then one evening Mary does not recover and now Allan is looking at a murder charge. Other than the advanced age, this case sounds sadly familiar.  But, unusually, we are given a glimpse into the extraordinary life of Allan and how he ended up into a bitter corrosive man. This is followed by possibly the most dramatic execution we have ever covered. 

The extraordinary life of evil Allan Mair is today’s episode of Wicked Wednesdays. 

Stories of Jealous and Jilted

News of the Times Episode 323 | 1844 & 1878 

Our first case from 1844 was so famous it was commemorated with a memorial of the poor victim. Charlotte, a notably attractive milk maid with a list of men interested in her, works with Mathew Weekes.  Mathew, lame, pockmarked and missing several teeth, has been enamoured with Charlotte for some time.  On a quiet Sunday afternoon, he sees her walking along the path and catches up with her to converse with her.  Charlotte, possibly aware of his admiration for her, begins to recount stories of the men who admire her and who she admires.  Mathew snaps. 

Our second case from 1878 is an all too familiar story of an abusive marriage where the woman, with support from a friend, finally manages to leave.  Her husband, in a fit of jealous rage, plans out who he will kill, how he will kill and then puts his plan into action.  The horrific murder takes place in front of several witnesses.  The question is: is it murder or manslaughter? Two case of murder motivated by jealousy and rejection is today’s episode of wicked Wednesdays.