The Case of The Vengeful Grandmother
News of the Times Episode 489 | 1874
Frances Stewart, 42, lives with her daughter, son-in-law, and their one-year-old child. But life under one roof has become tense. Frances, whispered to have a drinking problem, has worn out her welcome.

The young family makes a decision: they’re moving to new lodgings—and Frances is not coming with them.

What happens next is shocking.

Determined to express her heartbreak in the most devastating way, Frances disappears from the house… taking her infant grandson with her.

Left behind is a chilling note:
“We shall soon be in the water.”

What begins as a suspected abduction quickly unravels into something far more harrowing. Frances is eventually found—but she refuses to reveal where the child is. Not to the authorities. Not even to her own daughter.

Days drag on. There are whispers. Possible sightings. Then—silence.
Until the River Thames speaks.

This tragic case gripped Victorian England and was considered one of the first of its kind.

In this episode, we explore the heartbreaking background, the crime itself, and the dramatic courtroom verdict.

And stay tuned for our “Further Particulars” case, where we leap ahead to 1894—and the astonishing tale of a real live mermaid said to have been caught by accident.
If you're in the United States, you might just find her… at the Smithsonian Museum. We tell the strange and salty story.😉
Hosted by Robin Coles.

#NewsofTheTimes #truecrimedocumentary #truecrime #truecrimepodcast #victorian #history

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EPISODE
If you like this, here are links to some other recommended videos:
1872: The Victorian Borgia- Lydia Sherman  |  EP353
https://youtu.be/mHSeZwy02N0
1875: Victorian Strychnine Stories |  EP354
https://youtu.be/AziIspnr9KA
1877: Case of the Body in Parts - The Case of the River Packages |  EP371
https://youtu.be/I2FPE4NrSqE
1878: Murder in Edinburough |  EP375
https://youtu.be/zpPiP7C6nuY
1873 - 1898: Crime Tales from The Raj |  EP376
https://youtu.be/F_Q1Rw-7bXQ
1874: FRANCE Murderous Mother

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