The Hunt for Dr and Cora Crippen

The Hunt for Dr and Cora Crippen

by | | Crime history, Victorian detectives

I first read about the infamous Dr Crippen when I was researching the work of the Scotland Yard detective, Walter Dew, who wrote about his investigation into this notorious homicide in his memoirs. Since then, I’ve given talks on this fascinating case, which includes...
On the Trail of Florence Maybrick

On the Trail of Florence Maybrick

by | | Crime history

The intriguing case of convicted Liverpool poisoner Florence Maybrick was the first historical murder that drew my attention, after watching a documentary on her story some 20 years ago. I was so fascinated that I started researching Victorian murder for the very...
The Liverpool Poisoners

The Liverpool Poisoners

by | | Crime history

While I was leafing through the Liverpool Watch Committee minutes for my doctoral research, I came across a rather intriguing handbill about the death of Thomas Higgins due to arsenic poisoning. It was tucked away in between the pages of the ledger with no reference...
John Tawell and The Electric Constable

John Tawell and The Electric Constable

by | | Crime history

When Sarah Hart was murdered on New Year’s Day, the pursuit of the prime suspect became the first ever case in which the electric telegraph was used to capture a killer. On 1 January 1845, Mary Ann Ashley of Bath Place, Salt Hill, a suburb of Slough, spotted a man...