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- [00:00]
A
Buying a car in Carvana was so easy, I was able to finance it through them. I just. Whoa, wait, you mean finance?
- [00:06]
B
Yeah, finance.
- [00:07]
A
Got pre qualified for a Carvana auto loan, entered my terms and shot from thousands of great car options, all within my budget. That's cool. But financing through Carvana was so easy. Financed, done, and I get to pick up my car from their Carvana vending machine tomorrow.
- [00:19]
B
Financed, right?
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A
That's what they said.
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C
You can spend time trying to pronounce financing, or you can actually finance and buy your car. Today on Carvana financing, subject to credit approval.
- [00:29]
A
Additional terms and conditions may apply.
- [00:33]
B
Hello and welcome to My Victorian Nightmare. I'm your host, Genevieve Mannion, and I'm here to talk about mysterious deaths, morbid fascinations, disturbing stories, and otherwise spooky events from the Victorian era. Because to me, there's just something especially.
- [00:52]
C
Intriguing, creepy, and oddly comforting about horror.
- [00:57]
B
And mayhem from the 19th century. So listener discretion is advised. Hello, friends, and welcome to this, my 56th episode. I hope that you had a fabulous week. Sorry, but I'm a little light headed at the moment. Thing is, I died. I'm dead, deceased. And I know that this is nothing new to you or me. I've been dead for a few hundred years now. But something so thrilling happened, but six minutes ago that my black little heart actually started beating for like a full minute and stopped again. Just as well. So I'm dead again. But I need to tell you why. I just sat down to do some stuff at my computer and an email was sitting in my inbox. An email from a gentleman by the name of Alan Katz, the father of.
- [02:02]
C
The Crypt Keeper, the writer of Tales from the Crypt, emailed just to say that he loves my podcast and thinks I'm a great storyteller. And I can't tell you how grateful I am that I have a number of thousands of people I can tell this to that understand the gravity of what it means to receive an email like that. For me, Some of my. My favorite movies were written by this man. Some of my favorite childhood experiences were shared with the Crypt Keeper. Thank you, Alan. And thank you, everyone, for being the kind of family that I can celebrate this kind of moment with.
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B
Okay, we will keep Haunted Housekeeping short today because I have so much horrible and spooky information that I cannot wait to share with you. I want to get right to it, but first, thank you everyone who joined the fan coven. Presents are still going out and will be for at least a few more weeks.
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C
I have filled out hundreds of thank.
- [03:21]
B
You cards packed up so many presents for everyone and I still have many more to get to. So again, it may take a few more weeks for your present to make it to you, but it shall because you joined the fan coven before August 18th. You can still, by the way join the fan coven@myvictoriannightmare.com which is the show ad free plus lovely witchy affirmations, meditations, ritual guides and an entire audiobook on eclectic witchcraft. If you are so interested. And if you aren't interested in witchy stuff but you still want to receive the show ad free, you can still choose to receive only the show ad free all by itself for only five bucks a month. You can also find a link to that option on the website. Thank you for your comments, thank you for rating the show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and thank you for just being such darlings. I simply love this community. Thank you so much for being a part of it. Okay, for you today, dear listener, I have love, murder and suicide, a number of throat slittings, girls shooting themselves in the face, slaying, accidents, smallpox, horse burglars.
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C
Meaning burglars who are horses, scenes from.
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The scaffold, swallowed pen knives, and so much more. It's gonna be a bloodbath today. All courtesy of our illustrated Police News, Law courts and Record, our favorite blood.
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C
Soaked tabloid full of mayhem and horse burglars from the 1800s. And today, you may have noticed, is.
- [05:03]
B
A little longer an episode usual because I just got so excited about our weekly segment With Their Own Eyes, where I share with you the personal, haunting accounts of petrified Victorians. And today I have a very special treat and I dug deeper than usual because it's just so fun and spooky. I found this fascinating article written by an American Victorian about ghosts in Asia and the differences between ghosts in his.
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Country and Asian countries. Now this was 1876 and believe it or not, he made a couple of mistakes.
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But I will read part of the article and A Terrifying Ghost Encounter and.
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We will make a few corrections about ghosts in China in the 1800s.
