The Riviera Murderer Who Lured Women to Their Deaths | True Crime 1902
News of the Times | Episode 546 |1902
The French press once whispered his name alongside Jack the Ripper’s — but Henri Vidal was no criminal genius. Instead, this so-called “Riviera Murderer” left a trail of bloodied clothing, stolen trinkets, and shameless lies across southern France in 1902. From Marseilles to Nice, he lured vulnerable women under false names and empty promises… only to meet his downfall through sheer recklessness.

Was he a calculating predator, a degenerate opportunist, or simply a vain drifter whose crimes finally caught up with him? This episode follows Vidal’s violent spree, the panic he caused along the Riviera, and the chilling courtroom testimony that condemned him to a fate he did not expect.

And in our Further Particulars segment — something a little lighter, though scarcely less scandalous. Picture this: a Leeds gentleman, a fashionable London lady, and a late-night quarrel about how to properly eat asparagus. There’s missing money, a diamond ring pawned as collateral, and accusations that end in court rather than romance. Proof, perhaps, that bad table manners can be just as dangerous as bad intentions.

🕰️ Join us as we uncover murder, scandal, and one unforgettable asparagus debate in this week’s News of the Times.

👤 Hosted by Robin Coles 

📅 New episodes: Monday, Wednesday & Friday 

📚 Related cases from the archive: 
1905: Case of The One-Armed Bigamist Murderer |  EP455
https://youtu.be/wIFh9HOEMdk
1905 & 1906: The Mysterious Manchester Murders  |  EP462
https://youtu.be/iLrChy8s5SE
1902: The Case of the Clonbrok Murder |  EP477
https://youtu.be/M908ewkwXy4
1900: The Sinister Mr Salmon |  EP484
https://youtu.be/dbLJw0a7v4A

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