When Ruth Snyder began having an affair with a married corset salesman, Henry Judd Gray, in Queens, New York, in 1925, things soon turned deadly. Ruth convinced Henry to assist her in killing her husband, clumsily staging the murder as an attempted robbery. In today's episode we explore how Ruth Snyder and Henry Judd Gray became known as the Double Indemnity killers, and how the murder of Albert Snyder inspired a genre-defining film. " Crimes of the Centuries " is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab ...
Jul 17, 2023•39 min•Season 3Ep. 17
At 9:30 am on July 2, 1881 in Washington, D.C., the 20th American president James Garfield was shot at the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Station. Garfield's assassin: Charles J. Guiteau, a man described as awkward, insecure, and mentally disturbed. Guiteau was motivated by revenge after falsely believing he played a major role in Garfield's election victory, and never being rewarded for it. In today's episode we explore the lives and careers of both Garfield and Guiteau, and what led to the sec...
Jul 10, 2023•39 min•Season 3Ep. 16
As we explored in our first episode covering this case, Sir Harry Oakes was a member of the "elite" class of men who migrated to the Bahamas to avoid taxes and take part in business activities that weren't on the up-and-up. This group also included two men who detested each other - the exiled aristocrat Alfred de Marigny and the Duke of Windsor, who had abdicated the British throne. In the conclusion of this two-part episode, we dive deeper into Oakes' life, possible suspects, and the unsolved s...
Jun 26, 2023•36 min•Season 3Ep. 15
Harry Oakes was an entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist, and gold miner. Sometime after midnight on July 8, 1943, Oakes was found dead inside his Bahamas house, struck four times behind the left ear and burned all over his body using insecticide. The accused murderer: his son-in-law, Alfred de Marigny. In today's episode, we discuss one of the highest profile cases of the century, the complicated political makeup of the Bahamas, and the flawed trial that led to an acquittal. " Crimes of the Ce...
Jun 19, 2023•36 min•Season 3Ep. 14
In 1931 in Honolulu, Hawaii, Thalia Massie claimed she was raped by a group of men, including Joseph Kahahawai, a well-known local prizefighter. Cracks in Thalia's story throughout the case led to deadlocked jury and a mistrial, leading Thalia's mother, Grace Fortescue, and several accomplices, to murder Joseph Kahahawai. The group soon thereafter were charged with his murder. In today's episode we discuss The Massie Trial, known as the Massie Affair, and how this high-profile and controversial ...
Jun 12, 2023•42 min•Season 3Ep. 13
In 1959 in Louisville, Kentucky, Alberta Jones was named the first woman prosecutor. Only a few years later in 1965, she was found dead in the Ohio River. In today's episode we discuss Alberta's trailblazing life and career leading up to her mysterious death, and what is suspected to have happened that night, as the case today still remains unsolved. What happened to Alberta Jones? " Crimes of the Centuries " is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made ...
Jun 05, 2023•36 min•Season 3Ep. 12
Hey, Crimes of the Centuries listeners! We’re off for the Memorial Day holiday, but didn’t want to leave you with an empty feed, so we’re featuring an episode from another Obsessed Network show, “Strange and Unexplained with Daisy Eagan” Daisy is a Tony Award-winning actor, writer, and true crime fanatic. But she’s also a skeptic. Each week she looks at real stories of hauntings, disappearances, UFO encounters, and anything else that feels just beyond what we can easily make sense of. She is you...
May 29, 2023•32 min
Multiple murders, violent assaults, and a new forensic fingerprint technique. In today's episode we visit the killings, the acquittals, and eventually the conviction of Richard Rogers, a cold-blooded serial killer whose suspected crimes span from 1973 to 1993, and whose final victim count may never be known. " Crimes of the Centuries " is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter : @cen...
May 22, 2023•35 min•Season 3Ep. 11
In the musical Chicago , the foreign woman held prisoner on Murderess Row has only one line in English: "Uh-uh, not guilty." In today's episode, we explore the real-life case that inspired that character, Sabella Nitti, who was accused of murdering her husband, and her fight to speak for herself and prove her innocence. " Crimes of the Centuries " is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. Follow us on Instagram and Tw...
May 15, 2023•38 min•Season 3Ep. 10
Though he had been known by many names throughout his life, it was under the name Edward Earl that he was prosecuted and hanged in 1881 New York. What would the writings he composed in prison reveal about why he murdered his estranged wife? " Crimes of the Centuries " is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter : @centuriespod Episode Sponsors: Blissy - The best silk pillowcases on the...