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B
They are fascinating. The article is called Mongolian Ghosts. All sorts of strange apparitions, legends from the Flowery Kingdom. And it reads Amongst the Chinese whose worship, ritual and social habits are largely founded upon ancestral worship or devotion paid to spirits of the dead, it is nothing surprising to find that ghosts and apparitions occupy a greater place in popular belief than even in Europe. As they themselves say, China is full of ghosts. Ghosts. There is scarcely a popular play in which a ghost does not act a conspicuous part. And is usually the instrument in bringing about dramatic justice. One peculiarity about Chinese ghosts is that they do not always fully materialize. But are frequently seen in incomplete form. The head first becoming visible, then the feet, then the body, and so on. Like English ghosts, they appear during the hours of darkness. And are compelled to vanish at cock crow. But the conventional white clothing is absent from the Chinese idea. A ghost in China always appears in the dress he commonly wore during life. And his advent is announced by candles burning not blue, but green. The Greeks call supernatural terror green. Fear, a somewhat contemptuous idea, seems, seems to prevail among the Chinese. Regarding the intelligence possessed by ordinary ghosts.
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C
They are usually spoken of as stupid.
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B
And easily amenable to the control of those who remain self possessed. But as ghosts who have left no relations. Or whose living kindred are too poor to provide the usual offerings. Are apt to become malicious, cause epidemics, and do a great deal of harm. On the 17th of the seventh moon, a ceremony is very generally observed called Appeasing the Burning Mouths, which consists in laying out plates filled with cakes. And bearing above them invitations to the honorable homeless ghosts. But only disreputable ghosts thus consent to become pauper spirits and live on charity. It must be noted that ghosts of suicides are distinguished by wearing red silk handkerchiefs. Outside the North Gate of Hang Chow, there was a house haunted by evil ghosts. Where no human being dared reside, of which the doors were ever barred and locked. A scholar named Tsai bought the house. People all told him he was doing a dangerous thing, but he did not heed them. None of his family would enter the house. So Sai went by himself, opened the doors, lit a candle and sat down. In the middle of the night, a woman ghost slowly approached with a red silk handkerchief hanging to her neck and having saluted him, fastened a rope to the beam of the ceiling and put her head in the noose. Sai did not in the least change countenance. The woman again fastened a rope and called on Sai to do as she did. But he only lifted his leg and put his foot in the noose. The woman said, you are wrong. Sai laughed and answered, on the contrary, it was you who were wrong a long time ago. Or else you would not have come to me this way. The ghost cried bitterly and having bowed to Sai, departed. And from that time, the house was no longer haunted. End quote.
- [09:46]
C
Okay, let's discuss. Firstly, let's correct a few things.
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B
The article mentioned that ghosts in China always dress in what they commonly wore during life, which is interesting because that's.
- [10:00]
C
How we now in the west mostly think of ghosts. Unlike the Victorians, who commonly envisioned ghosts.
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B
Wearing flowing white robes and dragging chains.
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C
But his statement isn't exactly true.
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B
In the 1800s, and still, ghosts in China could take various forms, sometimes appearing as they did in life, but sometimes appearing as animals. But they could also appear as just body parts or with parts missing. There are also headless ghosts, spirits of individuals who were killed by decapitation that wander aimlessly, even approaching people in the night, asking where their heads have gone.
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And ghosts were inspired, specifically considered stupid.
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But those who didn't receive proper burials or died untimely or violent deaths could become violent or mischievous and haunt the living.
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But this reporter got some other details.
- [10:55]
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Right or close, and they're really fascinating. The green flame that he mentioned associated with the dead can be found in Chinese folklore. Ghost fire was a concept explained as coming from the decomposition of dead bodies. And that appeasing of the Burning Mouth ceremony that was mentioned, this is a real Buddhist ceremony. The Yoga Kara Flaming Mouth ceremony is a ritual of offering food to all beings in the realm of hungry ghosts. Spirits of those who were greedy or unsatisfied in life, who wander the earth still unsatisfied. Flaming Mouth, quote unquote, is actually the name of the lord of hungry ghosts. Due to his stinginess while alive, he suffered from hunger and thirst even in death, and was thus called Flaming Mouth. And often images associated with hungry ghosts have burning mouths with a green flame.
