London: A Murder Verdict in Victorian Court

London: A Murder Verdict in Victorian Court

Author: Shane L. Waters, Wendy Cee, Gemma Hoskins February 24, 2026 Duration: 29:16

A Victorian courtroom drama unfolds as a chilling murder verdict is delivered in 19th-century London, a place of evolving laws and societal norms. This episode, nestled in the heart of Season 38's exploration of 'The Rugeley Poisoner,' uncovers the judicial outcomes and societal impact of murder trials during this transformative era. Episode 3 follows the toxic trail left by the infamous Dr. William Palmer. This physician, perceived by many as a respectable figure, secretly loitered in deceitful practices. Before accusations shadowed over him, Palmer was known for his medical expertise and charm, captivating the trust of many. This case's significance lies in its key role in shaping forensic science and challenging perceptions of professionalism and truth within Victorian society. It underscored the era's limitations in legal frameworks concerning evidence and the interpretation of scientific data. Case details chart Palmer's methodical approach to eliminating those around him, using poison, an agent of death that walked hand in hand with mystery. As the case unravelled, evidence pointed to a methodical plot built on small errors and oversight, leading detectives through a maze of deceit. The Victorian era bridged the old and new in terms of judicial practice. Emerging scientific techniques clashed with antiquated beliefs, reflecting broader social unrest amidst rapid industrialization and class divisions. Listeners will enter the Victorian courtrooms, visualizing the tension-laden trials through dramatizations and expert narratives. Insights into legal and social standards will illuminate the blurred lines between truth and justice in a rapidly changing world. --- Support Foul Play: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/foulplaypodcast Website: https://www.mythsandmalice.com/show/foul-play/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/foul-play-crime-series/id1525832703 Follow us: Instagram: @foulplaycrimeseries Twitter: @foulplaypod



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Step back into an era of flickering gaslight and whispered secrets, where justice was often as murky as the London fog or as stark as a frontier town’s saloon. Foul Play: A Historical True Crime Podcast exhumes long-forgotten criminal cases from the 1800s and early 1900s, meticulously piecing together stories that newspapers sensationalized and time nearly erased. Hosts Shane Waters, a veteran whose work helped shape the genre, and Wendy Cee, alongside researcher Gemma Hoskins, guide you through each meticulously researched season. They focus on a single, complete narrative, building the tension from the crime itself through the investigation and into the courtroom’s hushed drama. You’ll hear more than just the facts; you’ll get a sense of the societal pressures, the legal limitations, and the human lives entangled in each historical moment. This isn't about quick summaries-it's a deep, immersive audio experience that treats the past with the gravity it deserves. The podcast connects the dots using original documents, period accounts, and a clear-eyed analysis that separates legend from truth. It’s for anyone who wonders about the real stories lurking in the shadows of history, told with a journalist’s precision and a storyteller’s care for the victims and the complexities of their times. Listen to Foul Play for a compelling journey where every clue matters and history itself is the most important character.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Foul Play: A Historical True Crime Podcast
Podcast Episodes
1898 America: The Burning of Baker, McGeisey & Sampson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:24
Season 40: America's 250th Anniversary -- 50 states, 25 double-feature episodes. Two fires burned in 1898America. One in South Carolina, where a mob murdered a Black postmaster and his two-year-old daughter. Onein Indian…
Rhode Island & North Dakota: Who Killed the King? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:23
Season 40: America's 250th Anniversary -- 50 states, 25 double-feature episodes. This is Episode 13, coveringRhode Island and North Dakota with two true crime cases from the 1880s and 1890s that circle the samequestion:…
Hawaii and Louisiana: The Plantation's Shadow, 1887-1889 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:02
This episode is part of Season 40: America's 250th Anniversary -- 50 states, 25 double-feature episodesexploring the cases that shaped American history from every corner of the country.Hawaii, 1889. A Japanese shopkeeper…
Wyoming and New York: Children in the Dock, 1892 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:55
Season 40: America's 250th Anniversary — fifty true crime stories from fifty states. Wyoming, 1892. A fiftee-n-year-old orphan train rider murders two young men in a boxcar and becomes the first person executed bythe sta…
New Mexico & Illinois: Two Political Murders, No Justice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:04
Season 40: America's 250th Anniversary. Fifty states. Fifty crimes. Two hundred and fifty years of Americanhistory, told through the true crime cases that other shows leave behind.New Mexico, 1892. A former sheriff walks…
The Keepers, Where Are They Now [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:36
Shane Waters and Gemma Hoskins close out their reunion by going down the list of the people who appeared in the Netflix documentary The Keepers, where they are today, who is still fighting, who has found peace, and who t…
The Suspects and the Silence [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:49
Shane Waters and Gemma Hoskins continue their first sit-down in over a year, working through the second half of the questions listeners submitted through the show's Facebook community. This is the follow-up to "The Mary…
California & Alabama: When the Mob Decided to Be the Law [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:37
This episode contains descriptions of murder, mob violence, historical racial violence, and the execution of a convicted killer. If you need to skip this content, advance past the 18:00 mark. Support resources are listed…
New Hampshire & Colorado: Two Forgotten Murders, 1886-1897 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:29
This episode contains discussions of murder, execution, racial violence, and a botched public hanging. If you need to skip any section, the chapter markers below will help you find your way around. Support resources are…
Who Killed Sister Cathy, The Mary Statue and Unanswered Questions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:03
Shane Waters and Gemma Hoskins sit down together for the first time in over a year for a wide-ranging conversation about the unsolved 1969 murder of Sister Catherine Ann Cesnik in Baltimore, Maryland. Known to millions t…