May 08, 2023•34 min•Season 3Ep. 9
You're probably familiar with the concept of Stockholm Syndrome - the phenomenon where people taken hostage come to empathize with or even join up with their captors. But did you realize that the term comes from a specific incident, a strange bank robbery at the Sveriges Kreditbank that turned into a multiday siege pitting the criminals against the police, with innocent workers trapped in the middle and unsure who to trust. " Crimes of the Centuries " is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring ...
May 01, 2023•44 min•Season 3Ep. 8
Chicago's state-of-the-art Iroquois Theatre was supposed to be a jewel in the rapidly expanding American arts scene of the early twentieth century. But in an emergency, a combination of disaster management, design flaws, and construction shortcuts proved to be a deadly combination. Special thanks to Charlie McCarron for producing and performing the out-of-print song "Let Us Swear It By the Pale Moonlight" for this episode. " Crimes of the Centuries " is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring f...
Apr 24, 2023•44 min•Season 3Ep. 7
At the height of the space race, the arrival of the Thiokol chemical company was supposed to bring jobs and opportunities for the small Georgia town of Woodbine. But a tragic explosion in 1971 killed 29 workers and left many of the survivors in the community entangled in lawsuits for decades afterwards. " Crimes of the Centuries " is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter : @centurie...
Apr 17, 2023•37 min•Season 3Ep. 6
Brothers Herman and Irving Arthur wanted to leave their life as Southern sharecroppers in Texas and move to the North in search of better opportunities. But after an encounter with the landowners turned lethal, they found themselves on the run from a town setting out for revenge. " Crimes of the Centuries " is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter : @centuriespod Episode Sponsors: H...
Apr 10, 2023•34 min•Season 3Ep. 5
This week we dive into our archives for a look back at one our episodes from the first season of "Crimes of the Centuries." Check out this episode and all our episodes from seasons 1 and 2, and we'll see you next week for a brand-new tale! When widower Sam Doss was rushed to the hospital with abdominal pains in 1954, his doctor was flummoxed by his life-threatening yet mysterious illness. But Doss got better and came home -- then died the next day. That's what prompted police to look at his matr...
Apr 03, 2023•41 min
Nick De Noia dreamed of becoming a successful choreographer, a goal he attained through his sexy yet classy routines for the Chippendales all-male revue. Unfortunately, that job also brought him into the crosshairs of the dance troupe's controlling owner, Steve Banerjee. With the story recently revived in the Hulu series "Welcome to Chippendales," we're diving deep into the details to sort out the fact from the fiction in this sordid tale. " Crimes of the Centuries " is a podcast from Grab Bag C...
Mar 27, 2023•37 min•Season 3Ep. 4
Months after being named "Playboy Playmate of the Year" in 1980, Dorothy Stratten was poised to make the transition from model to Hollywood actress. But just as her debut film was about to be released, Dorothy's troubled relationship with her estranged husband ended in one final, tragic encounter. " Crimes of the Centuries " is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter : @centuriespod E...
Mar 20, 2023•38 min•Season 3Ep. 3
In Prohibition Era Chicago, competing gangs of bootleggers battled for supremacy. In February 1929, notorious gangster Al Capone set up a brazen trap to mow down a slew of his rivals in what would become one of the most infamous crimes of the time. It would also lead to the creation of America's first-ever crime laboratory, and mark the beginning of the end for some of the most powerful criminals in American history. " Crimes of the Centuries " is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgott...
Mar 13, 2023•36 min•Season 3Ep. 2
In Victorian England, a serial killer preyed on sex workers and other vulnerable women. But unlike the infamous Jack the Ripper, this serial killer, Dr. Thomas Cream, used his medical knowledge to devise more insidious methods to claim his victims. But once uncovered, his conviction would set precedent for legal cases for decades to come. " Crimes of the Centuries " is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. Follow us ...
Mar 06, 2023•38 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Hey Crimes of the Centuries listeners! The Obsessed Network has as a brand new podcast from the former hosts and creators of Obsessed with: Disappeared . It's called I Think Not! Enjoy the trailer here and check out the first episode out now wherever you get your podcasts. NOTE: If you were already subscribed to Obsessed with: Disappeared, STAY subscribed. I Think Not! is taking over that old feed. And we'll be back in the spring with more Crimes of the Centuries for you!...
