Tea Time Crimes

Content warning: This episode contains suicide ideation and mentions of suicide. 

It’s the turn of the twentieth century in North Carolina and Nell Cropsey has gone missing.  All fingers point to Jim Wilcox, her ex-boyfriend who was the last person to see her alive. But the story isn’t that simple: there are fake letters, strange sightings, and too many rumors to count. Follow along and let us know what you think happened to Nell Cropsey. 

Tea of the Day: Fairie Tea 

Theme Song by Brad Frank

Sources:

• Nell Cropsey and Jim Wilcox- The Chill of Destiny by William E. Dunstan
• The Mystery of Beautiful Nell Cropsey: A Nonfiction Novel by Bland Simpson
• https://www.americanhauntingsink.com/nell-cropsey
• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/40129598/ella-maud-cropsey
• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/107911521/james-wilcox
• https://northcarolinaghosts.com/coast/ghost-nell-cropsey/
• https://www.dailyadvance.com/news/local/a-proper-funeral-cropsey-murder-figure-given-funeral-80-years-later/article_2cf0ff2c-188d-5e13-a4ba-be24344c069f.html
• https://www.dailyadvance.com/features/local/author-wilcox-wrongly-convicted-of-cropsey-murder/article_f17c6c23-f236-58fc-8a24-24b526b451df.html
• https://www.dailyadvance.com/features/local/dunstans-new-book-about-nell-cropsey-mystery/article_fe7c18cd-117b-5e32-bb1f-aa43f2be4bab.html
• https://medium.com/murder-mystery-and-mayhem-in-the-old-north-state/the-murder-of-nell-cropsey-a58d6f155d50
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIEpNdzrOKs
• Salisbury Evening Post - 05 Feb 1913, Wed · Page 8 https://www.newspapers.com/image/80503805/
• Omaha World-Herald - 22 Dec 1901, Sun · Page 6 https://www.newspapers.com/image/859691748/
• The Daily Free Press - 10 Jan 1903, Sat · Page 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/76115627/
• The Greensboro Record - 15 Feb 1908, Sat · Page 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/936415598/
• Salisbury Evening Post - 25 Mar 1915, Thu · Page 6 https://www.newspapers.com/image/80508975/
• Birmingham Post-Herald - 12 Jan 1902, Sun · Page 14  https://www.newspapers.com/image/882679700/
• The Sunbury American - 28 Mar 1902, Fri · Page 8 https://www.newspapers.com/image/511915128/
• The Dayton Herald - 10 Mar 1902, Mon · Page 8 https://www.newspapers.com/image/392132704/
• Wilkes-Barre Times  - 10 Mar 1902, Mon · Page 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/119405500/
• Democrat and Chronicle - 15 Sep 1902, Mon · Page 2 https://www.newspapers.com/image/135296561/
• The Charlotte News - 11 Mar 1902, Tue · Page 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/57833673/
• The Times-Mercury - 19 Mar 1902, Wed · Page 2 https://www.newspapers.com/image/67769910/

On the night of July 30, 1970, Loretta Jones was brutally murdered, but not before doing everything in her power to save her four-year-old daughter, Heidi. Despite strong investigative theories, no arrest is made and the sad case of Loretta Jones officially becomes a cold case. As Heidi grows up without her mother, she learns that 99% of cold cases are never solved, but she doesn’t care. She refuses to give up until she finds justice for her mother. 

Tea of the Day: Sweetgrass Tea 

Theme Music by Brad Frank

Sources:

• The Sun-Advocate - 06 Aug 1970, Thu · Page 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/593041299/
• The Salt Lake Tribune - 01 Aug 1970, Sat · Page 17 https://www.newspapers.com/image/599186943/
• The Ephraim Enterprise - 06 Aug 1970, Thu · Page 4 https://www.newspapers.com/image/602500119/
• The Sun-Advocate - 03 Sep 1970, Thu · Page 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/593041718/
• The Sun-Advocate - 10 Sep 1970, Thu · Page 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/593041829/
• The Sun-Advocate - 15 Oct 1970, Thu · Page 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/593042464/
• The Sun-Advocate - 12 Nov 1970, Thu · Page 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/593042757/
• The Salt Lake Tribune - 20 Aug 1970, Thu · Page 48 https://www.newspapers.com/image/599228179/
• The Salt Lake Tribune - 01 Sep 1970, Tue · Page 32 https://www.newspapers.com/image/598958542/
• The Salt Lake Tribune - 07 Nov 1970, Sat · Page 31 https://www.newspapers.com/image/599245270/
• The Daily Spectrum - 24 Nov 2016, Thu · Page A4 https://www.newspapers.com/image/247589121/
• https://www.oxygen.com/exhumed/crime-news/loretta-jones-murder-cold-case-solved-after-exhumation
• https://kutv.com/news/local/mothers-body-exhumed-in-1970-utah-murder-case
• https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/heidi-jones-murder-of-mother
• Exhumed: Killer Revealed: Season 1: Episode 3
• Cold Case Files: Season 2: Episode 19
• On the Case with Paula Zahn: Season 16: Episode 14

