News of the Times - Unlocking the vaults of historical crime

Bridget Durgan: The Maid, The Murder, and the Smile That Haunted 1867


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Bridget Durgan: The Maid, The Murder, and the Smile That Haunted 1867
News of the Times | Episode 515  | 1867
Domestic Servant or Cold-Blooded Killer? The Gruesome Case That Shocked 1867

In a quiet New Jersey town in 1867, a physician’s wife is found brutally murdered — stabbed, slashed, and burned — and the only suspect? Her Irish maid, Bridget Durgan. With 50 wounds, bite marks, and a suspicious lack of robbery, this was no ordinary Victorian murder…

Was Bridget a jealous killer or the perfect scapegoat in a time steeped in prejudice and paranoia?

Join us as we unravel one of the most horrifying domestic crimes of the 19th century — a case so shocking it made headlines across the Atlantic.

But that’s not all…

In our “Further Particulars,” we uncover the bizarre tale of The Iron Masked Man — a mystery gent pushing a pram across Britain in a wager worth a fortune.
👤 Hosted by Robin Coles

📅 New uploads every Monday, Wednesday & Friday
🎥 Special 2+ hour compilation on the **last Sunday of every month**

▶️ **Related episodes from the vault:**
1861 & 1881: Murders in Cheshire |  Ep260
https://youtu.be/KGeOfdR5ivY
1868: Baroness Killing of a Countess |  EP288
https://youtu.be/eJ-zRG4G8eA
1837 & 1861: Stories of Inconvenient In-Laws |  EP307
https://youtu.be/iPGLnzWXhgs
1860: The Sinister Schoolmaster |  EP314
https://youtu.be/p27_HuNNZEs
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🕯 About News of the Times
We are a small (and mildly chaotic) band of history enthusiasts uncovering the darker corners of Britain’s past. No corporate sponsors, no boardroom edits — just a genuine love of weird and wonderful crime.

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