Uncovering The Shocking Truth Behind Edinburgh's 1818 Murder
News of the Times Episode 473 | 1818
In today’s episode, we travel back to Edinburgh in 1818, where the chilling case of a missing 8-year-old boy unfolds. When his body is finally discovered, the gruesome truth is undeniable—he has been in the hands of surgeons, used for dissection.
Regular viewers will know that the Hollywood version of Burke and Hare as mere grave robbers is pure fiction. In reality, they were ruthless serial killers who preyed on society’s most vulnerable, smothering their victims to leave no trace before selling the bodies to medical schools for dissection and the training of future doctors.
But this disturbing case predates Burke and Hare by a full decade and was infamous in its time. Could it have even served as inspiration for their later crimes?
We’ll uncover the background, the crime, the verdict, and the eerie conclusion to this macabre tale from Georgian Scotland.
And if that wasn’t creepy enough, today’s second story takes us to Ireland, where someone has made the grave mistake of cutting down a sacred banshee bush—unleashing the relentless, ghostly wails of a very displeased spirit.
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:
1828-1831: The Burkers - Feeding the Dissectors | Ep32v
https://youtu.be/X6JLDHpEZ1Q
1828 - 1831: The case of Burke and Hare | EP338
https://youtu.be/MDcZhb1TzLo
1777 - 1829: England's Grave Robbers - The Resurrectionists | 148v
https://youtu.be/hv-P9ie6JWM
1667 - 1935: Stories of Being Buried Alive | Ep91
https://youtu.be/nUGkHExcR84

***
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 the Murder of Mary Ann Weems
News of the Times Episode 472 | 1818
Welcome to today’s episode, where we journey back to Cambridgeshire in 1818.
Our story follows Thomas Weems, a young man from the lower social class who believed life had dealt him a cruel hand. After a brief affair with Mary Ann Dixon of Wendy, Cambridgeshire, Mary Ann claimed she was pregnant with Thomas’s child. Under the harsh customs of the time, the parish authorities gave Thomas an ultimatum: marry Mary Ann or face imprisonment.
Reluctantly, Thomas did what was expected—he married her. However, driven by resentment, he soon abandoned Mary Ann and fled to Edmonton, seeking a new life. There, he met another young woman who quickly captured his heart. But bound by his existing marriage, Thomas was unable to pursue this new love.
What followed was a scandal that gripped the nation, making headlines well beyond the local papers—a rare feat in those days. The story gained even more infamy due to the macabre, Frankenstein-like experiments conducted on Thomas’s corpse after his death, giving the tale a chilling twist reminiscent of Mary Shelley’s gothic horror.
In this episode, we’ll unravel the full story: from the troubled romance and the crime that followed, to the shocking verdict and the gruesome fate of Thomas’s body.
And keeping with the eerie theme, our “further particulars” segment explores a chilling case from the same era—a woman whose prophetic dream foretold a real-life murder.
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:
1812 - 1902: A Collection of Stories from Spooky England | Ep62
https://youtu.be/FbpFuL7cjiA
1811: John Williams - The Horrific Ratcliffe Murders | Ep73
https://youtu.be/n-GNtR66WJU
1813 - 1885: A Collection of Botched Executions | Ep77
https://youtu.be/h0qDK09zCKc
1815: The Case of Elizabeth Fenning | Ep90
https://youtu.be/2ywqYVk4OLw
1700-1812: From Pulpit to Gallows – Rogue Reverends | Ep122
https://youtu.be/Qotm2XsyBWM

***
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

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

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

Exploring The Kingsland Murders Of 1890 In Victorian London
News of the Times Episode 471 | 1890
In today's episode, we step back in time to the unforgiving streets of Victorian East End London—a place where crime was a brutal fact of life and gangs ruled with ruthless violence. Long before Jack the Ripper became infamous, the area was already plagued by relentless lawlessness. Newspaper reports from the era reveal a grim reality: murders were so common, they sometimes occurred almost weekly.
In this episode, we uncover the chilling story of the Kingsland Murder, a shocking crime that shook the district in August 1890. It all began in a local pub, where Walter Hargan, a former soldier, had a fateful encounter with a gang of thugs. When the confrontation spilled into the streets, Hargan, in a desperate fight for his life, shot and killed two of his attackers.
Dubbed the "Kingsland Tragedy", the case became a media sensation, filling the papers for weeks with tales of witness intimidation, false testimony, and ordinary people caught in a web of violence and scandal.
Join us as we dive into this gripping true crime tale—a haunting glimpse into the darker side of Victorian London.
And stick around for our "Further Particulars" segment at the end of the episode, where we uncover a bizarre story from 1899 involving Hyde Park Cemetery, a mysteriously buried cat, and a strange connection to ancient hieroglyphics!
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:
1890: The Niagara Murder | EP350
https://youtu.be/q2d3q055EhU
1898: THE OVEN TRAGEDY: | EP363
https://youtu.be/t74jMzxlWLk
1816 & 1898: Deadly Relations: Shocking In-Law Murders | EP365
https://youtu.be/RWwLJ3nLr30
1892: The Case of the Althorp Murder | EP372
https://youtu.be/B9rFKD_Km18
1892: The Victorian International Serial Killer | EP374
https://youtu.be/TkKFL0qKG4A
1873 - 1898: Crime Tales from The Raj | EP376
https://youtu.be/F_Q1Rw-7bXQ
1899: BRITISH Deptford poisoning cases | EP385
https://youtu.be/xzqyTnX4f1I
1892: The Body in the Buttery | EP392
https://youtu.be/Gcf7CT13o2s

***
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 for

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