Dark Histories

In the heart of the Pacific in the late 19th century, an expedition planned by Frederick and Elizabeth Walker, turned into a nightmare. In the dead of night, their ship, The Wandering Minstrel, struck the jagged reefs of Midway Atoll, splintering beneath their feet. With no way to escape, they were stranded on a barren, wind-lashed island, surrounded by endless water and lurking predators. Days stretched into weeks and then months, as hunger, fear, and desperation set in. Worse, it appeared they shared the island with an unknown character, whose previous shipping career had almost certainly ended in murder. SOURCESPearl, Matthew (2025) Save Our Souls: The True Story of a Castaway Family, Treachery & Murder. Harper, London, UK.Liverpool Weekly Courier (1889) Story of the Wandering Minstrel. Liverpool Weekly Courier, Sat 22 June 1889, p2. Liverpool, UK.Liverpool Mail (1867) Married. Liverpool Mail, Sat 11 May 1867, p7. Liverpool, UK.------- For almost anything, head over to the podcasts hub at darkhistories.com Support the show by using our link when you sign up to Audible: http://audibletrial.com/darkhistories or visit our Patreon for bonus episodes and Early Access: https://www.patreon.com/darkhistoriesThe Dark Histories books are available to buy here: http://author.to/darkhistoriesDark Histories merch is available here: https://bit.ly/3GChjk9Connect with us on Facebook: http://facebook.com/darkhistoriespodcastOr find us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/darkhistories& Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dark_histories/Or you can contact us directly via email at contact@darkhistories.comor join our Discord community: https://discord.gg/cmGcBFfThe Dark Histories Butterfly was drawn by Courtney, who you can find on Instagram @bewildereyeMusic was recorded by me © Ben Cutmore 2017Other Outro music was Paul Whiteman & his orchestra with Mildred Bailey - All of me (1931). It's out of copyright now, but if you're interested, that was that.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the windswept town of Islandmagee, County Antrim, in the year 1711, fear took root, and hysteria fanned the flames of injustice. Eight women—healers, widows, and outcasts—stood accused of witchcraft, charged with tormenting a young girl through dark sorcery. In an Ireland largely untouched by witch trials, this case became an eerie echo of Salem’s horrors. As whispers turned to accusations, the trial unfolded with damning testimonies, spectral evidence, and the weight of superstition, as women turned to spiders, victims vomited pins and feathers and panic and politics conquered over reason.SOURCESSneddon, Andrew (2013) Possessed by the Devil. The History Press Ireland, Dublin, Ireland.Sneddon, Andrew (2015) Witchcraft & Magic in Ireland. Palgrave macmillan, London, UK.Tisdall, William (1775) Account of the Trial of Eight Reputed Witches. The Hibernian magazine, or, Compendium of entertaining knowledge v.5. ------- For almost anything, head over to the podcasts hub at darkhistories.com Support the show by using our link when you sign up to Audible: http://audibletrial.com/darkhistories or visit our Patreon for bonus episodes and Early Access: https://www.patreon.com/darkhistoriesThe Dark Histories books are available to buy here: http://author.to/darkhistoriesDark Histories merch is available here: https://bit.ly/3GChjk9Connect with us on Facebook: http://facebook.com/darkhistoriespodcastOr find us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/darkhistories& Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dark_histories/Or you can contact us directly via email at contact@darkhistories.comor join our Discord community: https://discord.gg/cmGcBFfThe Dark Histories Butterfly was drawn by Courtney, who you can find on Instagram @bewildereyeMusic was recorded by me © Ben Cutmore 2017Other Outro music was Paul Whiteman & his orchestra with Mildred Bailey - All of me (1931). It's out of copyright now, but if you're interested, that was that.