In 1935, Mary Frances Creighton was accused of murder. The ensuing trial revealed twisted motives and a dark past full of victims. Although you may have empathy for some of the ladies here on Tea Time Crimes, we’re willing to bet that is not the case with the Pernicious Poisoner. 

Tea of the Day: Tropical Passion Tea 

Theme Music by Brad Frank 

Sources:

• https://www.crimelibrary.org/notorious_murders/women/creighton_applegate/
• https://www.executedtoday.com/2012/07/16/1936-mary-frances-creighton-and-everett-applegate/
• https://torontosun.com/news/world/crime-hunter-black-widows-death-design-for-daughters-love-rival
• The Baltimore Sun - 16 May 1923, Wed · Page 2 https://www.newspapers.com/image/373078880/
• The Courier-News - 21 June 1923, Thu · Page 10 https://www.newspapers.com/image/220824019/
• The Times-Tribune - 18 Jun 1923, Mon · Page 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/534211857/
• The Evening News - 14 May 1923, Mon · Page 13 https://www.newspapers.com/image/57972755/
• The Winnipeg Tribune - 31 Jul 1937, Sat · Page 36 https://www.newspapers.com/image/37321404/
• The Buffalo News - 15 May 1923, Tue · Page 31 https://www.newspapers.com/image/835854897/
• Daily News - 06 June 1923, Wed · Page 31 https://www.newspapers.com/image/430207014/
• Perth Amboy Evening News - 20 June 1923, Wed · Page 4 https://www.newspapers.com/image/876682538/
• Daily Press - 23 June 1923, Sat · Page 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/230643223/
• The Morning Call - 21 Jun 1923, Thu · Page 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/552445309/
• Times Union - 11 July 1923, Wed · Page 2 https://www.newspapers.com/image/557949141/
• Daily News - 20 May 1923, Sun · Page 2 https://www.newspapers.com/image/430188953/
• Daily News - 19 Jun 1923, Tue · Page 4 https://www.newspapers.com/image/430193957/
• Daily News - 20 Jun 1923, Wed · Page 4  https://www.newspapers.com/image/430194443/
• Daily News - 21 Jun 1923, Thu · Page 3 https://www.newspapers.com/image/430195451/
• Daily News - 23 Jun 1923, Sat · Page 3 https://www.newspapers.com/image/430196772/
• Daily News - 24 Jun 1923, Sun · Page 9  https://www.newspapers.com/image/430197327/
• Daily News - 29 Jun 1923, Fri · Page 35 https://www.newspapers.com/image/430204191/
• Daily News - 11 Jul 1923, Wed · Page 31 https://www.newspapers.com/image/430204844/
• Daily News - 12 Jul 1923, Thu · Page 5 
  https://www.newspapers.com/image/430205134/
• Daily News - 20 Oct 1935, Sun · Page 336 https://www.newspapers.com/image/418126515/
• Perth Amboy Evening News - 12 Jan 1911, Thu · Page 2 https://www.newspapers.com/image/632094464/
• Times Union - 09 Oct 1935, Wed · Page 5 https://www.newspapers.com/image/577609597/
• Philadelphia Daily News - 28 Sep 1967, Thu · Page 30 https://www.newspapers.com/image/184715677/
• St. Louis Post-Dispatch - 10 Nov 1935, Sun · Page 99  https://www.newspapers.com/image/139282982/
• Daily News - 18 Jan 1936, Sat · Page 38 https://www.newspapers.com/image/418428905/
• Daily News - 21 Jan 1936, Tue · Page 115 https://www.newspapers.com/image/418309404/
• Daily News - 23 Jan 1936, Thu · Page 426 https://www.newspapers.com/image/418340159/
• Daily News - 26 Jan 1936, Sun · Page 213 https://www.newspapers.com/image/418301023/
• Daily News - 31 Jan 1936, Fri · Page 573 https://www.newspapers.com/image/418356440/
• Daily News - 15 Feb 1936, Sat · Page 179 https://www.newspapers.com/image/418467338/
• Daily News - 05 Apr 1936, Sun · Page 384 https://www.newspapers.com/image/415320805/
• Daily News - 27 May 1936, Wed · Page 232 https://www.newspapers.com/image/418574980/
• Daily News - 29 Jun 1936, Mon · Page 8 https://www.newspapers.com/image/418695021/
• Daily News - 17 Jul 1936, Fri · Page 409 https://www.newspapers.com/image/418735214/
• https://casetext.com/case/people-v-creighton-4

