My Victorian Nightmare – Extra Sneak Peek!
Host: Genevieve Manion
Episode Date: October 27, 2025

Episode Overview

In this special “Extra Sneak Peek!” episode, Genevieve Manion introduces fans to a taste of the Patreon-exclusive content—delving into a dark, true crime story from Victorian-era New York. The episode explores the grisly murder of William Bachman, the subsequent sensational trial, and foiled prison escapes, all capturing the macabre curiosity and layered emotional complexities of Victorian life. Manion reads from an 1871 Buffalo Courier Express article and narrates the events with storytelling flair, focusing on morbid details and the social dynamics surrounding the crime.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to Exclusive Content (09:43)

• Genevieve explains that Patreon members receive extra true crime stories weekly, including the one featured in this sneak peek: “a tale of cold blooded murder, ashes, bones, bombshell accusations in the courtroom and not one but two foiled prison escape attempts.”
• Theme: The episode emphasizes the dark, sensational, and often bizarre aspects of Victorian life and justice.

2. The Case: The Murder of William Bachman

Newspaper Account (02:47–04:39)

• Manion reads an excerpt from an 1871 newspaper detailing community fascination with the “Trial of Marlow for the murder of Bachmann.”
• Notable Quote:

  “A large crowd of people assembled in the courtroom on the morning of the opening, and the attendance on each succeeding day has been equally large... all that the prosecution have to substantiate the fearful charge against him is the chain of circumstantial evidence that appears to surround him.”
  (Buffalo Courier Express, read at 03:09–04:20)

Background & Relationships (04:53–06:10)

• Charles Marlow, a hard-working German immigrant brewer, lived at his brewery with extended family (wife, children, sister-in-law, mother-in-law).
• Another worker, Valentine Benkowski, also lived there.
• William Bachman, a stranger (or distant acquaintance), arrives at the brewery in August 1871, supposedly carrying a large sum of money.

The Day of the Murder (05:49–07:31)

• Bachman flaunted his cash in town, drawing attention.

• Charles, possibly driven by debt, brings him back for drinks.

• Valentine witnesses Charles and William go to the cellar; after a gunshot, Charles emerges bloodied.

  Notable Moment:
  “It freaked him out, and he ran out of the building... he [later] noticed that the basement was incredibly hot.”
  (07:39–08:13)

Discovery & Arrest (08:19–09:01)

• Valentine discovers a burning furnace with human remains (bones, arm).
• Charles is arrested after police uncover further remains and Bachman's personal items nearby.

3. The Sensational Trial

Testimony & Evidence (09:59–12:01)

• Valentine testifies, becoming key witness.
• The coroner’s jury (a group of local peers) investigates, leading to Marlow and his wife Augusta being charged.
• Insight: The coroner’s jury often stepped in where forensic science was lacking, blending communal judgment and legal process.

The Mother-in-Law Twist (12:15–13:40)

• Charles’s defense attorney claims Charles’s mother-in-law is the real murderer.

• Charles's daughter testifies that her grandmother killed Bachman with a hammer after an altercation, aided by her mother, and that her father was absent.

  Notable Quote:
  “I believe Charles is innocent and in fact it was you.” (Attorney to Charles’s mother at 12:46)

• The jury is deadlocked; a mistrial is declared.

4. Retrials, Escape Attempts, and Confession (13:40–15:41)

• After retrial, Charles is convicted and sentenced to hang.

• He attempts two prison escapes—once via a smuggled saw, again by attacking a guard.

• The night before execution, Charles confesses:

  • He poisoned Bachman's beer with strychnine, then killed him with an iron bar when poison failed.
  • He dismembered the body with his wife’s help and burned the remains.
  • He admits he would have also killed Valentine had he suspected anything.

  Notable Quotes:

  • “He made a full confession to the murder of William Bachman. He confessed that he brought him back to the brewery with the intention of killing him and stealing his money.” (14:50–15:02)
  • “He claimed to have given William a glass of beer that was laced with strychnine. He said William began to have seizures and spasms, but wasn’t dying, so he grabbed an iron bar and hit him over the head until he died.” (15:04–15:09)

5. Macabre Public Execution (15:36–15:53)

• The execution draws a massive public crowd; the sheriff has to arrange viewers “like in a school picture” so everyone can see.
• Charles Marlow is hanged after a 7-foot drop on March 29, 1872.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Atmosphere in Courtroom:
  “The courtroom gasp was no doubt heard around the world.” (12:54)
• On Public Spectacle:
  “There were so many people there to view it that the sheriff told folks in the front that they would have to kneel to allow others in the back to see, like in a school picture. Oh, goodness.” (15:41–15:53)
• On Coroner’s Juries:
  “These were neighbors, peers in town that would be called to assist the coroner in coming to a conclusion as to what happened.” (10:47–11:03)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Time | Segment | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------------| | 00:23 | Host begins episode, sets the mood | | 01:35 | Explains Patreon/Fan Coven exclusive content | | 02:47 | Reads 1871 newspaper article excerpt | | 04:53 | Begins narrative retelling of the crime | | 07:39 | Discovery of murder and furnace incident | | 09:59 | Coroner’s jury and early investigation | | 12:15 | Sensational trial and dramatic accusations | | 13:40 | Escape attempts and confession | | 15:41 | Public execution and aftermath |

Summary & Takeaway

Genevieve Manion’s retelling of the William Bachman murder exemplifies the Victorian era’s lurid fascination with crime, communal justice, and public spectacle. Blending historical sources with immersive storytelling, the episode delivers both eery entertainment and insight into the dark corners of 19th-century society, making it a perfect fit for listeners spellbound by true crime and the macabre.