Britain's first railway murder.

In this podcast from the UK National Archives, Kate Colquhoun discusses the first murder on Britain's railways in 1864, when an elderly banker was bludgeoned and his body thrown from the train. The case was a public sensation that involved a Scotland Yard detective who had previously worked with Inspector Whicher (see the Constance Kent, or Road Murder, case), a key piece of evidence left behind in the carriage, and a transatlantic chase of the suspect. It is the subject of Colquhoun's Mr. Briggs' Hat (US title: Murder in the First-Class Carriage).

Cornell to preserve early accounts of U.S. trials.

Rendering of Lizzie Borden
Phrenological Journal,
Dec 1892. The phrenologists
judged that her face showed
"courage, selfishness, and
executive ability."

Cornell University Library has received a grant to preserve accounts of early American trials such as the Lizzie Borden case. Trials covered run from the 1600s to the turn of the century. (Hat tip to Fine Books & Collections)

A history of the Illustrated Police News.

In this podcast from the British Library Linda Stratmann discusses the sensational periodical Illustrated Police News that began in the Victorian era, which included crime coverage; she mentions the treatment of one of the victims of Jack the Ripper in its pages. The Illustrated Police News is the subject of her new book Cruel Deeds and Dreadful Calamities.

NYT: One can't be buried alive (phew).

The newish blog Sunday Magazine treats us to New York Times stories of a century ago, such as:

• "Fear of Being Buried Alive Is Groundless" (tailor-made for Bill Crider)

• "Enchantress Bewitches All at Murder Trial" (Venice's Countess Tarnovsky on trial for conspiring to murder her husband)

• "Black Hand Manacled at Last" (G-Man triumphs over criminal gang)

(Hat tip to the AHA blog)