Podcast Summary: My Victorian Nightmare – Episode 41: "Bitten by a Skeleton"

Release Date: May 5, 2025
Host: Genevieve Manion

Introduction

In Episode 41 of My Victorian Nightmare, host Genevieve Manion delves into a collection of eerie Victorian-era tales that blend mysterious deaths, supernatural encounters, and unsettling discoveries. Skipping over the episode's advertisements and promotional segments, the focus remains sharply on the macabre stories that define the Victorian fascination with the supernatural and the morbid.

Segment 1: Ghostly Apparitions in Garstang

Timestamp: [05:43] – [08:13]

Genevieve introduces her segment "With Their Own Eyes," where she recounts firsthand ghost encounters reported during the Victorian era. The episode opens with a ghost story from Gerstang, North Lancashire, as reported by the Illustrated Police News, Law Courts and Record.

Key Points:

• A White Ghost's Haunting: The ghost was frequently sighted at a lonely point between the railway station and the village, causing widespread fear among residents.
• Impact on Locals: Incidents led to a servant girl being confined to bed due to nervous shock and the village postman abandoning his duties.
• Community Response: Young men armed with cudgels patrolled the lanes nightly, determined to confront or capture the apparition.
• Police Skepticism: Authorities speculated the ghost might be a young man disguised in a white sheet, mocking traditional ghostly behavior.

Notable Quote:

“A ghost at large... must lose all heart for either the lighter or more serious business of its existence.” – Illustrated Police News [08:15]

Genevieve expresses amusement and intrigue over the townspeople's reactions, pondering whether the ghost ever made contact with the “cudgel men.”

Segment 2: The Blind Man's Hatchet Rampage

Timestamp: [11:02] – [16:46]

The episode transitions to a shocking account of a violent incident involving a blind man named Frank Batty in Baltimore. Initially reported as a gruesome murder, further investigation reveals complexities.

Key Points:

• Initial Report: Frank Batty allegedly attacked Fanny Cole with a hatchet, causing severe injuries as detailed in a vivid police report.
• Contradictory Accounts: Subsequent articles from the Alexandria Gazette and the Democratic Advocate suggest that Mrs. Cole survived the attack and introduce unrelated tales, such as the Prince of Wales's bout with typhoid fever.
• Legal Proceedings: By June 1872, Batty's trial revealed the horrifying details of the attack. Despite the brutal nature of the crime, Batty was quickly found guilty.
• Final Report: An illustration titled "Burglar bitten by a skeleton" adds a surreal twist, describing a burglar's terrifying encounter with a mechanical skeleton in a physician's office.

Notable Quote:

“The blows of the hatchet were made mainly struck upon the back of the head and had broken through the skull.” – Baltimore Sun [15:34]

Genevieve highlights the discrepancies in historical reporting, emphasizing the challenges in verifying Victorian-era crimes.

Segment 3: Skeleton Discoveries

Timestamp: [16:54] – [26:31]

Genevieve shares four spine-chilling skeleton encounters from Victorian newspapers, each more disturbing than the last.

1. Burglar Bitten by a Skeleton
   Timestamp: [16:58] – [18:44]
   A burglar's attempt to steal from a physician's office leads to a terrifying encounter with a mechanical skeleton, causing him to faint from fear.

2. Discovery of Skeletons at Birmingham
   Timestamp: [19:17] – [21:37]
   At Sarah Tasker's house in Freeth Street, the skeletal remains of two infants were found, leading to her arrest for willful murder. The investigation delved into the difficulties of determining suffocation as a cause of death from skeletal remains.

3. Extraordinary Discovery in Barduk, Lower Saxony
   Timestamp: [21:46] – [24:00]
   Workmen uncover a subterranean chamber in an old chapel containing an elegantly furnished yet skeletal remains of a woman. The mystery of her death remains unsolved, leaving the community puzzled and eerie.

4. A Horrible Story from the Sea
   Timestamp: [26:21] – [33:17]
   The wreck of the schooner Lancaster is explored after being found deserted and filled with skeletons. Captain Martin's investigation uncovers the grim fate of the ship’s crew, likely perishing from hunger after months at sea. The discovery raises questions about the identities and origins of the deceased sailors.

