The History of Murder
Clare O’Donohue and Margaret Smith
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About This Podcast
Some murders changed history. Some happened because of it. The History of Murder puts crimes in context - using interviews with historians, actors reading the actual words of those involved, and narration that brings it together for a compelling story in each episode.
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Recent Episodes
S1E15 First Amendment Murder: The Story of Elijah Lovejoy
He used his words to persuade, and he died because of them. In 1837, Elijah Lovejoy became a martyr to the first amendment, specifically freedom of the press, because as a newspaper editor, he…
S1E14 Hand of Death: The Story of Myrtle Bennett
Bridge was a national obsession in 1929, and it was the personal obsession of an upper middle-class woman in Kansas City, Missouri. Myrtle Bennett poured over books about how to improve her game. She…
S1E13 St. Valentine's Day Massacre: The Story of Prohibition's Deadliest Day
The most famous event of Prohibition happened in a garage on Chicago’s North Side. We all know that Al Capone tried to kill Bugs Moran but instead killed a bunch of his guys. Except, maybe that isn’t…
S1E12 The Rise of the Chicago's Underworld: The Story of the Early Mob
Prohibition became law in the U.S. in January 1920. But in Chicago, it was more of a suggestion. It turned ordinary people into criminals, and criminals into superstars. Explore where true crime…
S1E11 Dead at Dawn: The Story of Meriwether Lewis
Meriwether Lewis is known for being half of Lewis and Clark, who in 1804 led an extraordinary expedition into the lands of the Louisiana Purchase. But having survived that harrowing journey, just…
S1E10 Death of the Defense: The Story of Clement Vallandigham
His death is often cited on lists called, “Stupid Ways People Have Died” … and it was stupid. But the life of attorney and politician Clement Vallandigham was complicated. During the Civil War he was…
S1E9 Fire on the Prairie: The Story of the Lawrence Massacre
On August 21, 1863, the residents of Lawrence, Kansas woke up to chaos. The Civil War was raging, and this Midwestern town, far from the front lines, was at the center. 500 men rode into town,…
S1E8 When Lincoln Defended A Killer: The Story of Peachy Quinn Harrison
The stakes were high – and not just for the young man on trial for murder. But also for his defense attorney, Abraham Lincoln. Not only did he know both the victim and the killer, but the case marked…
S1E7 When Protesters Met Bayonets: The Story of the Bonus Army
Is it true crime or military might? The President of the United States ordered the army to remove peaceful protestors from Washington DC. The army used tear gas, torches, bayonets, and tanks to get…
S1E6 The Night of Horrors: The Story of the Chinese Massacre
In October of 1871, a mob in Los Angeles descended upon a poor neighborhood and hunted down every Chinese man they could find. The killing spree would last four hours. There were several trials, but…
S1E5 The Man Who Poisoned A Dynasty: The Story of Bennett Clark Hyde
In 1909, a major philanthropist in Missouri died. He was 81 and had a number of health issues. His death might have been natural…. Except…. In the same house a family member had died just weeks…
S1E4 Murder at the Crossroads: The Story of Clara Olson
In 1926, one invention was changing lives all across America. And in rural Wisconsin it was about to change the life of a young woman who thought she was on the road to her future. When she…
S1E3 The Castle on Garland Street: The Story of Ossian Sweet
In 1925 Detroit, Michigan a Black family moved into a White neighborhood. A mob attacked their home with rocks, and one man was killed. 10 men went to trial for first-degree murder. With Clarence…
S1E2 The Bride of Blood: The Story of Belle Gunness
If you want love, you might advertise. That was certainly true in 1908 La Porte, Indiana when a Norwegian immigrant went looking for a mate in the newspaper’s Lonely-Hearts section. But it didn’t…
S1E1 From Front Lines to Front Page: The Story of Carl Wanderer
Love the movie “His Girl Friday”? It’s tied to a 1920 murder in Chicago where two newspaper men looked behind the headlines to get the real story of a double homicide in the entryway to a home. Go to…
S1 Trailer: Carl Wanderer
A taste of the new podcast The History of Murder. Our first episode is about two members of the press, and the double murder they helped solve.
Frequently Asked Questions
The History of Murder has published 16 episodes since August 2025, covering topics in Documentary, History.
The History of Murder is currently highly active with new episodes every 2 weeks. Average episode length is 36m.
