88. An Anarchist at the Observatory

Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling

BBC

True Crime, Comedy

4.3 • 922 Ratings

🗓️ 29 September 2025

⏱️ 46 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Laura’s case this week is a little bit different. She’s looking at the mystery of Martial Bourdin and his attack… on time?

Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling is available twice a week on BBC Sounds. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode. Email us at lauraandiain@bbc.co.uk

Transcript

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0:00.0	BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts.
0:07.0	It's International Podcasts.
0:09.7	To celebrate, there's plenty to get stuck into on BBC Sounds.
0:13.6	From True Crying podcasts.
0:15.2	Hello, welcome to Murder They Rose.
0:17.6	To love stories.
0:18.9	Join me, Ryland, on How to be in love and from sport welcome to the way
0:23.6	new show to music oh hello hello welcome to sidetracked and there's even more where that came from
0:30.7	discover your new favorite podcasts listen on BBC sounds BBC sounds Sounds, music, radio, podcasts.
0:41.1	Just a warning before we start, that this episode contains strong language.
0:46.8	Today, I'm taking you to a very famous landmark in South London, the Royal Absorbatory in Greenwich.
0:53.3	Now, the Zobitry consists of several ornnate buildings which sit in the middle of Greenwich Park
0:57.5	at the top of a small hill. The buildings are beautiful with red-look exteriors, white stone
1:02.9	details, perfectly symmetrical windows and a couple of domed roofs. It's coming up to 4.45pm on
1:09.3	February the 15th, 1894. William McManus, a porter at the
1:14.7	observatory, is walking around the grounds, making sure everything is in order. It's beginning
1:20.4	to get dark. And the observatory is almost silent. Most of the astronomers who work here have
1:26.7	already clocked off for the day. But William
1:29.0	doesn't mind the silence. He's a war veteran and after the horrors of the battlefield, he enjoys
1:33.9	the serenity. As he wanders around the grounds, he takes in the impressive architecture around him
1:39.6	and the greenery of the park. He takes a deep breath,
1:46.5	relishing the peace and quiet.
	...

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