Notable Quote:

“An extraordinarily discovery of human remains... elegantly furnished apartment and the remains of what appeared to have been a woman seated at a table in an antique chair.” – English Illustrated Police News [16:58]

Genevieve expresses both fascination and horror at these skeleton discoveries, marveling at the vivid descriptions and the lingering mysteries surrounding each case.

Segment 4: The Wharton Poisoning Case

Timestamp: [36:28] – [40:44]

The episode recounts the dramatic case of Elizabeth G. Wharton, a Baltimore society figure accused of poisoning General William Scott Ketchum and attempting to poison Mr. Eugene Van Ness.

Key Points:

• The Crimes: General Ketchum and Mr. Van Ness fell ill after consuming milk punch prepared by Elizabeth Wharton, leading to suspicions of poisoning.
• Investigation: Forensic analysis revealed lethal doses of tartar emetic in General Ketchum's remains. Elizabeth had purchased a substantial amount of the poison earlier.
• Legal Battle: Despite substantial evidence, Elizabeth Wharton was acquitted due to conflicting testimonies and alternative explanations for the General's illness.
• Personal Fallout: The stress of the trial reportedly led Elizabeth's brother, John Nugent, to attempt suicide.

Notable Quote:

“Elizabeth prepared a milk punch for Mr. Van Ness and his wife poured it right into the sink where it was.” – Victorian-era Newspaper [39:21]

Genevieve draws parallels between Elizabeth Wharton and other notorious figures like Belle Gunness, highlighting the dark undercurrents of Victorian society’s elite.

Segment 5: Heroic Rescue at North Platte

Timestamp: [40:44] – [43:39]

Shifting from horror to heroism, Genevieve recounts an inspiring tale of bravery from North Platte, Nebraska.

Key Points:

• The Incident: A 17-year-old boy nearly falls from a school building's window, while his 16-year-old sweetheart heroically grabs him mid-air.
• The Rescue: Demonstrating remarkable strength and quick thinking, the young girl prevents a tragic accident, earning community admiration.
• Community Praise: The heroine's actions are celebrated, and her valor is lauded as exemplary.

Notable Quote:

“She held on like grim death, and that said she was a young lady of rare muscular development.” – Victorian-era Report [43:15]

Genevieve appreciates the balance of courage and tenderness in this Victorian story, offering a moment of respite from the episode’s otherwise dark themes.

Conclusion

Timestamp: [43:46] – [46:07]

Genevieve wraps up the episode by sharing a poignant short poem inspired by Samuel Taylor Coleridge's "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner." The poem captures the haunting atmosphere of a ghostly ship and the lingering presence of the dead, echoing the episode's overarching themes of mortality and the supernatural.

Notable Poetic Excerpt:

“They groaned, they stirred, they all uprose, nor spake, nor moved their eyes... For when it dawned, they dropped their arms and clustered round the mast.” [44:11]

Genevieve encourages listeners to engage with the podcast on social media, share their thoughts, and continue exploring the enigmatic and eerie world of Victorian history.

Final Thoughts

In "Bitten by a Skeleton," My Victorian Nightmare Episode 41 masterfully intertwines tales of hauntings, violent crimes, mysterious skeleton discoveries, and acts of heroism. Through meticulous storytelling and vivid descriptions, Genevieve Manion transports listeners to a bygone era where the lines between reality and the supernatural are intriguingly blurred. This episode serves as a compelling exploration of Victorian society's complex relationship with death, the unknown, and the extraordinary.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• [08:15]: “A ghost at large... must lose all heart for either the lighter or more serious business of its existence.” – Illustrated Police News
• [15:34]: “The blows of the hatchet were made mainly struck upon the back of the head and had broken through the skull.” – Baltimore Sun
• [16:58]: “An extraordinarily discovery of human remains... elegantly furnished apartment and the remains of what appeared to have been a woman seated at a table in an antique chair.” – English Illustrated Police News
• [39:21]: “Elizabeth prepared a milk punch for Mr. Van Ness and his wife poured it right into the sink where it was.” – Victorian-era Newspaper
• [43:15]: “She held on like grim death, and that said she was a young lady of rare muscular development.” – Victorian-era Report

Join Genevieve Manion next time on My Victorian Nightmare as she continues to uncover the spine-chilling secrets of the Victorian Era. For more eerie tales and dark histories, follow the community on Instagram @myvictoriannightmare.