Murder Mile Walks and True-Crime Podcast - one of the best "quirky, curious and unusual things to do in London" this weekend
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Murder Mile True-Crime Podcast #34 - Brian Alexander Robinson and the D'Arblay Street Death

11/7/2018

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Nominated BEST TRUE-CRIME PODCAST at British Podcast Awards 2018. Subscribe via  iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podbean, Stitcher, Tune-In, Otto Radio, Spotify or Acast.
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11b Wardour Mews, where the Limbo Club was (as it looks today)
Welcome to the Murder Mile true-crime podcast and audio guided walk of London's most infamous and often forgotten murder cases, set within one square mile of the West End. 
  • A weekly true-crime podcast - EVERY THURSDAY
  • 300+ infamous, untold or often forgotten true murders
  • Based on Soho's FIVE STAR rated Murder Mile Walks
  • Research collected from original and first-hand sources
  • Authentic sounds recorded from the location itself
  • An audio guided walk... all from the comfort of your home
To accompany your audio guided walk, what follows is a series of photos, videos and maps, so that no matter where you are listening to this podcast, you'll feel like you're actually there.
Become a Patron!
To support Murder Mile and receive bonus content, click Become a Patron:

EPISODE THIRTY-FOUR
Episode Thirty-Four: Brian Alexander Robinson, a 19 year old part-time DJ who murdered a man he had never met before, for no financial gain nor personal malice. And yet, although he was found guilty, Brian should never have been tried for murder.
  • Date: Friday 29th August 1964
  • Location: The Limbo Club, 11b Wardour Mews, Soho
  • Victims: 1 (John "Johnny" Howard)
  • Culprit: Brian Alexander Robinson
CLICK HERE to download the Murder Mile podcast via iTunes and to receive the latest episodes, click "subscribe". You can listen to it now by clicking the green PLAY button on the embedded media player below. All transcribed versions are available in here - "Podcast Transcripts"

THE LOCATIONS
As many photos of the case are copyright protected by greedy news organisations (and I don't want to be billed £300 for copyright infringement again), to view them, take a peek at my entirely legal social media accounts - Facebook, Twitter or Instagram
Here's the Murder Mile map, showing you where The Limbo Club at 11b Wardour Mews is based in relation to the other murders. It's marked with a red X.

To use the map, simply click on it and scroll up and down to browse,
For your enjoyment, here's a short video showing you 11b Wardour Mews, where The Limbo Club used to be as well as D'Arblay Street where Brian Robinson was surrounded and where John Howard died.

This video is only one minute long and is a link to youtube, so it won't eat up your data
Here's some photos from the location itself, as well as photos taken of the crime scene that night (by police photographers) including inside The Limbo Club, outside the Limbo Club, D'Arblay Street and an autopsy photo of John Howard.
Credits: The Murder Mile true-crime podcast was researched, written and recorded by Michael J Buchanan-Dunne, with the sounds recorded on location (where possible), and the music written and performed by Erik Stein & Jon Boux of Cult With No Name. ​​Additional music was written and performed by various artists, as used under the Creative Common Agreement 4.0. A list of tracks used and the links are listed on the relevant transcript blog here

No plans this weekend? Why not book yourself into Murder Mile Walks, hailed as one of the best "curious, quirky and unusual things to do in London". Click BOOK NOW for tickets

Michael J Buchanan-Dunne is a writer, crime historian, podcaster and tour-guide who runs Murder Mile Walks, a guided tour of Soho’s most notorious murder cases, hailed as “one of the top ten curious, quirky, unusual and different things to do in London”, nominated "one of the best true-crime  podcasts at the British podcast Awards 2018", and featuring 12 murderers, including 3 serial killers, across 15 locations, totaling 75 deaths, over just a one mile walk
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Murder Mile True-Crime Podcast #33 - Jacques Adrian Tratsart (The Corner House Killer)

4/7/2018

1 Comment

 
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Nominated BEST TRUE-CRIME PODCAST at British Podcast Awards 2018. Subscribe via  iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podbean, Stitcher, Tune-In, Otto Radio, Spotify or Acast.
Picture
14-16 Oxford Street, Lyon's Corner House
Welcome to the Murder Mile true-crime podcast and audio guided walk of London's most infamous and often forgotten murder cases, set within one square mile of the West End. 
  • A weekly true-crime podcast - EVERY THURSDAY
  • 300+ infamous, untold or often forgotten true murders
  • Based on Soho's FIVE STAR rated Murder Mile Walks
  • Research collected from original and first-hand sources
  • Authentic sounds recorded from the location itself
  • An audio guided walk... all from the comfort of your home
To accompany your audio guided walk, what follows is a series of photos, videos and maps, so that no matter where you are listening to this podcast, you'll feel like you're actually there.
Become a Patron!
To support Murder Mile and receive bonus content, click Become a Patron:

EPISODE THIRTY-THREE
Episode Thirty-Three: At the Lyon's Corner House Tearoom on Oxford Street, on the 20th April 1945, Jacques Adrian Tratsart decided to shoot to death his father, sister, brother and himself, but what drove this hardworking, well educated man to believe he was doing the right thing?
  • Date: Friday 20th April 1945
  • Location: Lyon's Corner House (14/16 Oxford Street, W1)
  • Victims: 3 (Jean-Baptiste, Claire and Hugh Tratsart)
  • Culprit: Jacques Adrian Tratsart
CLICK HERE to download the Murder Mile podcast via iTunes and to receive the latest episodes, click "subscribe". You can listen to it now by clicking the PLAY button on the embedded media player below. For transcripts of each episode? Click "Podcast Transcripts".

