The Invention Of Murder By Judith Flanders

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

The Ratcliffe Highway Murders

20110110

20110111 (R4)

We are a trading community - a commercial people. Murder is, doubtless, a very shocking offence; nevertheless, as what is done is not to be undone, let us make our money out of it.' Punch, 1842

Over the course of the 19th century, murder - in reality a rarity - became ubiquitous: transformed into novels, into broadsides and ballads, into theatre and melodrama.

Seeing therein the foundation of modern notions of crime, Judith Flanders explores this fascination with deadly violence by relating some of the century's most gripping and gruesome cases and the ways in which they were commercially exploited.

The Ratcliffe Highway murders of 1811 were particularly dreadful: two separate sets of killings in which seven people lost their lives. It was a case that shocked the nation - this was half as many people as had been murdered in the entire previous year throughout England and Wales - and forced the establishment to rethink the policing of major cities.

Written by Judith Flanders.

Abridged in five parts by David Jackson Young.

How the Victorians turned violent crime into entertainment.

Origins Of Modern Policing

20110111

20110112 (R4)

Despite rising crime figures - and increasingly crowded cities - the public were reluctant to accept the establishment of an organised police force.

This episode examines the reasons for that unwillingness and offers a fascinating insight into the origins of modern policing.

Over the course of the 19th century, murder - in reality a rarity - became ubiquitous: transformed into novels, into broadsides and ballads, into theatre and melodrama.

Abridged by David Jackson Young.

Why the Victorian public initially resisted an organised police force.

Red Barn Murder

20110112

20110113 (R4)

Over the course of the 19th century, murder - in reality a rarity - became ubiquitous: transformed into novels, into broadsides and ballads, into theatre and melodrama.

The decreasing age of the British population - in the 1820s half the country was under 25 - meant there was a lucrative market for lively entertainment. Children flocked to penny gaffs: unlicensed theatres which offered cheap entertainment, often dramatisations of notorious murders.

One of the most infamous, the Red Barn Murder of 1828, was being performed as a melodrama even before the prime suspect was put on trial.

Written by Judith Flanders.

Abridged by David Jackson Young.

How the 1828 Red Barn Murder became a sensation of the age.

Adelaide Bartlett

20110113

20110114 (R4)

Over the course of the nineteenth century, murder - in reality a rarity - became ubiquitous: transformed into novels, into broadsides and ballads, into theatre and melodrama. 'The Invention of Murder' explores the Victorian fascination with deadly violence by relating some of the century's most gripping and gruesome cases and the ways in which they were commercially exploited.

As the century progressed, so did advances in medical knowledge and expert witnesses were soon playing a major part in criminal trials. This episode looks at the sensational case of Adelaide Bartlett, who was accused of murdering her husband with chloroform in 1886. Newspapers and magazines pored over lurid details of the Bartletts' marriage and the case was responsible for inspiring a rash of fiction.

By Judith Flanders.

Abridged by David Jackson Young.

A poisoning case shakes public faith in expert witnesses. Robert Glenister reads.

05 LAST

New Technology

20110114

20110115 (R4)

Over the course of the 19th century, murder - in reality a rarity - became ubiquitous: transformed into novels, into broadsides and ballads, into theatre and melodrama.

Judith Flanders explores this fascination with deadly violence by relating some of the century's most gripping and gruesome cases and the ways in which they were commercially exploited.

The public imagination was particularly stirred when new technology was used to bring criminals to justice.

The final episode looks at one such case in which an enterprising railway clerk used the electric telegraph to send a description of a suspected murderer ahead of the train he was travelling on, so that the suspect could be met by police at his journey's end.

And, bringing us right up to the final years of the century, how the funeral of an acclaimed actor - and murder victim - was captured on film for posterity.

Written by Judith Flanders.

Concluded by Robert Glenister.

Abridged by David Jackson Young.

How the age's great technological advances were used to capture criminals.

