Something Wicked #10: H.H. Holmes

In our final bonus episode for Series 4, we're exploring the truly wild life and genuinely abominable crimes of H.H. Holmes, America's first serial killer.

Part of the "Something Wicked" series, we start by chatting through how communication technology in the 19th century created a much more anonymous society, one in which a man born Herman Webster Mudgett in New Hampshire could grow up and skip across national borders, and between over a half dozen states, to assume new identities and commit both audacious acts of fraud and ghastly murder sprees for over 20 years without getting caught.

We then discuss the specifics of Mudgett's life, including his multiple marriages, early career selling cadavers, and the journey that brought him to his most infamous hunting ground: Chicago, at the time of the 1893 World's Fair.

From his many wild money-making schemes to the construction of his custom-built 'Murder Castle' into which he lured and dissected his victims - thought to number up to 200 people - we dig into the details. What is actually known about what he did, what is speculated upon, and how the "yellow journalism" of his time made Holmes a folk hero - all before the truth started to emerge about his grisly journey to incarceration and, ultimately, the hangman's noose.

Along the way we'll also be answering important questions, such as, how many wives is too many wives? And how exactly do you build a Murder Castle? But unlike some of our previous Something Wicked subjects, there's no ambiguity about this one: Herman Mudgett was an extraordinarily evil man, and to discover quite how evil then do be sure to gather round the campfire and listen in...

The Three Ravens is an English Myth and Folklore podcast hosted by award-winning writers Martin Vaux and Eleanor Conlon.

Released on Mondays, each weekly episode focuses on one of England's 39 historic counties, exploring the history, folklore and traditions of the area, from ghosts and mermaids to mythical monsters, half-forgotten heroes, bloody legends, and much, much more. Then, and most importantly, the pair take turns to tell a new version of an ancient story from that county - all before discussing what that tale might mean, where it might have come from, and the truths it reveals about England's hidden past...

Bonus Episodes are released on Thursdays (Magic and Medicines about folk remedies and arcane spells, Three Ravens Bestiary about cryptids and mythical creatures, Dying Arts about endangered heritage crafts, and Something Wicked about folkloric true crime from across history) plus Local Legends episodes on Saturdays - interviews with acclaimed authors, folklorists, podcasters and historians with unique perspectives on that week's county.

With a range of exclusive content on Patreon, too, including audio ghost tours, the Three Ravens Newsletter, and monthly Three Ravens Film Club episodes about folk horror films from across the decades, why not join us around the campfire and listen in?

Learn more at www.threeravenspodcast.com, join our Patreon at www.patreon.com/threeravenspodcast, and find links to our social media channels here: https://linktr.ee/threeravenspodcast

Three Ravens is a myth and folklore podcast hosted by Eleanor Conlon and Martin Vaux.

In each Monday episode we explore a historic county, digging into heritage, folklore and traditions, then we tell a new version of a legend from that county. Bonus Episodes are released on Thursdays and Saturdays.

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