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After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal

'Black Widow': Serial Killer of Victorian England

After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal

History Hit

History, Folklore, Society & Culture, Myths, Ghosts, True Crime, Murder, Mystery, Ufos, Paranormal, Supernatural, Serial Killers

4.72.1K Ratings

🗓️ 11 March 2024

⏱️ 58 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Mary Ann Cotton is known as the first British female serial killer. A trail of bodies, many her own children, followed her through life. Bodies she happened to have insurance policies out on. Arsenic appears to have been her poison. How very Victorian.


But Mary Ann Cotton was only proved to be guilty of killing one of her alleged victims. So was she really a serial killer? How hard could life be for working class women in Victorian society?


Maddy tells Anthony the story.


Edited by Tom Delargy. Produced by Freddy Chick. Senior Producer is Charlotte Long.


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Transcript

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0:00.0

The famous five are away on a splendid weekend adventure.

0:03.5

Do we have to go home today?

0:05.5

sighed Anne.

0:06.5

I agree said Dick.

0:08.0

Even Timmy looks sad.

0:09.5

Cheer up everyone.

0:11.5

Beams Julian, I booked long weekend tickets we can return anytime on Monday

0:17.0

Oh you are clever Julian said Anne save over 50% with the long weekend a ticket from Great Western Railway.

0:24.4

Adventures start here. Selected routes turn supply, saving in comparison to an anytime return fare.

0:32.4

This episode is

0:34.0

by Warner Brothers and Salem's Lot, the spine-tingling new horror film

0:39.0

from the legendary Stephen King.

0:41.0

It is so exciting, it is that time of year. It is a spooky season. It's just the best time of year. No surprise that we love this time of year of course. There is no better fit for this season than a good

0:53.8

horror film. Salem's Lot is one of Stephen King's favorite stories I'm sure you've

0:58.6

heard of it and it's adapted from the 1975 best-selling novel.

1:02.8

Salem's lot follows an author who returns to his hometown in Maine.

1:07.0

But things are not as they should be.

1:09.6

The place is being preyed upon by a bloodthirsty vampire.

1:14.4

Of course it is.

1:15.4

Why wouldn't it be?

1:16.4

The place is called Salem.

1:17.8

Salem's lot is the latest adaptation of Stephen King's bestseller,

...

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