- [11:55]
C
Now, I didn't find any historical references.
- [11:58]
B
To ghosts who died by suicide, specifically wearing red scarves, but I did find that in Chinese folklore, it was believed by some that if you wore red when you died by suicide, you would become a powerful, vengeful ghost. These ghosts are believed to be seekers of retribution for injustice that they faced in life. There's a specific kind of female vengeful ghost in red called the Ni Gui. She's also sometimes depicted in white. The reporter in that article said that Chinese ghosts are not, but some of them are, but often in red. And her color represents anger and vengeance. And she returns to seek retribution after her suicide for being wronged, betrayed, or subjected to sexual abuse. There's actually a horror movie called Malice Nu Gui and the ghost is clad in red. There were a few more specific Victorian era Chinese ghost encounters in that article, and I will share them in episodes to come. They are so great. Now, I poked a little fun at this reporter for getting some details incorrect, but I am also not a scholar of Chinese ghost folklore or beliefs of the day. So please, if I myself didn't get something quite right, or if you have any more details that you would like to add, those of you who are more educated on the subject, please let me me know in the comments. Now, before we get to today's pure bloody mayhem, won't you follow me into the seance room where I share with you the goings on in the spiritualist society of the 1800s. We have another deposition of a medium's talents, a Mrs. Marshall in this 1869 volume of the Spiritualist to enjoy. The deposition is called Thought Reading and Physical Meditation Manifestations, and it reads, I called on the afternoon of Sunday, October 31, Halloween, on the elder Mrs. Marshall, medium 13 Bristol Gardens West. After chatting for some little time, she suggested that we should have a seance. So we placed our hands on the table, only she and I being present. There were some taps and as if in response to questions, and she inquired if I were asking anything, but as I had nothing to ask, we took our hands off. I had, however, wondered mentally whether a brother in law of mine was present whose movement of the table is peculiar to himself. Presently rappings were heard, one just under my arm, so Mrs. Marshall considered them a sign that some spirit wished to communicate, and we replaced our hands on the table. When my brother in law immediately manifested himself in his usual manner, standing before us, but in an opaque white incarnation, he had no message to give, appearing only to have come in response to my thought, I then asked if my brother and nephew were there with him, both of whom had lately passed into the spirit world. I received an affirmative answer, and then I told the latter that I wished him to give me a sign, adding that he would know of what character I wished it to be. The table moved gently backwards and forwards a few times with a kind of undulating motion. Then his opaque body bent, bent down, laying his head into Mrs. Marshall's lap, and after remaining thus for a few seconds rose to its place, and then bent for the second time into her lap, when suddenly he turned aside and slipped off down to the ground.
- [15:54]
C
The poor old lady was quite startled.
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B
And could not think what it meant, but to me it was quite clear. First the gentle waves of the sea, then the two days that the unfortunate Carnatic was on the rock, and finally the sudden slip when the vessel sank and my dear nephew, Mr. Warren, was drowned. I had wanted something expressive of the wreck, but had not formed any idea in my own mind as to how it was to be except simplified. End quote.
- [16:29]
C
Okay, so this man's brother in law's ghost did an interpretive dance of sorts of his other family members drowning to death by laying his head into the lap of Mrs. Marshall.
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B
Look, spirits communicate in a myriad of ways. What's important is that we're receptive to their tappings or terrifying attempts at communication. That being said, just because they are ghosts, just because they're dead, that doesn't mean that they've transcended the necessity for consent. You don't have to let them put.
- [17:05]
C
Their white opaque heads in your lap. In fact, you might want to establish a safe word up front to prevent your ghosts from getting fresh. Just a naughty ghost tip for your Monday. Okay, our first article. It's a total mess.