Jan 05, 2023•3 min
After the 1984 discovery of 9-year-old Dawn Hamilton’s body in the woods, police began their search for a tall, muscular, curly-haired man. Kirk Bloodsworth – fitting that description – was arrested, tried, and sentenced to death. Then, he was tried again and given two consecutive life sentences. Finally, nine years after first being blamed for the crime, a breakthrough in DNA technology would make history. " Crimes of the Centuries " is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes ...
Dec 05, 2022•35 min•Season 2Ep. 42
In the summer of 1964, the first modern lottery was off to the races in New Hampshire. The “Sweeps,” as they were called, were a sensation of national interest, with lawmakers quarreling over the legality of the get-rich-quick horse race scheme and citizens from all over crossing state lines to get in on the action. The craze seemed optimistic, until one man’s attempt at claiming his piece of the pie turned scandalous. " Crimes of the Centuries " is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgo...
Nov 28, 2022•34 min•Season 2Ep. 41
Film adaptations of true crimes have to strike a tricky balance between authenticity and drama. 1987’s Murder Ordained depicts the 1983 incidents within a small town in Kansas, where the mysterious deaths of a minister’s wife and a secretary’s husband converge. But upon its release, residents and journalists alike argued the movie left some accuracy to be desired. So, what happened in Emporia? " Crimes of the Centuries " is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from times pas...
Nov 14, 2022•36 min•Season 2Ep. 40
Singing his way through the 1950s and early 1960s, appealing to audiences across a segregated music industry, churning out hits of dreamy quality like “You Send Me” and inspirational fortitude like “A Change Is Gonna Come,” Sam Cooke was more than an artist. He lived – and died – a legend. So how did he end up shot in a Los Angeles motel in 1964? In this episode, we’ll trace the tale: start to finish. " Crimes of the Centuries " is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from t...
Nov 07, 2022•37 min•Season 2Ep. 39
Inside a modest cabin on the vast prairies of Kansas lived a family, or at least four individuals claiming to be one. The Benders were an odd bunch: grumpy Ma & Pa, mysteriously moody daughter Kate and John, who didn't even share their namesake. The 1870s were a stark time in the yet-to-be-settled, American West. Travelers on long journeys had slim pickings when it came time to seek shelter. The Benders capitalized on this by doubling their home as an inn, where many checked in... but never ...
Oct 31, 2022•32 min•Season 2Ep. 38
Dr. Linda Hazzard was an extremely unorthodox physician, a so-called "fasting specialist" who believed food to be the cause of disease. After as many as a dozen people died under her care, her sensational trial would make headlines worldwide and expose the dangerously unregulated world of medical quackery. " Crimes of the Centuries " is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter : @centu...
Oct 24, 2022•36 min•Season 2Ep. 37
Selena Quintanilla was on the cusp of becoming a worldwide sensation. The Mexican American had already dominated Tejano music charts for years, but as the mid-1990s got under way, so too did her plans for an English-language album that many predicted would make her a superstar. The world was shocked when that all came to a horrifying end in March of 1995, when the beloved singer was fatally shot by a woman who claimed to adore her. " Crimes of the Centuries " is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab ex...
Oct 17, 2022•37 min•Season 2Ep. 36
The 1981 shooting death of Paul Witte, a father of two in Indiana, seemed to be an accident: Paul's 15-year-old son Eric said he'd tripped while holding the gun, fatally wounding his dad as he napped on the living room couch. The case was considered closed -- until a few years later when a second accident befell the Witte family. This time, police dug deeper and found that Paul's wife, Hilma Marie Witte, had been the mastermind of two horrific tragedies. " Crimes of the Centuries " is a podcast ...
Oct 03, 2022•35 min•Season 2Ep. 35
As Hollywood found its footing at the turn of the 20th century, so did a handsome young artist who'd soon be known around the world as Ramon Novarro. In his heyday, the Mexican-born actor was mentioned alongside leading men like Rudolph Valentino. But with the discovery of his battered body decades after his star had faded, Novarro became better known for the personal life he'd spent his whole life trying to keep private. " Crimes of the Centuries " is a podcast from the Grab Bag Collab explorin...
Sep 26, 2022•40 min•Season 2Ep. 34
In March of 1856, when a visibly intoxicated man of means boarded the Ohio Belle steamboat, the crew immediately worried that they were in for a bad trip. Still, they never could have predicted that the arrival of the man calling himself J.B. Jones would ultimately lead to two dead bodies and headlines in newspapers nationwide. " Crimes of the Centuries " is a podcast from the Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. Follow us on Inst...
Sep 19, 2022•34 min•Season 2Ep. 33
