In 1890, a young machinist named Walter James Lyons committed a shocking act of violence on the streets of Plumstead, southeast London. What drove this 20-year-old to murder a decorated soldier in broad daylight? The answer lies in a moment of rage, a clash of Victorian morality, and a mother’s decision that scandalised an entire community. Leaving the Old Bailey to decide: was Walter truly a killer, or just a son pushed beyond his limits?


💡 Support me on Patreon to get ad-free episodes
https://www.patreon.com/prashsmurdermap

💰 Make a one-off contribution
Every little bit helps! If you'd like to make a one-time donation, you can do so via PayPal here: https://www.paypal.me/prashsmurdermap

🎧 Listen to my new podcast Curious Britain
Explore the mysteries, folklore, and forgotten stories of Britain. Listen now: https://linktr.ee/curiousbritainpodcast

🙏 Thank You!
Your support means the world to me and helps keep Prash’s Murder Map alive. I truly appreciate it!


Music:
"Long Note Three" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
Eternal moment by Farrell Wooten

Sources:
Ancestry
Gloucester Citizen - Tuesday 16 September 1890
Nottingham Evening Post -Tuesday 16 September 1890
Cheltenham Chronicle - Saturday 20 September 1890
Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser - Saturday 27 September 1890
London Evening Standard - Friday 24 October 1890