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B
This one is called Love, Murder and Suicide At Bosra, Connecticut. A rejected suitor shoots a young lady, assaults her mother, and cuts his own throat. And it reads, in Connecticut, the land of steady habits, some very terrible tragedies have occurred within the memory of the present generation. Crime crops out in rural districts, sometimes in such a way as to upset the theories of those homilists who are continually preaching about the corruption and wickedness of cities. In Bosra, Connecticut, a quiet town not far from Norwich, a bloody tragedy was enacted on Monday, February 5, which is described substantially as follows. A man named William Irving, in the employ of Dr. Samuel Johnson of Bosra, has for some time had a passion for his employer's daughter Jane, and frequently sought to marry her. His suit had been discouraged by the young lady and family. Irving, who has a violent temper, took a heavily loaded shotgun, went to the sitting room where the young lady was sitting on a sofa, and discharged both barrels into her head, inflicting probably fatal injuries. Then, turning to Mrs. Johnson, who witnessed the scene, struck her a violent blow on the head with the breech of the gun, making a painful, though not a dangerous, wound. The murderer then went out of the room and supposing he had escaped, the family sent a message to Norwich where he had money deposited in the bank to give warning of the crime. He, however, went to his room in a wing of the building, locked himself in and cut his throat from ear to ear when the door was burst open. Shortly afterward he was found lying dead on the bed with the razor tightly clenched in his hand. End quote. I looked into this a little sadly. The girl, Jane Johnson, did in fact die of the gunshot wounds, and it appears that her mother as well died of blunt force trauma a number of days later. He apparently also assaulted the maid on his way to the room where he sliced his own throat. But she was okay. I saw a few more details. That William came to New York 10 or 12 years earlier, before this tragedy, living mostly with his employer. So he was living with Jane and that family. He was also described as having a violent temper. So you can only imagine what living with this man was like in your own home as a young woman. That poor girl.
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C
Oof. Okay, let's pivot from a horrible murder of a young woman being shot in.
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B
The face by a man to a.
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C
Woman who shot herself in the face by mistake.
- [20:18]
B
This one is called accidental shooting of a young girl in Batesville, Arkansas. And it reads, Mr. Samuel Haskins of Batesville, Arkansas, has several grown children. They were sitting around the hearth, conversely conversing on various subjects, when pistols were mentioned. America. A daughter aged 16 years said that the holster pistol hanging against the wall in the room was not loaded.
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C
Others said that it was.
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She immediately took the pistol out of its scabbard, held it with the muzzle.
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Toward her, and raising the hammer slightly, looked down the barrel.
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B
In lowering the weapon, her thumb. Thumb slipped from the hammer, and the.
- [21:00]
C
Consequence was an explosion.
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The load entered her breast, resulting in death in about 20 minutes.
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C
God Almighty. There's an illustration for this one on the Instagram.
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B
20 minutes. That is such a long time to.
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Die and so long to be aware that you made such a stupid mistake. That would be the insult to injury for me, just lying there in excruciating pain, suffering even more at the thought of like Genevieve. Now you have to take to the grave that you checked to see if a gun was loaded by staring down both barrels and pulling the trigger. I imagine the embarrassment would kill me before the injury's good, though. Ugh.
- [21:49]
B
That poor girl. I hope that she and Jane became good friends in heaven. Those stories are both from the same paper. Happened about the same time.
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C
Okay, this next one is quite sad.