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
01	The Ratcliffe Highway Murders	20110110	20110111 (R4)	We are a trading community - a commercial people. Murder is, doubtless, a very shocking offence; nevertheless, as what is done is not to be undone, let us make our money out of it.' Punch, 1842 Over the course of the 19th century, murder - in reality a rarity - became ubiquitous: transformed into novels, into broadsides and ballads, into theatre and melodrama. Seeing therein the foundation of modern notions of crime, Judith Flanders explores this fascination with deadly violence by relating some of the century's most gripping and gruesome cases and the ways in which they were commercially exploited. The Ratcliffe Highway murders of 1811 were particularly dreadful: two separate sets of killings in which seven people lost their lives. It was a case that shocked the nation - this was half as many people as had been murdered in the entire previous year throughout England and Wales - and forced the establishment to rethink the policing of major cities. Written by Judith Flanders. Abridged in five parts by David Jackson Young. How the Victorians turned violent crime into entertainment.
02	Origins Of Modern Policing	20110111	20110112 (R4)	Despite rising crime figures - and increasingly crowded cities - the public were reluctant to accept the establishment of an organised police force. This episode examines the reasons for that unwillingness and offers a fascinating insight into the origins of modern policing. Over the course of the 19th century, murder - in reality a rarity - became ubiquitous: transformed into novels, into broadsides and ballads, into theatre and melodrama. Seeing therein the foundation of modern notions of crime, Judith Flanders explores this fascination with deadly violence by relating some of the century's most gripping and gruesome cases and the ways in which they were commercially exploited. Abridged by David Jackson Young. Why the Victorian public initially resisted an organised police force.
03	Red Barn Murder	20110112	20110113 (R4)	Over the course of the 19th century, murder - in reality a rarity - became ubiquitous: transformed into novels, into broadsides and ballads, into theatre and melodrama. Seeing therein the foundation of modern notions of crime, Judith Flanders explores this fascination with deadly violence by relating some of the century's most gripping and gruesome cases and the ways in which they were commercially exploited. The decreasing age of the British population - in the 1820s half the country was under 25 - meant there was a lucrative market for lively entertainment. Children flocked to penny gaffs: unlicensed theatres which offered cheap entertainment, often dramatisations of notorious murders. One of the most infamous, the Red Barn Murder of 1828, was being performed as a melodrama even before the prime suspect was put on trial. Written by Judith Flanders. Abridged by David Jackson Young. How the 1828 Red Barn Murder became a sensation of the age.
04	Adelaide Bartlett	20110113	20110114 (R4)	Over the course of the nineteenth century, murder - in reality a rarity - became ubiquitous: transformed into novels, into broadsides and ballads, into theatre and melodrama. 'The Invention of Murder' explores the Victorian fascination with deadly violence by relating some of the century's most gripping and gruesome cases and the ways in which they were commercially exploited. As the century progressed, so did advances in medical knowledge and expert witnesses were soon playing a major part in criminal trials. This episode looks at the sensational case of Adelaide Bartlett, who was accused of murdering her husband with chloroform in 1886. Newspapers and magazines pored over lurid details of the Bartletts' marriage and the case was responsible for inspiring a rash of fiction. By Judith Flanders. Abridged by David Jackson Young. A poisoning case shakes public faith in expert witnesses. Robert Glenister reads.
05 LAST	New Technology	20110114	20110115 (R4)	Over the course of the 19th century, murder - in reality a rarity - became ubiquitous: transformed into novels, into broadsides and ballads, into theatre and melodrama. Judith Flanders explores this fascination with deadly violence by relating some of the century's most gripping and gruesome cases and the ways in which they were commercially exploited. The public imagination was particularly stirred when new technology was used to bring criminals to justice. The final episode looks at one such case in which an enterprising railway clerk used the electric telegraph to send a description of a suspected murderer ahead of the train he was travelling on, so that the suspect could be met by police at his journey's end. And, bringing us right up to the final years of the century, how the funeral of an acclaimed actor - and murder victim - was captured on film for posterity. Written by Judith Flanders. Concluded by Robert Glenister. Abridged by David Jackson Young. How the age's great technological advances were used to capture criminals.