In 1909, the discovery of a young woman, pale and emaciated, lying lifeless in a bathtub marked the start of an investigation into what seemed like a tragic story with a bleak ending. Just beneath the surface, however, lurked something far darker. As investigators pulled back the curtain, they uncovered a twisted tale of manipulation, greed, and murder. At its heart, the eerie, calculating Wardlaw sisters - A trio of eccentric aunts who wore nothing but black.

SOURCES

Zierold, Norman (1968) Three Sisters in Black: The Bizarre True Case of the Bathtub Tragedy. Open Road Media, NY, USA.

Wardlaw, Joseph G. (1928) Genealogy of the Wardlaw Family. Manuscript, SC, USA.

Brooklyn Eagle (1909) Mysterious Suicide Lived Strangely Here. Brooklyn Eagle, Tues 30 Nov 1909, p2. NY, USA.

The Brooklyn Daily Times (1909) Flatbush Mystery Turns Into A Laughable Farce. The Brooklyn Daily Times, Weds 01 Dec 1909, p1. NY, USA.

New York Times. (1909) Bathtub Mystery No Murder She Says. New York Times, Thurs 02 Dec 1909, p1. NY, USA.

-------

For almost anything, head over to the podcasts hub at darkhistories.com

Support the show by using our link when you sign up to Audible: http://audibletrial.com/darkhistories or visit 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 [email protected]

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

By the time Japanese launched their air attack force on the US Naval base of Pearl Harbour, in Hawaii, raining down a hail of metal from the Pacific sky, the US had already been quietly preparing an Oceania invasion force, flooding troops into hastily prepared Army bases in Eastern Australia. With over a million American troops passing through the country, statistics might suggest that some would have been less desirable guests than others. The frightening reality that at least one would turn out to be a serial killer was a different matter entirely, a reality that certainly seemed to catch both the Americans and the Australians equally by surprise.

SOURCES

Shaw, Ian (2018) Murder at Dusk: How US soldier and smiling psychopath Eddie Leonski terrorised wartime Melbourne. Hachette Australia, Sydney, Australia.

The Argus (1942) Murdered Woman in Doorway. The Argus, Mon 4 May, p3. Melbourne, Australia.

The Sun News Pictorial (1942) Albert Park Doorway Discovery. The Sun News Pictorial, Mon 4 May, p3. Melbourne, Australia.

Brisbane Telegraph (1950) The Brownout Killer. Brisbane Telegraph, Fri 16 Jun, p.5. Brisbane, Australia.

The Kalgoorlie Miner (1942) Melbourne Murder. The Kalgoorlie Miner, Mon 11 May, p.3. Kalgoorlie, Australia.

The Sun (1942) Melbourne Police Hunt Brownout Strangler. The Sun, Wed 20 May, p.3. Sydney, Australia.

Brisbane Telegraph (1942) Leonski Hanged. Brisbane Telegraph, Mon 9 Nov, p.6. Brisbane, Australia.

-------

For almost anything, head over to the podcasts hub at darkhistories.com

Support the show by using our link when you sign up to Audible: http://audibletrial.com/darkhistories or visit 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 [email protected]

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

In the heart of the Pacific in the late 19th century, an expedition planned by Frederick and Elizabeth Walker, turned into a nightmare. In the dead of night, their ship, The Wandering Minstrel, struck the jagged reefs of Midway Atoll, splintering beneath their feet. With no way to escape, they were stranded on a barren, wind-lashed island, surrounded by endless water and lurking predators. Days stretched into weeks and then months, as hunger, fear, and desperation set in. Worse, it appeared they shared the island with an unknown character, whose previous shipping career had almost certainly ended in murder.

SOURCES

Pearl, Matthew (2025) Save Our Souls: The True Story of a Castaway Family, Treachery & Murder. Harper, London, UK.

Liverpool Weekly Courier (1889) Story of the Wandering Minstrel. Liverpool Weekly Courier, Sat 22 June 1889, p2. Liverpool, UK.

Liverpool Mail (1867) Married. Liverpool Mail, Sat 11 May 1867, p7. Liverpool, UK.

-------

For almost anything, head over to the podcasts hub at darkhistories.com

Support the show by using our link when you sign up to Audible: http://audibletrial.com/darkhistories or visit 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 [email protected]

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

In the windswept town of Islandmagee, County Antrim, in the year 1711, fear took root, and hysteria fanned the flames of injustice. Eight women—healers, widows, and outcasts—stood accused of witchcraft, charged with tormenting a young girl through dark sorcery. In an Ireland largely untouched by witch trials, this case became an eerie echo of Salem’s horrors. As whispers turned to accusations, the trial unfolded with damning testimonies, spectral evidence, and the weight of superstition, as women turned to spiders, victims vomited pins and feathers and panic and politics conquered over reason.

SOURCES

Sneddon, Andrew (2013) Possessed by the Devil. The History Press Ireland, Dublin, Ireland.

Sneddon, Andrew (2015) Witchcraft & Magic in Ireland. Palgrave macmillan, London, UK.

Tisdall, William (1775) Account of the Trial of Eight Reputed Witches. The Hibernian magazine, or, Compendium of entertaining knowledge v.5.