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Beneath the blazing Californian sun, in a world teetering on the edge of war and wonder, one man dared to ignite the stars. Jack Parsons, a visionary rocket scientist, fused the fiery realms of science and the esoteric, dreaming of propelling humanity into the cosmos. By day, he crafted engines that defied gravity; by night, he conjured rituals steeped in occult lore. A trailblazer, a heretic, and a dreamer, Parsons danced on the razor’s edge of genius and chaos, leaving behind a legacy as explosive as his creations.SOURCESCarter, John (1999) Sex & Rockets: The Occult World of Jack Parsons. Feral House, WA, USA.Crowley, Aleister (1976) Magick in Theory & Practice. Dover Publications. NY, USA.Parsons, John (1980) The Book of AntiChrist. Isis Research. CA, USA-------For almost anything, head over to the podcasts hub at darkhistories.com Support the show by using our link when you sign up to Audible: http://audibletrial.com/darkhistories or visit our Patreon for bonus episodes and Early Access: https://www.patreon.com/darkhistoriesThe Dark Histories books are available to buy here: http://author.to/darkhistoriesDark Histories merch is available here: https://bit.ly/3GChjk9Connect with us on Facebook: http://facebook.com/darkhistoriespodcastOr find us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/darkhistories& Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dark_histories/Or you can contact us directly via email at contact@darkhistories.comor join our Discord community: https://discord.gg/cmGcBFfThe Dark Histories Butterfly was drawn by Courtney, who you can find on Instagram @bewildereyeMusic was recorded by me © Ben Cutmore 2017Other Outro music was Paul Whiteman & his orchestra with Mildred Bailey - All of me (1931). It's out of copyright now, but if you're interested, that was that.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whilst I'm finishing up my Winter holiday, i wanted to share with you all one of my favourite shows, from a good friend of mine, Southern Gothic! This episode is a really good example fo what they do over there, and I'm sure it's something you'd like if you're into Dark histories.If you'd like to subscribe, you can find his Podcast linked here: https://podfollow.com/southern-gothicOr just search Southern Gothic on your favourite podcast player.Here's a little blurb about the episode:According to an old Blues legend, Robert Johnson sold his soul down at the crossroads for the ability to play guitar like no other. This episode tells the tale of Robert Johnson’s life–his many heartbreaks and missteps– and seeks to understand the origin of that infamous piece of folklore.I hope you enjoy it, and I'll see you real soon with Season 9. Cheers! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Here is Part 2 of this years Christmas Campfire, more of a New Years Campfire, really. I hope you enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey everyone! Merry Christmas (Eve)! Here is this years Christmas Campfire, or at least the first half of it. Thanks for everyone for taking part, I hope you enjoy some spooky stories and have a wonderful Christmas Day! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dive into the fascinating life of Violet Tweedale, a Victorian powerhouse known for her diverse talents and passion for ghost hunting. Discover her early encounters with the supernatural and how they shaped her beliefs about the afterlife. Hear about her unique journey into spiritualism during the dark days of Jack the Ripper and her eerie experiences at a haunted villa. Explore her literary achievements and the blend of spirituality and science in her perspective. Uncover the complexities of her life and why such compelling figures often fade from history.

