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 Shocking Case of James Tucker Who Brought a Gun to His Own Arrest
The Shocking Case of James Tucker Who Brought a Gun to His Own Arrest
News of the Times | Episode 530 |1854
London, 1854. A disgraced salesman. A loaded pistol. A police station.
In this astonishing News of the Times episode, we follow the jaw-dropping case of James Tucker—a travelling conman who arrived at the station to answer charges of embezzlement… and instead opened fire.
What follows is one of the most brazen attempted murders in Victorian history, featuring:
A courtroom showdown with life and death on the table
A master betrayed by the very man he tried to reform
Bullet moulds, Spanish knives, and a pistol fired inside a police station
A sentence so severe it amounted to social erasure
But that’s not all. We also travel to 1893 Edinburgh, where a 20-year-old commercial traveller insists he legally married a 70-year-old widow (now in an asylum). Was it love—or something more sinister?
⚖️ Two shocking stories. One darkly compelling episode.
💥 Perfect for fans of Victorian crime, moral ambiguity, and the occasional rogue moustache.
👤 Narrated by Robin Coles
📅 New episodes: Monday, Wednesday & Friday
📚 Related cases from the archive:
•1850 & 1890: Two Cases of Killer Catherines | EP280
https://youtu.be/T4QzfoGk6DU
1775 & 1851: Stories of Murdered Mistresses | EP310
https://youtu.be/DDXmfejiVOo
1851: THE TOLLESBURY MURDER | EP320
https://youtu.be/zAyZBTR87fE
1851: The Disturbing Case of Mary Emily Cage | EP390
https://youtu.be/jvM8alfWztY
1851 & 1875: Cases of Double Black Widows | EP464
https://youtu.be/k9YYxpoQ9Go
❤️ Support Independent History
If you enjoy our ad-free, archive-based storytelling, help us keep the lantern lit:
👉 **Patreon** – Full archive, early access, bonus compilations (and it keeps us independent):
https://www.patreon.com/NewsOfTheTimesHistoricalCrime
🕯 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
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
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