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Early America & The Savage Crimes of the Harpe Brothers

Early America & The Savage Crimes of the Harpe Brothers

Author: Ben Cutmore August 25, 2026 Duration: 1:00:03
Dark Histories
History
In the years following the American Revolution, when the country was still uncertain of itself and the frontier was still a place of violence, two brothers carved out a story of fear across the wilderness. When their story was first published in 1824, many people thought it was so terrible it simply had to be fiction, and whilst the facts may have been a little blurred, it sadly had much more truth to it than people wanted to accept. Behind the legend lay a grim and disturbing story of violence and murder and even a twinge of mystery, that is still as troubling today as it ever was.SOURCES Grandjean, Katherine (2026) Kingdom of Devils. Random House, NY, USA. Coates, Robert (1930) Outlaw Years, The: The History of the Land Pirates of the Natchez Trace. Pelican Publishing Co. USA. Hall, James (1833) The Harpe’s Head, a Legend of Kentucky. Key & Biddle, NY, USA. The Poughkeepsie Eagle (1799) Domestic Intelligence. The Poughkeepsie Eagle, Tues, 26 Deb 1799, p3. USA. Kentucky Gazette (1799) Lexington, April 18. Kentucky Gazette, Thurs 18 April 1799, p2, USA. Kentucky Gazette (1799) Lexington, April 25. Kentucky Gazette, Thurs 18 April 1799, p2, USA. The United States Gazette (1804) February 9. The United States Gazette, Tues 13 March 1804, p4. USA ------ For almost anything, head over to the podcasts hub at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠darkhistories.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support the show by visiting our Patreon for bonus episodes and Early Access: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/darkhistories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Dark Histories books are available to buy here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://author.to/darkhistories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dark Histories merch is available here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/3GChjk9⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with us on Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://facebook.com/darkhistoriespodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Or find us on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://twitter.com/darkhistories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/dark_histories/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Or you can contact us directly via email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠contact@darkhistories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or join our Discord community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/cmGcBFf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Dark Histories Butterfly was drawn by Courtney, who you can find on Instagram @bewildereye Music was recorded by me © Ben Cutmore 2017 Other Outro music was Paul Whiteman & his orchestra with Mildred Bailey - All of me (1931). It's out of copyright now, but if you're interested, that was that.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every two weeks, Ben Cutmore invites you into the shadowy corners of our past, where facts blur with folklore and case files remain stubbornly open. Dark Histories is less a lecture and more an exploration, weaving meticulous research into compelling narratives that linger long after the episode ends. You’ll hear detailed accounts of events that defy easy explanation, from long-forgotten crimes and bizarre hoaxes to oddities that shaped societies. The focus is always on the human stories within these enigmatic tales, told with a careful balance of skepticism and an appreciation for the strange. This isn't just about ghosts or monsters, but the very real, often unsettling peculiarities documented throughout history. Each installment of this podcast feels like piecing together a puzzle where some pieces are forever missing, offering no easy answers but plenty to ponder. It’s for anyone who finds themselves drawn to the edges of the map, where the documented record meets the unexplained. Settle in for a journey through the archives of the bizarre and the unresolved, where every story is a reminder that the past is rarely as simple as it seems.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

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Dark Histories
Podcast Episodes
The Willie Starchfield Murder Mystery [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:12
On a cold, grey January afternoon in 1914, a railway carriage travelling through north London shuttled along its route, carrying a grim secret. Beneath a third-class carriage seat lay the body of five-year-old Willie Sta…
Summer Break - Charlotte Riddell: The Open Door [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:38
Hey Everyone! here is a little episode to tide us over til next week when I'll be back to the usual posting schedule. I took a short, mid-season break to sort some bits and pieces out and enjoy a bit of the summer weathe…
William Heirens & The Lipstick Killer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:57
In the early twentieth century, Chicago was a city already familiar with violence and corruption, but in 1946, a new case hit the headlines that introduced a whole new level of shock and scandal to the hardened city resi…
The Miracle Cures of Doctor John Brinkley [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:07
In an era when medicine was still finding its footing, John Romulous Brinkley built an empire on impossible cures, relentless ambition, and astonishing lack of a moral compass. In a shocking display of charm and manipula…
Folk Exorcism & The Cornish Ghost Layers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:50
The early modern period was a rocky time for religion across Europe, fundamental pinnings of everyday life were being questioned and changing, as the reformation shifted authority away from the church. Thoughts on death…
The Unsavoury Tale of the Maryland Snallygaster [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:05
In the fall of 1909, a strange fear settled over the hills and farms of Maryland. Newspapers carried reports of a monstrous winged creature said to stalk the countryside with a host of bizarre descriptions pouring out fr…
Mary Pearcey & The Hampstead Tragedy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:45
In 1890, the murders of Phoebe Hogg and her infant daughter in Hampstead became one of the most widely reported criminal cases of the Victorian period. The investigation quickly centred on Mary Pearcey, whilst the public…
Amazing Stories & The Shaver Mystery [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:35
In 1945, the end of the second world war was approaching, atom bombs were on the way, and science fiction felt more like speculative prophecies than adventure stories. In the pages of pulp magazine, claims that ancient c…
BONUS: 10 Year Q+A [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:25
Hey everyone! Here is there first of the bonus episodes I have lined up to go along with the 10 year anniversary of Dark Histories! Thanks so much if you asked a question, and I hope you find something interesting enough…

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