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B
And it is called awful fate of a pauper. And it reads, rattle his bones over the stones. He's only a pauper whom nobody owns. Some days ago, an Italian who could speak no English, applied in company with an interpreter To Dr. Ceccare of the Board of Health in New York to be sent to the hospital, as he had been unable to work and for a long time previous had suffered with chronic dysentery. He told the doctor his pitiful story, that he lived at 25 Marion street, supported and prolonged existence by contributions from his fellow countrymen, who were almost as poor as himself, that he was ill, without money. Without home, without friends. His wretched condition and his supplicating stories convinced the doctor that he was telling the truth. Dr. Ceccarini, seeing that this man must immediately have medical attendance and nourishment to sustain life, immediately wrote to George Kellogg, superintendent of the outdoor poor, that the bearer was an old Italian, a resident of New York one year and a half, dangerously ill with dysentery, poor without friends or home, and begged as a special favor not to delay in sending the barrel to the hospital. The poor man with a companion delivered the letter to Mr. Kellogg and was informed that they could not give him a pass to the hospital because he had not been long enough in this country. From 11th street and 3rd Avenue, he was sent to Castle Garden to the Commissioners of Immigration. On applying there to be sent to the immigrant hospital on Ward's island, he was asked the name of the vessel he came to this country inn. On being unable to tell, he was informed that they could not render him any assistance. So from the Battery, he dragged himself back to the damp, dingy basement where he lay down on the pallet of straw and shared with his roommates the refuse from the swill ash and garbage receptacles which line the curbstones of the street. This kept body and soul together until Monday Morning. Morning the 5th. As soon as life had departed from his emaciated frame, the inmates of the same room notified Dr. Ceccarini, who gave a certificate of death. And those who would not aid and assist him when living were obliged to take care of his body when dead. His remains were committed to the clay of potter's field. Oh, darling, that first line. Rattle his bones over the stones. He's only a pauper whom nobody owns, is taken from a poem by Thomas Knoll. It's called the Pauper's Drive. I read that on dark poetry. It's about the tragedy of the poor dying with no one in the world. No friends, no help, the poet asserts to this dead man passing by him on his way to a potter's field, and that he is his friend and that God loves him. It's a beautiful poem. Like many immigrants that came to America in the 1800s, Italians faced discrimination and could only find work, mostly in some of the most dangerous, stressful professions. Italians built the infrastructure of my city, New York. The railroads, factories, bridges, and many paid with their lives. Several Italian men were killed during the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge towers by fall, falling stone. Others died when struck by steel rope that snapped in 1878. Others fell from the towers as well. But the most deadly work was in the caissons, large boxes that were sunk into the riverbed that enabled men to dig by hand with shovels under the river. Sometimes they would catch fire and the air would be sucked out faster than the men could return to the surface. They also died, died frequently of decompression sickness, the bends caused by coming up too quickly. Italian, German and Irishmen mostly built those bridges, and many died there. In that specific article, it was noted that the man wasn't allowed to go to the immigrant hospital because he couldn't remember the name of the ship that he came on and that he had not lived long enough in the country to be allowed to access the hospital. Hospitals for immigrants, like the facility at Ellis island, were primarily restricted to treating only patients who showed signs of diseases that could hinder their ability to earn a living. But it was noted that this was an older gentleman, so that may have also factored into why he was not allowed to go. Immigrants that were deemed physically or mentally unfit to work were often excluded from receiving government funded medical care. So heartbreaking.
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C
Okay, let's have a little bit of comic relief. This one is a little thrilling for.
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B
A bit, but it has a happy ending. A fabulous one, in fact, with a.
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C
Fabulous illustration also on the Instagram and blue sky.
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And it is called A Horse turned.
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C
Burglar at New London, Connecticut. Alarming results of his entrance into the.
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Bedchamber of two young ladies. A few nights ago, the quiet little town of New London, Connecticut, was the scene of an incident of a very.
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C
Unusual and ludicrous nature in which the.
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B
Sanctity of a bedchamber was disturbed by an unwelcome visitor. Two of New London's wealthiest, healthiest and prettiest daughters occupied the bedroom on the lower floor and adjoining the parlor of their father's residence. They had retired to their snowy couch and were gently slumbering in blissful ignorance of any intrusion, when they were suddenly aroused by heavy footsteps outside, quickly followed by the appearance of a visitor at the door. The girls shrieked, called for help, shouted, murder. Robbers kicked up their heels and indulged.
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C
In every demonstration of fear known to the female sex.
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When at last help arrived, and instead of finding their daughters resisting some midnight ruffian, they discovered a favorite horse standing in the doorway.
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C
Peering into the bedchamber with an air. With an air of blank astonishment, the.
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Animal was quietly led back to his pasture and secured in such a manner that he will not force himself into any more bedrooms. End quote.
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C
Oh, the description there with an air of Blank astonishment. I can see it so completely. Regular people have like bucket lists.
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I don't have that.
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I have like lists like I want to be woken up being stared at by a horse with an air of blank astonishment before I die. That actually sounds like an ideal way to die. Scared to death by an astonished horse in my bedroom.
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B
I could only be so lucky. Okay, our next article is upsetting and it is called Peculiar Filial Love. A wealthy Ohio citizen with smallpox. His affectionate family deposit him in a.
