Podcast
History on Trial
Hosted by iHeartPodcasts · EN
From the Salem Witch Trials to O.J. Simpson, trials have always revealed hidden truths about our world. History on Trial digs into famous legal battles from American history, uncovering the real story behind the headlines, and exploring the powerful cultural contexts that shaped the verdicts -- and still impact us today. Fans of true crime, legal dramas, and history alike will be captivated by the unbelievable cases that played out in the courtrooms of history.
Hosted by Mira Hayward. New episodes drop every other Thursday.
10episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
The Salem Wizard Trial
Jan 23, 202500:52:31Tap to summarizeIn 1692, a witch hunt began in Salem Village. The hunt soon grew to shocking proportions, with more than 150 people accused. Even Salem's former minister, Reverend George Burroughs, wasn't safe: in April, he was named as a wizard. In the face of a terrified population and a government desperate for control, would Burroughs's ministerial status be enough to save him from the noose? ***This is the final episode of season 1 of History on Trial! To keep updated on the show, follow our Instagram @historyontrial and subscribe to our newsletter at www.historyontrialpodcast.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →Charity's Crime
Jan 2, 202500:44:24Tap to summarizeIn 1854, a gruesome murder rocked the Oregon Territory. Charity Lamb stood accused of killing her husband, Nathaniel, with an axe. Newspapers called Charity a monster and speculated on her marriage. But there was more to the story. Would Nathaniel's history of physically abusing Charity convince jurors that she had acted in self-defense?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →Horror in Honolulu: Part Two
Dec 12, 202400:59:28Tap to summarizeIt's 1932, and Thalia Massie's husband, Tommie, and mother, Grace, are getting frustrated with what they see as the failings of the Hawaiian justice system. Soon they decide to take matters into their own hands. When events take a deadly turn, will Tommie and Grace's connections help them evade punishment? Or will Hawai‘i itself suffer the consequences of these visitors' actions?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →Horror in Honolulu: Part One
Dec 5, 202400:53:08Tap to summarizeIn 1931, Thalia Massie, a white woman, told Honolulu police that she had been raped by a group of Hawaiian men. Police quickly zeroed in on five young men who'd been involved in a fight earlier that night. But there was a problem: the suspects had ironclad alibis. In the face of a political establishment determined to get convictions for Thalia Massie’s rape, would the truth be a good enough defense?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →Trial at the O.K. Corral
Nov 21, 202400:57:47Tap to summarizeIn 1881, the Earp brothers and Doc Holliday faced the Clantons and the McLaurys in the Old West's most famous showdown: the gunfight at the O.K. Corral. When the smoke cleared, three men lay dead. Some called it Western justice. But would Western justice suffice as a defense when one of the survivors took the Earps and Holliday to trial for murder?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →The Poison Precedent: Part Two
Oct 31, 202400:55:18Tap to summarizeIt's 1900, and Roland Molineux's murder trial is coming to a close. The prosecution has used some unorthodox methods to prove their case. Will their tactics secure them a conviction? Or will the defense manage to argue their way out? What happens next will create a precedent that still matters today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →The Poison Precedent: Part One
Oct 24, 202400:55:52Tap to summarizeIn 1898, two fatal poisonings horrified New Yorkers. When it emerged that both victims were connected to one person, a wealthy young chemist named Roland Molineux, the police thought they had their man. But proving their suspicions was easier said than done, and convicting Molineux would require creativity on the part of the police and the district attorney. Would their legal tricks succeed...or get their case thrown out?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →The Real Lincoln Lawyer
Oct 10, 202400:48:56Tap to summarizeIn 1859, Abraham Lincoln walked into a courtroom in Springfield, Illinois, ready to defend his client. No one knew it then, but this would be Lincoln's last murder trial; fourteen months later, he would be elected president. Lincoln's defense of 22-year-old Quinn Harrison, accused of killing another young man in a fight, highlights the future president's brilliance. But would Lincoln's legal skills be enough to free Quinn Harrison?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →Murder in Plymouth
Sep 26, 202400:45:27Tap to summarizeIn 1638, four English indentured servants attacked and robbed Penowanyanquis, a member of the Nipmuc tribe. Once the killers were caught, colonial authorities decided to put the men on trial. The case seemed clear enough. But with tensions rising between colonists and indigenous peoples, not to mention a makeshift court system, could the Plymouth colonists find a path to justice and prevent further violence?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →The Questionable Confession
Sep 12, 202400:54:31Tap to summarizeIn 1919, the murder of three Chinese diplomats stunned Washington, D.C. When a young Chinese man, Ziang Sung Wan, confessed to the crime, it seemed like an open and shut case. But at the trial, Wan's lawyers would claim that police had coerced Wan into confessing. What happened next would change the nature of police work and the rights of suspects, forever. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →