
News of the Times - Unlocking the vaults of historical crime
Welcome to News of the Times!
Step into the shadowed alleyways and gaslit parlours of the 18th and 19th centuries with News of the Times — a meticulously curated journey through historical crime. Each episode draws from authentic reports and court records, bringing you the darkly fascinating tales that gripped Georgian, Victorian, and Edwardian Britain.
With over 500 episodes and counting, we explore true accounts of mischief, murder, and mayhem from days gone by — all delivered with a wry nod and a love for the curious corners of the past.
🕵️ For those with a taste for the peculiar, you may also enjoy our new side project: Volume 1: Slightly Unreliable Memoirs — a whimsical collection inspired by the lives (and occasional misadventures) of our research team. Think cravats, crumpets, and the occasional cactus on the lam. Intrigued? Find it here:
👉 https://ko-fi.com/s/b406f6f11e
News of the Times - Unlocking the vaults of historical crime
The Murder of Mr Blight: A Betrayal Most Foul
A Respectable Gentleman. A Sudden Shot. A Suspect in the Privy
News of the Times | Episode 520 | 1806
When a beloved dockyard figure is murdered in his own parlour, the streets of Rotherhithe whisper of robbery. But what unfolds is far murkier — involving fake drafts, vanishing money, and trousers hoisted just a little too late.
Was Richard Patch simply in the wrong privy at the wrong time… or was he orchestrating a murderous cover-up worthy of the gallows?
💼 Featuring:
Pistols, privies, and peculiar trousers
A maid with nerves of steel
One very dodgy draft
And the most suspicious bout of stomach trouble in legal history
⚖️ Follow the full case, from the first gunshot to the final drop of the gallows — with scandalous testimony, courtroom drama, and a twist you won’t want to miss.
🎩 PLUS: Stay to the end for Further Particulars — a Georgian scandal involving cross-dressing, bigamy, and an impressively vengeful crowd with good aim and a lot of fruit.
👤 Hosted by Robin Coles
📅 New uploads every Monday, Wednesday & Friday
▶️ Related episodes from the vault:
1807: Terrible Thomas Simmons | Ep249
https://youtu.be/So5pZH7EIlw
1802 - 1837: Crimes of the Many William Hills | EP325
https://youtu.be/oRahZEDTRpM
1809-1811: The German Brinvillier - Anna Margaretha Zwanziger | EP352
https://youtu.be/BxOsIxpNCrs
❤️ Support the Channel
Enjoying these tales of historic mayhem and murky mischief? Help keep the archive candle burning:
👉 Patreon — Early access, no ads, full archive, bonus content:
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☕ Prefer a one-off thank-you? We tip our top hats:
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https://ko-fi.com/robinandco
And if donations aren’t your thing, a like, comment, or share is just as precious — and rumour has it, Colin the Cactus blushes green when you hit 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 forgotten and wonderful crime.
Expect forgotten headlines, dusty trial transcripts, and the occasional scandal invo
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
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Have a question or comment? Get in touch with us at newsofthetimespodcast@gmail.com
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