-------

For almost anything, head over to the podcasts hub at darkhistories.com

Support the show by using our link when you sign up to Audible: http://audibletrial.com/darkhistories or visit 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 [email protected]

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

Beneath the blazing Californian sun, in a world teetering on the edge of war and wonder, one man dared to ignite the stars. Jack Parsons, a visionary rocket scientist, fused the fiery realms of science and the esoteric, dreaming of propelling humanity into the cosmos. By day, he crafted engines that defied gravity; by night, he conjured rituals steeped in occult lore. A trailblazer, a heretic, and a dreamer, Parsons danced on the razor’s edge of genius and chaos, leaving behind a legacy as explosive as his creations.

SOURCES

Carter, John (1999) Sex & Rockets: The Occult World of Jack Parsons. Feral House, WA, USA.

Crowley, Aleister (1976) Magick in Theory & Practice. Dover Publications. NY, USA.

Parsons, John (1980) The Book of AntiChrist. Isis Research. CA, USA

-------

For almost anything, head over to the podcasts hub at darkhistories.com

Support the show by using our link when you sign up to Audible: http://audibletrial.com/darkhistories or visit 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 [email protected]

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

Whilst I'm finishing up my Winter holiday, i wanted to share with you all one of my favourite shows, from a good friend of mine, Southern Gothic! This episode is a really good example fo what they do over there, and I'm sure it's something you'd like if you're into Dark histories.

If you'd like to subscribe, you can find his Podcast linked here: https://podfollow.com/southern-gothic

Or just search Southern Gothic on your favourite podcast player.

Here's a little blurb about the episode:

According to an old Blues legend, Robert Johnson sold his soul down at the crossroads for the ability to play guitar like no other. This episode tells the tale of Robert Johnson’s life–his many heartbreaks and missteps– and seeks to understand the origin of that infamous piece of folklore.

I hope you enjoy it, and I'll see you real soon with Season 9. Cheers!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Here is Part 2 of this years Christmas Campfire, more of a New Years Campfire, really. I hope you enjoy!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey everyone! Merry Christmas (Eve)! Here is this years Christmas Campfire, or at least the first half of it. Thanks for everyone for taking part, I hope you enjoy some spooky stories and have a wonderful Christmas Day!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The life of Violet Tweedale was one of some fantasy and interest. A Victorian woman, powerful and wealthy in a time when women were not often such, she spent her days writing, socialising and hobnobbing with the elite. Described in some gushing, and highly dated terms as “a woman of many parts. She can paint a landscape and cook a dinner, she can write a book and make a shirt, she can etch a sporting scene and embroider the finest designs, she is a brilliant pianist, and has the reputation of being one of the best political speakers of the present day. With her regular features, white hair, commanding presence, and strong personal magnetism, she is an undoubted power on the public platform.” But this was not all Violet Tweedale was. She was also a keen ghost hunter, and from an early age, had been scouring old estates in the hopes of uncovering the other side, with some degree of success.

SOURCES

Tweedale, Violet (1919) Ghosts I Have Seen: And Other Psychic Experiences. Herbert Jenkins, London, UK. 

Chambers, William (1832) Chambers’ Edinburgh Journal. No. 1. Sat 4 Feb 1932. Edinburgh, Scotland.

Western Mail (1915) Literature. Western mail, Fri 2 April 1915, p44. Perth, Australia.

Prasil, Tim (2019) The Victorian Ghost Hunters Casebook. Brom Bones Books, UK.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Thomas Neill Cream, a physician with a respectable facade, became one of the most notorious figures in Victorian London’s dark history. Under the guise of providing medical care, he secretly dispensed deadly doses of strychnine, preying on vulnerable women, using his sinister charm and cunning to both administer poison and run from the effects. For years Cream operated in the shadows, his victims spanning across countries, borders and seas, until his insatiable thirst for power and cruelty ultimately revealed the monster behind the doctor’s mask.

PART 2 SOURCES

Jobb, Dean (2021) The Case of the Murderous Dr Cream. Algonquin Books, NC, USA.

Hodge, James H. (1994) Famous Trials v.5: Thomas Neill Cream, Neville Heath, John Watson Laurie, Dr.George Lamson, Rattenbury and Stoner. Penguin Crime, London, UK.

Loudon, Irvine (1992) Death in Childbirth: An International Study of Maternal Care and Maternal Mortality 1800-1950. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.

Gloucester Citizen (1891) Painful Story. Gloucester Citizen, Fri 16 Oct 1891, p3. UK.

North Devon Journal (1892) Further Charges Of Blackmailing. North Devon Journal, Thurs 23 June 1892, p6. UK.

Reynolds’s Newspaper (1892) Strange Cases Of Poisoning. Reynolds’s Newspaper, Sun 17 April 1892, p5, London, UK.

Illustrated Police News (1892) The Execution Of Cream. Illustrated Police News, Saturday 19 Nov 1892, p1. London, UK.

-------

For almost anything, head over to the podcasts hub at darkhistories.com

Support the show by using our link when you sign up to Audible: http://audibletrial.com/darkhistories or visit 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 [email protected]

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