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Corn crib and it reads, not far.
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From Middletown, Ohio, an old man between 50 and 60 years of age was taken with smallpox. His family consists of several grown children, male and female, who are more given to the enjoyment of the old man's wealth than to the exercise of affectionate attention to his comfort and consequently. Fortunately, when the terrible disease made its presence known, this house full of dutiful children proceeded to hold a consultation.
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In less time than it takes to.
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Tell it, it was decided that the old man should be removed from the house to some point less dangerous to themselves. A happy thought struck them. In a wood some distance from the.
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C
House was an old rickety pen which.
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Had at some time done service as a corn house. It was empty, so without further ceremony.
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C
Than a butcher would hold over a carcass, he was tumbled bag and baggage.
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Into it and left to indulge the.
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Soothing thoughts that naturally filled his soul.
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B
One of the sons was considerate enough to mount a horse and scour the country for a nurse for whom he offered $20 a day. But whether he found one or not not is unknown. If a nurse was not found, it is presumed the bravest of the family administered medicine and food with a 10.
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Foot pole to the windward of the pen.
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B
Or perhaps the unfortunate man was abandoned altogether and left to the mercy of Providence.
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C
Jesus. Okay, as often happens in the illustrated police News, this sounds made up. No names, a lot of presumptuous assumptions about ideas these people have about things.
- [31:24]
B
But dubious details about this article aside, isolation was how most families dealt with a family member sick with smallpox. In the 1800s. It was understood that the disease was transmitted through close contact with an ill person, and there was even a vaccine created in the late 1700s. But it was wasn't universally available, and once you already caught the disease, there wasn't much that could be done other than to provide basic comfort and hope. The disease ran a course without killing the patient, which it did often. It had a 30% mortality rate in the United States in the 1800s. Among children, it was even higher. 80% of children who contracted smallpox died. Such a God awful disease. Okay, our next one is quite awful.
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C
Short and awful.
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B
It's called Singular Slaying Accident to a lady in.
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C
All right, Worcester is how it's spelled. I think I've heard that it's called Worcester, Massachusetts.
- [32:29]
B
Correct me if I'm wrong and it reads a singular accident happened in Worcester the other day. As a Mrs. Harrington was riding in a sleigh, a horse came up behind her suddenly and the shaft striking under the outside arm lifted her out of the sleigh and carried her several rods.
- [32:49]
C
Cutting her head and tearing her clothing nearly off. Fortunately, her injuries are not dangerous. End quote. The illustration for that one is on the Instagram. No more info about that one. Though I do hope that she recovered swiftly from what sounds like an equally.
- [33:08]
B
Horrifying as humiliating situation. Poor dear. Okay, our next article is pretty heavy. It is called the Scaffold and it reads, execution of Buckout, the Sleepy Hollow murderer at White Plains, New York. History of his terrible crime, conviction and sentence. The laws delay preparations for death. The brothers farewell. An affecting scene in the prison cell. Firmness of the doomed man, etc.
- [33:42]
C
That is the headline. The article reads.
