The Horror! (Old Time Radio)

Episode: The Trial For Murder by The Weird Circle

Date: January 24, 2026
Host: RelicRadio.com

Episode Overview

This episode of The Horror! presents "The Trial For Murder," an adaptation from The Weird Circle radio series based on Charles Dickens’s tale. The episode explores the haunting influence of the supernatural on a murder trial, where the unseen hand of a murdered man’s ghost may have swayed the foreman of the jury—and thus, the course of justice. The host guides listeners into a world where reality blurs with the spectral, examining how guilt, fear, and visions intertwine in the process of verdict and fate.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Setting and Premise

• The story unfolds in post-trial England, focusing on Hugh Trelawney, the foreman of the jury in the murder case of Peter Cook.
• Trelawney returns to Newtown Jail on the day of Cook’s execution, feeling a weight lifted from his soul now that the proceedings have ended.

2. The Lingering Influence of the Supernatural

• Trelawney is plagued by visions of the murdered man, John Talbot, during and after the trial.
• These visions, initially dismissed by others as imagination or madness, eventually affect even those around him, with several jurors experiencing disturbing dreams.

Quote:

"It's hard to explain. It's as though some strange force has urged me to come here today. I felt it ever since the trial ended."
— Hugh Trelawney (04:13)

3. Trelawney’s Unwanted Role

• Despite being rational and grounded, Trelawney is drawn into the case by forces he can't control or explain.
• He is compelled to act and speak, often under the influence of a spectral voice, leading to revelations crucial to the case.

Quote:

"In a way, I was a puppet... Moved about by forces that can't be explained in any logical way."
— Hugh Trelawney (05:50)

4. The Trial and Uncanny Evidence

• During the trial, Trelawney recognizes the face of the murdered man in a locket entered as evidence and detects blood on the photograph—a decisive clue.
• The courtroom scene is thick with inexplicable sensations experienced by both Trelawney and others, though only he can actually see the ghost.

Memorable Moment:

• Trelawney, impelled by the ghostly voice, removes the photograph from the locket against court protocol to reveal bloodstains.
  [13:34–14:25]

"I'm sorry, sir, but there's something on the back of this that I must see... It's blood, sir. Dried human blood."
— Hugh Trelawney (14:16/14:25)

5. Testimonies and the Supernatural’s Interference

• Alice Hawkins, a key witness, falters and reveals, under Trelawney’s questioning, past tensions and a previous attempt on Talbot’s life.
• Trelawney’s questioning is described as being “impelled” by an external force, underlining the ghost’s clandestine guidance.

Quote:

"Your questions seem to have had an important bearing on this case so far. Mr. Trelawney, you may speak."
— The Judge (19:09)

6. The Jury’s Struggle and Final Verdict

• In the jury room, the debate is shaped by Trelawney’s almost channelled retelling of the crime, piecing together the murder with an eerie clarity.
• The spectral coldness is felt by all, culminating in the unified verdict of guilt.

Notable Exchange:

"You, Trelawney, talk to this man."
— The Ghost/Voice (24:38)
"It's uncanny. You might have been there yourself. Why, your whole story, even your voice sounded different."
— Mr. Jones, Juror (25:51)

7. Revelation and Closure

• Trelawney’s torment ends once the verdict is delivered and Peter Cook is executed. Life returns to normal for Trelawney, but the otherworldly events cast a long shadow.
• Peter Cook, even in his final moments, reveals he knew his fate was sealed the moment Trelawney became jury foreman, citing a dream visitation as an omen.

Quote:

“Your honor, I knew I was a doomed man. When the foreman of my jury came into the box, I knew he would never let me off. Because before I was arrested, he somehow got to my bedside in a dream one night. Woke me and put a rope around my neck.”
— Peter Cook (27:21)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• Trelawney’s Compulsion:
  "It's as though some strange force has urged me to come here today."
  (04:13)

• Skepticism Meets the Unexplained:
  "My client leaped to his feet screaming that you must be challenged."
  — Blackwell, Defense Counsel (05:41)

• Ghostly Sight:
  "I saw him frequently during the trial... It was John Talbot. The man murdered by Peter Cook."
  — Trelawney (07:11–07:20)

• Supernatural Cold:
  "All of a sudden I felt cold. Sort of a chill came over me."
  — Derek, Servant (10:18)

• Key Evidence Revelation:
  "Let me have the locket again... There's something on the back of this that I must see... It's blood, sir."
  — Trelawney (14:08–14:25)

• Questioning Under Influence:
  "Two simple questions from the foreman of the jury and the prosecution starts to upset my whole defense. Naturally, I didn't suspect the murdered man was working at your elbow."
  — Blackwell (20:43–20:55)

• Chilled Jury Room:
  "Who blew out the candle? Light it quickly, or I wish I were out of this business."
  — Juror (24:31, 24:36)

• Foreman’s Freedom:
  "You are free, you, Trelawney. You are free."
  — The Ghost/voice (26:49, 26:53)

• Peter Cook’s Ominous Dream:
  “Your honor, I knew I was a doomed man... he somehow got to my bedside in a dream one night. Woke me and put a rope around my neck.”
  — Peter Cook (27:21)

Important Segments & Timestamps

• Introduction and story setup: [00:06–03:22]
• Newtown Jail and Trelawney’s first conversation: [03:50–06:09]
• Initial supernatural occurrence at home: [07:54–10:18]
• Jury selection and courtroom drama: [11:27–14:25]
• Revelation of blood at the trial: [13:26–14:25]
• Voice leads Trelawney through testimony: [16:18–19:28]
• Key cross-examination of Alice Hawkins: [18:20–20:37]
• The pivotal jury room scene: [23:51–26:12]
• The verdict and uncanny aftermath: [26:18–27:21]

Conclusion

This episode skillfully uses the conventions of old-time radio horror—ominous soundscapes, layered narration, and chilling dialogue—to immerse listeners in a courtroom drama fuelled by spectral justice. By threading together testimonies, juror conversations, and unrelenting ghostly visitations, "The Trial for Murder" not only tells a tale of crime and punishment but of the unseen influences that may shape our choices and lives.

Fans of supernatural mystery and classic radio storytelling will find this a prime example of Gothic dread and psychological intrigue.