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 Baffling Case of Margaret Ball
The Baffling Case of Margaret Ball
News of the Times | Episode 527 | 1874
A woman found hanged.
A confession shouted in the street.
And a trial that left more questions than answers...
In this curious case from Victorian Hackney Wick, Margaret Ball — a strong, pregnant mother of two — is discovered hanging from the stair bannisters. Her young lodger, George Coulson, confesses immediately... yet something doesn't add up.
Was it murder?
A tragic suicide?
Or something far stranger?
Drawing from period newspapers and court records, we explore a deeply unsettling case that baffled Victorian investigators and still stirs debate today.
👤 Narrated by Robin Coles
📅 New episodes: Monday, Wednesday & Friday
📚 Related cases from the archive:
1874 - 1878: Infamous Murders in Wales | Ep182
https://youtu.be/s90YzyxOtvg
1874: Family Killings in Ripon | Ep210
https://youtu.be/pl8viuZayD4
1874: FRANCE Murderous Mother Daughter Love Triangle | EP377
https://youtu.be/22HllMIaXH4
1874: The Case of the Vengeful Grandmother | EP489
https://youtu.be/DTRHrVKn1SE
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📖 New! *Slightly Unreliable Memoirs* (Vol 1 & 2)
Humorous 24-page PDF curiosities in the tradition of Wodehouse and Saki — available here:
https://ko-fi.com/s/b406f6f11e
🕯️ News of the Times
Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian crime. Archival sources. No gimmicks.
🕯 About the Channel
We’re an independent team of historical researchers and narrators specialising in 18th to early 20th century British true crime. Each episode is based entirely on archival material — from coroners’ inquests to forgotten newspaper columns.
If you like your true crime thoughtful, atmospheric, and rooted in real records — welcome to the vault.
🎩 — RC & Team
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Fancy a chuckle between corpses? Discover our first lovingly illustrated volume of wildly unreliable memoirs.
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