- [33:46]
B
After exhausting every means known to the law and after bringing every pressure possible to bear on Governor Hoffman to reprieve him, Isaac Van Wart, Buckhout, was executed this morning in an enclosure erected between the Westchester County Jail and the prison keeper's residence at White Plains, New York. The two buildings being so close together that by erecting a high board fence between them on each side, a large enclosure was made capable of holding about 300 spectators. It will be remembered that Buckout, who was a small farmer residing in a romantic spot called called Sleepy Hollow on the upper Sing Sing road, murdered on 1 January 1871. His wife, a neighbor, named Mr. Alfred Rendell and attempted to murder Charles Rendell, the son of the latter. Buckout, who was about 40 years old, very muscular and strongly built, was in the habit of going on occasional sprees during which he became very quarrelsome. His last, last spree terminated on Christmas Day 1870 on New Year's Day. He invited Mr. Alfred Rendell and his family to spend the day with him. The two families being intimate. Of the Rendell family, only the father and son accepted the invitation. Soon after their arrival at buckout's residence A Mrs. Francis Weeks, who also lived near Buckout, heard two reports of a gun. Her curiosity. Subsequently Huntley led her towards the house to ascertain the cause of the discharge. And while on her way, she met Buckout, who passed her without speaking. On entering the house, a fearful scene presented itself to her view, raising an alarm, other persons came to her assistance. They then found Alfred Rendall seated in a chair, dead, a whole charge of buckshot having entered his neck. In his hand was still a glass goblet from which he had been drinking cider. Charles Render, the son, was found lying on a sofa with a fearful wound in the head. It seems that after Buckhout had done the murderous deeds he went into the kitchen and broke the stock of the gun into fragments upon the head of his wife who was seven years his junior and a quiet, inoffensive woman. She died. Died soon after being discovered. Charles Render was, however, removed and surgical aid sent for. After leaving the house, the murderer walked to the residence of Ira Miller and surrendered himself, saying that he had killed the Rendles. He was at once given into custody and taken to jail at White Plains where for a few days he played the act of insanity to perfection. After a few days, the chlorophyll form test was applied and it became evident that his insanity was only feigned. On the same day, he made a full confession and said that young Rendle had been too intimate with his wife. On 23rd March, he was placed on trial, which was a long and patient one. He was respited by the governor to the 16th of September when Judge Pratt stepped in and granted a stay of proceedings which resulted in him being restored sentence for execution today. Buckhout arose at an early hour this morning. After several hours of prayer, he said he was content to die and felt as he used to when he was a child. At 11aM the sheriff received a dispatch signed by Governor Hoffman saying that he should not interfere with the sentence of the law. The information was at once conveyed to Buck out by his brother who wept bitterly. The prisoner was more composed, threw his arms over his brother's shoulder and stroking his head, said, never mind, Ben. We won't be parted long. They then bid each other farewell. The sheriff and his deputies having entered the cell, Buck out, knowing that his last hour was come quietly submitted to be pinioned. The death warrant was then read, the noose placed around his neck and the procession to the scaffold formed. The sheriff leading, followed by the condemned. Passing out to the yard, he shook hands and kissed one of the prisoners. Buckhowt took his place beneath the gallows. Without displaying the slightest fear and with the most extraordinary nerve the Clergyman then read the solemn service proper to the dread occasion to which the doomed man listened intently. He then with a smile upon upon his face bid the sheriff, the clergyman and all around good bye. The black cap was pulled over his face and immediately a sharp ringing blow was heard as the body of Isaac Van Ward bugout sprung in the air. Consciousness must have been lost instantaneously as he struggled, but very little. After hanging three minutes his pulse ceased at the wrist and at 14 and a half half minutes his heart ceased to beat and he was pronounced dead. After hanging 22 minutes. The body was cut down and placed in a fine black walnut coffin, silver mounted but with no inscription upon it. The regular Episcopal burial service was then read, after which the remains were given into the possession of the deceased's friends. End quote.
- [39:07]
C
Okay, that's a rather detailed article.
- [39:10]
B
I don't think I need to cover more particularly, but I do want to discuss something that was mentioned. The chloroform test that was done in court to prove if Mr. Buckout was insane. This was a 19th century test used to determine malingering, the exaggeration or feigning of an illness for the sake of getting out of something. This test was also used in the military on folks claiming to have medical issues that would prevent them from serving in the army. Chloroform would be poured onto a piece of cotton or a towel, fashioned into a cone and held over the person's nose or mouth. While under the influence of this chemical. Doctors would examine the person to see if their medical condition still existed while under the influence. For example, in the case of insanity claims, it was believed that people who were truly insane wouldn't be affected much.
- [40:05]
C
By the chemical, that they would have.
- [40:07]
B
A higher tolerance to the effects.
- [40:10]
C
This wasn't true, by the way, and.
- [40:12]
B
This test was very controversial even at the time because many doctors asserted that this wasn't true. Anyone, regardless of mental wellness, would have a similar reaction to the chemical in terms of how some military doctors used it. If someone was complaining that like there are arm was too stiff to shoot.
- [40:31]
C
A rifle or their trigger finger was broken, they would administer just enough chloroform to make a person like a little.
- [40:38]
B
Woozy, then ask them to move their arms, move their fingers, it was believed that the drug would make them just.