In February of 1887, a decapitated, limbless torso was found on the Bristol Turnpike in Pennsylvania. Panic rose and everyone was a suspect until a tip led investigators to Hannah Mary Tabbs and her complicated web of relationships. Follow along this week as we try to untangle the lies from the probabilities.  

Tea of the Day: Baroness Grey

Theme Music by Brad Frank

Sources:

• Hannah Mary Tabbs and the Disembodied Torso: A Tale of Race, Sex and Violence in America by Kali Nicole Gross
• https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-35616529
• https://notevenpast.org/ordinary-yet-infamous-hannah-mary-tabbs-and-the-disembodied-torso/
• The Boston Globe - 19 Feb 1887, Sat · Page 8 https://www.newspapers.com/image/430896449/
• The Philadelphia Times - 19 Feb 1887, Sat · Page 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/52218211/
• The Central News - 24 Feb 1887, Thu · Page 2 https://www.newspapers.com/image/229537814/
• The Philadelphia Times - 22 Feb 1887, Tue · Page 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/52218233/
• Lancaster Intelligencer - 02 Mar 1887, Wed · Page 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/557109869/

On December 8th, 1905, Mary Mabel Rogers became the last woman executed in the state of Vermont. Separated from her husband, Marcus Rogers, Mary had become pregnant and needed to escape one marriage in order to enter another. Murder was her solution. Despite her guilt, thousands rallied for Mary’s sentence to be commuted to life in prison and revolted at the court’s final decision. Jump into this fascinating case of death penalty history and find out why Mary’s trial was one of the cases responsible for Vermont abolishing the death penalty. 

Tea of the Day: The Child Green Tea

Theme Music by Brad Frank

Sources:

• You can find the Audiobook by Vance Savage (Mary Mabel Rogers’ Great Nephew) here:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFQQGw60Ecoaq7c-cHGZUIA
• https://www.timesargus.com/news/local/the-hanging-of-mary-rogers/article_f126f464-484b-56ab-90ae-77399208692a.html
• https://www.suecoletta.com/killing-mary-mabel-rogers/
• https://newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/mary-rogers-brings-the-capital-punishment-wars-to-vermont/
• https://murderpedia.org/female.R/r/rogers-mary-mabel.htm
• https://www.rutlandherald.com/news/present-at-the-execution/article_027e35c4-463e-5346-90dc-5cdbd0971a7e.html
• https://hls.harvard.edu/today/cases-in-brief-furman-v-georgia-with-carol-steiker/
• https://crimescribe.com/2020/12/08/on-this-day-in-1908-and-1954-mary-rogers-and-donald-dem
• ag-vermonts-first-and-last-20th-century-executions/
• The Barre Daily Times - 31 Oct 1905, Tue · Page 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/786621499/
• St. Albans Weekly Messenger - 07 Dec 1905, Thu · Page 7 https://www.newspapers.com/image/443765286/?terms=mary%20rogers&match=1
• Bennington Banner - 07 Dec 1968, Sat · Page 5 https://www.newspapers.com/image/546791267/?terms=mary%20rogers&match=1
• Bennington Banner - 04 Dec 1884, Thu · Page 3 https://www.newspapers.com/image/490846627/
• Bennington Banner - 08 Dec 1953, Tue · Page 23 https://www.newspapers.com/image/604159322/
• The Burlington Free Press - 29 Apr 1905, Sat · Page 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/197254760/
• The Burlington Free Press - 20 May 1905, Sat · Page 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/197225484/
• Show: Deadly Woman: Season 9, Episode 11 - “Murder For Me”

The Stiles family toured the country as carnival performers, with Grady Stiles Jr. as the main attraction under the big tent. Charismatic and charming to the crowds who came to see him, no one could have guessed the horror that was going on behind closed doors, especially for his wife, Mary Teresa Stiles. It all came to light the night of November 28th, 1992 when Grady was found shot in his home. It’s not long before police uncover Grady’s family at the center of a murder-for-hire plot. Hold on to your tea cups because nothing about this case is predictable. 

