S13 Ep9: Victorian Poisoners - Jolly Jane & Polly Bartlett
Blood Ties Podcast
Peter Shevlin
4.4 • 668 Ratings
🗓️ 29 September 2025
⏱️ 36 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Two women, two different worlds — but both hiding lethal secrets. Jane Toppan, the nurse known as “Jolly Jane,” poisoned more than 30 patients in the late 1800s, later admitting she killed simply for pleasure. And Polly Bartlett, dubbed Wyoming’s first female serial killer, ran a boarding house with her father where unsuspecting travelers met their end for money and greed. In this episode of Blood Ties, we uncover the chilling parallels between a trusted caregiver and a ruthless innkeeper, and how their crimes challenged the expectations of women in their time while leaving behind a legacy of fear.
CREDITS:
Presenters: Geoffrey and Molly Wansell
Producer: Peter Shevlin https://pod60.com/
Artwork: George Leigh
Music: Dan Wansell
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Transcript
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