- [40:45]
C
Zonked enough to follow orders, but not conscious enough to be able to feign an ailment.
- [40:50]
B
The test was also controversial because breathing chloroform has serious side effects and can make you very sick.
- [40:58]
C
So it wasn't commonly done, but it.
- [41:00]
B
Was done in some places. Just an interesting little upsetting fact for your Monday. Okay. One more horrible one than a terrifying, though hilarious one. This one is called Roasted to a Crisp. An old woman of 85 falls into the fire while drunk and is burned to death. Death, and it reads. Last evening about 8 o', clock, a sad discovery was made in the basement room of the tenement, no. 18 20th street the upper part of the house is occupied by a German carpenter named John Francke, who sublet the basement, a miserable room about 15ft underground, to a poor German woman named Annie Loppert, but better known in the vicinity as Old Auntie. The latter had supported herself by taking in washing. Between seven and eight o' clock last evening. Her reputed husband, who was employed at the Atlas Works in a minor position, called at the cellar for the purpose of leaving some clothes which he desired to be washed. And as had been his custom to give her a little money, he knocked on the door of her apartment several times, but received received no reply. He then visited the upper portion of the house and asked Mr. Franchi what had become of old auntie. Mr. F. Said that she must be in her room, as she never went out much on Sundays. The two men went downstairs and with an axe opened the window which was in the upper portion of the door. Through this one of the men crawled, and the door, which was fastened with a nail, was opened. A light was procured and. And a search discovered the charred remains of Old Auntie in a sitting position near a table and not a great distance from the fire. The knees almost touched the chin, while the neck was so bent downward as to hide the face from view. On the head was left a little piece of a nightcap, while a few gray hairs which had escaped the flames were curled over the blackened forehead. On when one of the deceased sneezed, there was a little piece of her nightdress unharmed, but that was all. The corpse presented a most sickening appearance, while the surroundings lent to the scene an air of desolation, want and misery such as few would believe existed in the city. On a table near the bed stood a candlestick in which was a piece of charred pine wood which had evidently found furnished light for the unfortunate woman to undress by. A more wretched, miserable abode for a human being than this cellar cannot be imagined. From the neighbors it is learned that the deceased was about 85 years of age, that she was addicted to drink and that she had been seen by a Mrs. Henley on Saturday in an intoxicated condition. The grim picture presented last night tell else the rest. It is supposed that the deceased, while under the influence of liquor, had crept toward the fire for the purpose of warming herself and that she had fallen therein with the result noted. End quote My God, I don't have more details here. It's just so horrible to think of the conditions that so many people lived in in this era, especially the elder, elderly and children. So heartbreaking.
- [44:27]
C
Okay, our final one is great. Still terrifying, but it should make you smile.
- [44:35]
B
It makes me smile.
- [44:36]
C
It is called what Sort of Woman Will this Girl Be? And it reads, a young daughter of.
- [44:43]
B
Pat Mallory living in Kasota Township, Mankato, Minnesota accidentally swallowed an open pendulum knife.
- [44:50]
C
The blade and all being fully 2 inches long. The knife has not yet been heard from and no unpleasant results have been experienced. End quote Accidentally swallowed an entire pen knife. Sounds like a girl who maybe took a trip to the local freak show, met a sword swallower and was pretty.
- [45:15]
B
Practicing to join the circus.
- [45:17]
C
There was no more detail that I could find about the final outcome of this situation. I did look, but I am sure.
- [45:25]
B
You are probably just as glad as I am about that. If you enjoyed this podcast and would like to hear more, please rate the show on Spotify and Apple podcasts. Please leave me comments because I love them so much and join the fan coven@myvictorianightmare.com to listen ad free among other perks. Be kind to yourselves and I will see you in your nightmares.
- [46:00]
D
Olivia loves a challenge. It's why she lifts heavy weights and likes competition complicated recipes. But for booking her trip to Paris, Olivia chose the easy way with Expedia. She bundled her flight with a hotel to save more. Of course, she still climbed all 674 steps to the top of the Eiffel Tower. You were made to take the easy route. We were made to easily package your trip. Expedia Made to Travel Flight inclusive packages are atoll protected.