Dr. Thomas Neill Cream, a physician with a respectable facade, became one of the most notorious figures in Victorian London’s dark history. Under the guise of providing medical care, he secretly dispensed deadly doses of strychnine, preying on vulnerable women, using his sinister charm and cunning to both administer poison and run from the effects. For years Cream operated in the shadows, his victims spanning across countries, borders and seas, until his insatiable thirst for power and cruelty ultimately revealed the monster behind the doctor’s mask.PART 2 SOURCESJobb, Dean (2021) The Case of the Murderous Dr Cream. Algonquin Books, NC, USA.Hodge, James H. (1994) Famous Trials v.5: Thomas Neill Cream, Neville Heath, John Watson Laurie, Dr.George Lamson, Rattenbury and Stoner. Penguin Crime, London, UK.Loudon, Irvine (1992) Death in Childbirth: An International Study of Maternal Care and Maternal Mortality 1800-1950. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.Gloucester Citizen (1891) Painful Story. Gloucester Citizen, Fri 16 Oct 1891, p3. UK.North Devon Journal (1892) Further Charges Of Blackmailing. North Devon Journal, Thurs 23 June 1892, p6. UK.Reynolds’s Newspaper (1892) Strange Cases Of Poisoning. Reynolds’s Newspaper, Sun 17 April 1892, p5, London, UK.Illustrated Police News (1892) The Execution Of Cream. Illustrated Police News, Saturday 19 Nov 1892, p1. London, UK.-------For almost anything, head over to the podcasts hub at darkhistories.com Support the show by using our link when you sign up to Audible: http://audibletrial.com/darkhistories or visit our Patreon for bonus episodes and Early Access: https://www.patreon.com/darkhistoriesThe Dark Histories books are available to buy here: http://author.to/darkhistoriesDark Histories merch is available here: https://bit.ly/3GChjk9Connect with us on Facebook: http://facebook.com/darkhistoriespodcastOr find us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/darkhistories& Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dark_histories/Or you can contact us directly via email at contact@darkhistories.comor join our Discord community: https://discord.gg/cmGcBFfThe Dark Histories Butterfly was drawn by Courtney, who you can find on Instagram @bewildereyeMusic was recorded by me © Ben Cutmore 2017Other Outro music was Paul Whiteman & his orchestra with Mildred Bailey - All of me (1931). It's out of copyright now, but if you're interested, that was that. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Thomas Neill Cream, a physician with a respectable facade, became one of the most notorious figures in Victorian London’s dark history. Under the guise of providing medical care, he secretly dispensed deadly doses of strychnine, preying on vulnerable women, using his sinister charm and cunning to both administer poison and run from the effects. For years Cream operated in the shadows, his victims spanning across countries, borders and seas, until his insatiable thirst for power and cruelty ultimately revealed the monster behind the doctor’s mask.PART 1 SOURCESJobb, Dean (2021) The Case of the Murderous Dr Cream. Algonquin Books, NC, USA.Hodge, James H. (1994) Famous Trials v.5: Thomas Neill Cream, Neville Heath, John Watson Laurie, Dr.George Lamson, Rattenbury and Stoner. Penguin Crime, London, UK.Loudon, Irvine (1992) Death in Childbirth: An International Study of Maternal Care and Maternal Mortality 1800-1950. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.The Hamilton Spectator (1879) London. The Hamilton Spectator, Thurs 8 May 1879, p1. Ontario, Canada.Illustrated Police News (1892) The Lambeth Poisoning Case: Neill’s Career. Illustrated Police News, October 29, 1892, p1. London, UK.The Worthington Advance (1891) Record of Crime. The Worthington Advance, Thurs 4 Aug 1891, p1. MN, USA.-------For almost anything, head over to the podcasts hub at darkhistories.com Support the show by using our link when you sign up to Audible: http://audibletrial.com/darkhistories or visit our Patreon for bonus episodes and Early Access: https://www.patreon.com/darkhistoriesThe Dark Histories books are available to buy here: http://author.to/darkhistoriesDark Histories merch is available here: https://bit.ly/3GChjk9Connect with us on Facebook: http://facebook.com/darkhistoriespodcastOr find us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/darkhistories& Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dark_histories/Or you can contact us directly via email at contact@darkhistories.comor join our Discord community: https://discord.gg/cmGcBFfThe Dark Histories Butterfly was drawn by Courtney, who you can find on Instagram @bewildereyeMusic was recorded by me © Ben Cutmore 2017Other Outro music was Paul Whiteman & his orchestra with Mildred Bailey - All of me (1931). It's out of copyright now, but if you're interested, that was that. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A young actress disappears from a luxury liner in 1947, sparking a tale of desire and deceit that mesmerizes the world. The dark backdrop of post-war South Africa reveals growing tensions and the allure of fortune, while exploring the lives of Gay Gibson and steward James Camb. As the mystery unfolds, conflicting narratives and missing pajamas deepen the intrigue. The case remains a chilling cold case, filled with societal complexities and compelling arguments, echoing the timeless allure of classic detective stories.