If you or someone you know is suffering from domestic abuse, please call this hotline: 800-799-7233

Tea of the Day: Nola’s International Tea House Strawberry Kiwi

Theme Music by Brad Frank 

Sources:

• https://somekindofmoment.com/lobster-boy/
• https://www.huffpost.com/topic/grady-stiles-lobster-boy
• https://thecinemaholic.com/grady-stiles-murder-where-are-chris-wyant-harry-glenn-newman-jr-and-mary-teresa-now/
• https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1994/07/13/lobster-boy-s-wife-tells-of-his-rage/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3307919/
• https://allthatsinteresting.com/lobster-boy
• https://allthatsinteresting.com/sideshow-freaks
• Tampa Bay Times - 29 Jul 1994, Fri · Page 25 https://www.newspapers.com/image/324224530/
• The Stuart News - 04 Sep 1994, Sun · Page 25 https://www.newspapers.com/image/886569013/
• Lobster Boy by Fred Rosen
• True Nightmares: Tales of Terror: Hate the Game
• Freakshow: Season 2 Episode 6
• City Confidential: Gibsonton: The Last Side Show Season 1 Episode 16
• Evil Kin: Sideshow Murders Season 2: Episode 3

In 1977, Mary Gillispie, a married mother of two, received a threatening anonymous letter. This would be the first letter of thousands to pollute the town of Circleville, Ohio. To this day, no one knows who is responsible for the letters that led to the death of one man and the attempted murder of Mary herself. Follow along with us to try and make sense of what happened for nearly two decades in this small Ohio town.

Tea of the Day: Witchwood Tea House’s Dragon Fire

Theme Music by Brad Frank

Sources:

• https://www.the-sun.com/news/5946542/mystery-of-circleville-letter-48-hours/
• https://listverse.com/2020/08/16/top-10-strange-facts-about-the-circleville-writer/
• https://medium.com/illumination/inside-the-circleville-letters-the-shocking-true-story-of-a-small-towns-secret-44cb995ad6b2
• https://thoughtcatalog.com/christine-stockton/2021/06/who-wrote-the-circleville-letters/
• https://thecrimewire.com/multifarious/The-Circleville-Letters
• https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/rrh499/who_was_the_circleville_letter_writer/
• https://www.historicmysteries.com/circleville-letters-mystery/
• https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/talking-about-trauma/201306/in-the-mind-of-a-stalker
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wU5m3jTpq14
• https://www.vice.com/en/article/3k94wj/psychology-of-stalking-treatment
• https://www.actionagainststalking.org/the-impact-of-stalking
• https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/633984/circleville-letters-unsolved
• http://www.britishgraphology.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/The-anonymous-letter-writer.pdf
• The Cincinnati Enquirer - 10 Dec 1993, Fri · Page 16 https://www.newspapers.com/image/101976587/
• The Circleville Herald - 09 Jun 1972, Fri · Page 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/74350782/
• The Press Gazette - 04 Mar 1983, Fri · Page 14 https://www.newspapers.com/image/903054307/
• Lancaster Eagle-Gazette - 05 Mar 1983, Sat · Page 2 https://www.newspapers.com/image/296061242/
• Chillicothe Gazette - 19 Mar 1980, Wed · Page 12 https://www.newspapers.com/image/290149802/
• https://www.ancientfaces.com/person/gordon-r-massie-birth-1932-death-1996/35652631
• Unsolved Mysteries - Season 7, Episode 6
• https://youtu.be/dkb0KswsXoc
• 48 Hours : The Circleville Letters
• https://www.cbsnews.com/video/the-circleville-letters/
• Podcasts Mentioned: 
  • https://www.whateverremainspodcast.com/circleville
  • https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/the-circleville-letter-writer/

In 1906, a trunk was found on the platform of the Southern Pacific Depot in Stockton, California. The smell led employees to wonder what, or who, might be inside. Within hours, the police were on the hunt for Emma LeDoux, a woman with a trail of (mostly living) men behind her. Though she was the last person to see the unfortunate victim, Albert McVicar, she will cling to innocence. Tell us what version of the story you believe to be the truth.

