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News of the Times - Unlocking the vaults of historical crimeAuthor: Robin Coles
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 Language: en-gb Genres: History, True Crime Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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The Wife Killer of Watchfield: The Brutal Case of John Carter (1893)
Episode 584
Sunday, 30 November, 2025
The Wife Killer of Watchfield: The Brutal Case of John Carter (1893)News of the Times | Episode 584 | 1893In 1893, the quiet Berkshire hamlet of Watchfield discovered a horror hiding in plain sight.Rhoda Carter — a young wife with no reason to run — vanished overnight. Her husband, John Carter, insisted she’d gone to tend her pregnant sister. But every part of his story began to crumble.A locked washhouse.A fire burning far too hot for a July night.A nine-year-old boy woken by thuds, cries, and something heavy dragged down the stairs.And beneath the blacksmith’s floor… a shocking discovery that shook the entire county.What no one realised at first was this:Rhoda was John Carter’s third wife — and the last in a disturbing pattern of women who died or disappeared around him.In today’s episode, we follow the investigation step-by-step — from neighbours’ whispered suspicions, to the police search, to the inquest that exposed a brutal killing, and finally to the execution that confirmed Carter as one of Berkshire’s most chilling murderers.This case would become so notorious that John Carter’s wax figure stood for years in Madame Tussaud’s Chamber of Horrors.Along the way, we also explore the extraordinary Victorian reporting that surrounded the case — including a wonderfully outraged commentary from the Illustrated Police News, who never missed a chance for melodrama.So sit back, settle in, and let us take you to Watchfield, Berkshire, 1893 — a place where life moved slowly… until the night it didn’t.👤 Hosted by Robin Coles 📅 New episodes: Monday, Wednesday & Friday 🎞️ Long-form historical crime compilations: Final Sunday of every month ❤️ 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 ☕ Prefer a one-off thank-you? We LOVE a posh coffee indulgence! We tip our top hats: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/newsofthetd🕯 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 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/NewsoftheTimesHistoricalCrimeSupport the showThanks for listening! You can also connect with us onOur YouTube Channel: | https://www.youtube.com/@newsofthetimesOur Facebook Page: | https://www.facebook.com/News-of-the-Times-101108282697405Have 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