Tea of the Day: Yunnan Jade Dragon Tea

Theme Music by Brad Frank

Sources:

• https://www.historicalcrimedetective.com/ccca/emma-ledoux-housewife-prostitute-bigamist-murderess/
• https://medium.com/internet-archaeology/the-untold-story-of-the-infamous-emma-ledoux-72b5575d37e
• https://www.sfgate.com/sfhistory/article/emma-ledoux-murder-case-trial-death-penalty-13008192.php
• https://thecinemaholic.com/is-albert-mcvicars-killer-emma-ledoux-alive-or-dead/
• https://soundingsmag.net/2020/08/26/little-trunk-of-horrors/
• https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/mar/15/long-opiate-use-history-america-latest-epidemic
• St. Louis Post-Dispatch - 19 Jul 1931, Sun · Page 56
  https://www.newspapers.com/image/138839547/
• The Buffalo Times - 22 Jul 1906, Sun · Page 11
  https://www.newspapers.com/image/442520435/
• Nevada State Journal - 27 Mar 1906, Tue · Page 1
  https://www.newspapers.com/image/75033376/
• The Norcatur Register - 14 Sep 1906, Fri · Page 3
  https://www.newspapers.com/image/374496581/
• The Selma Enterprise - 31 Mar 1906, Sat · Page 8
  https://www.newspapers.com/image/630330238/
• The Evening Mail - 09 Jun 1906, Sat · Page 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/609189174/
• The Hutchinson News - 29 Mar 1906, Thu · Page 3 https://www.newspapers.com/image/477578985/
• The Evening Mail - 26 Mar 1906, Mon · Page 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/609197741/

Sarah Malcolm made very poor decisions: decisions that ultimately lead to her execution. However, it’s not clear what crimes she actually committed. So, we want YOU to tell us what happened based on the evidence we present. Grab a cuppa and jump into 1733 London with us. 

Tea of the Day: Dreamy Tea

Theme Music by Brad Frank

Sources:

• https://murderpedia.org/female.M/m/malcolm-sarah.htm
• https://www.londonlives.org/static/MalcolmSarah1710-1733.jsp
• http://www.capitalpunishmentuk.org/malcolm.html
• https://www.thegazette.co.uk/all-notices/content/100347
• https://michaelfinney.co.uk/shop/william-hogarth/sarah-malcolm/
• https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/browse.jsp?id=t17330221-52&div=t17330221-52&terms=sarah_malcolm#highlight
• https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/browse.jsp?id=OA17330305n86-1&div=OA17330305&terms=mary_tracey#highlight
• https://professorhedgehogsjournal.uk/2017/05/06/a-skeleton-in-the-cupboard/
• The Ipswich Journal - 10 Feb 1733, Tue · Page 4
• https://www.newspapers.com/image/396387402/
• The Derby Mercury - 15 Feb 1733, Sun · Page 2
• https://www.newspapers.com/image/394305102/
• The Derby Mercury - 15 Mar 1733, Sun · Page 1
• https://www.newspapers.com/image/394308598/
• http://eighteenthcenturylit.pbworks.com/w/page/112843207/Menstruation
• https://www.tudorsociety.com/menstruation-in-the-tudor-period-by-sarah-bryson/

In this Tea Time Crimes episode, hear the amazing stories of Pauline Cushman and Cathay Williams: two women who broke the law and risked their lives to serve their country. Grab a tea with a full body and settle in for these heroic tales.

Tea of the Day: Throat Coat 

Theme Music by Brad Frank

Sources:

• Cathay Williams: From Slave to Buffalo Soldier by Phillip Thomas Tucker
• Life of Pauline Cushman: The Celebrated Union Spy and Scout by Ferdinand L. Sarmiento
• ​​​​https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/three-things-know-about-buffalo-soldiers-180964199/
• https://www.buffalosoldier.net/CathayWilliamsFemaleBuffaloSoldierWithDocuments.htm
• https://newsroom.woundedwarriorproject.org/The-Only-Known-Female-Buffalo-Soldier-Cathay-Williams
• https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/battle-pea-ridge
• https://www.battlefields.org/learn/biographies/pauline-cushman
• https://www.nps.gov/people/paulinecushman.htm
• https://www.womenhistoryblog.com/2008/01/pauline-cushman.html
• https://news.va.gov/46477/veterans-legacy-program-major-pauline-cushman-actress-turned-union-spy/
• https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/facts.htm#:~:text=The%20483%2C026%20total%20Confederate%20casualties,194%2C026%20wounded%20in%20action
• https://www.pbs.org/mercy-street/uncover-history/behind-lens/disease/#:~:text=Burns%2C%20MD%20of%20The%20Burns,was%20probably%20closer%20to%20750%2C000
• https://savingplaces.org/stories/the-forgotten-the-contraband-of-america-and-the-road-to-freedom
• https://www.womenofthe6888th.org/monuments