THE LOCATION
As many photos of the case are copyright protected by greedy news organisations (and I don't want to be billed £300 for copyright infringement again), to view them, take a peek at my entirely legal social media accounts - Facebook, Twitter or Instagram
For your enjoyment, here's a short video showing you the location of the Lyon's Corner House tearoom at 14-16 Oxford Street as it looks today. It's a Primark store (used to be Virgin Megastore) but the facade looks almost identical to how it looked in 1945.

This video is only one minute long and is a link to youtube, so it won't eat up your data.
Taken from the original declassified police investigation files (with the kind permission of the National Archives, as used in accordance with Government License 3.0, here are the crime scene photos as taken in Lyon's Corner House that night.

Warning: this slideshow contains crime scene photos and autopsy photos of two members of the Tratsart family.
As always, I've added the location of the Lyon's Corner House to the Murder Mile map (Soho), the location of marked with a blue X.

To use the map, simply click it.

If you want to see the other murder maps, such as Paddington and King's Cross, you access them by clicking here.
Credits: The Murder Mile true-crime podcast was researched, written and recorded by Michael J Buchanan-Dunne, with the sounds recorded on location (where possible), and the music written and performed by Erik Stein & Jon Boux of Cult With No Name. ​​Additional music was written and performed by various artists, as used under the Creative Common Agreement 4.0. A list of tracks used and the links are listed on the relevant transcript blog here

No plans this weekend? Why not book yourself into Murder Mile Walks, hailed as one of the best "curious, quirky and unusual things to do in London". Click BOOK NOW for tickets

Michael J Buchanan-Dunne is a writer, crime historian, podcaster and tour-guide who runs Murder Mile Walks, a guided tour of Soho’s most notorious murder cases, hailed as “one of the top ten curious, quirky, unusual and different things to do in London”, nominated "one of the best true-crime  podcasts at the British podcast Awards 2018", and featuring 12 murderers, including 3 serial killers, across 15 locations, totaling 75 deaths, over just a one mile wal
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Murder Mile True-Crime Podcast #30 - The Blackout Ripper Part Six (The Arrest)

16/5/2018

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Murder MIle True-Crime Podcast, nominated Best True-Crime Podcast at this year's British Podcast Awards 2018
Nominated BEST TRUE-CRIME PODCAST at British Podcast Awards 2018. Subscribe via  iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podbean, Stitcher, Acast, Tune-In, Otto Radio, Spotify or Libsyn
Picture
Gordon Frederick Cummins (The Blackout Ripper), reproduced with permission of National Archives
Welcome to the Murder Mile true-crime podcast and audio guided walk of London's most infamous and often forgotten murder cases, set within one square mile of the West End. 
  • A weekly true-crime podcast - EVERY THURSDAY
  • 300+ infamous, untold or often forgotten true murders
  • Based on Soho's FIVE STAR rated Murder Mile Walks
  • Research collected from original and first-hand sources
  • Authentic sounds recorded from the location itself
  • An audio guided walk... all from the comfort of your home
To accompany your audio guided walk, what follows is a series of photos, videos and maps, so that no matter where you are listening to this podcast, you'll feel like you're actually there.
Become a Patron!
To support Murder Mile and receive bonus content, click Become a Patron:

EPISODE THIRTY
Episode Thirty: The Blackout Ripper Part 6: On the morning of Friday 13th February 1942, The Blackout Ripper was caught and arrested, but not for the brutal murder of four women in London’s West End, and the Police had no idea who he really was.
  • Date: Friday 13th February 1942
  • Location: West End Central police station
  • Victims: 6
  • Culprit: The Blackout Ripper
CLICK HERE to download the Murder Mile podcast via iTunes and to receive the latest episodes, click "subscribe". You can listen to it now by clicking the green PLAY button on the embedded media player below. All transcribed versions are available in "Podcast Transcripts" (right)

THE LOCATION
Using the interactive Murder Map, (even though it's not a murder location) I've marked West End Central police station with red star on the left of the screen.

It was here that Greta Haywood gave her detailed witness statement which identified her attacker (as Gordon Frederick Cummins) and where The Blackout Ripper was arrested.
As many photos of the case are copyright protected by greedy news organisations (and I don't want to be billed £300 for copyright infringement again), to view them, take a peek at my entirely legal social media accounts - Facebook, Twitter or Instagram
For your enjoyment, here's a short video showing you where West End Central police station is. It looks exactly as it did on the day that Greta Haywood gave her witness statement here and when The Blackout Ripper was arrested.

This video is only one minute long and is a link to youtube, so it won't eat up your data
Credits: The Murder Mile true-crime podcast was researched, written and recorded by Michael J Buchanan-Dunne, with the sounds recorded on location (where possible), and the music written and performed by Erik Stein & Jon Boux of Cult With No Name. ​​Additional music was written and performed by various artists, as used under the Creative Common Agreement 4.0. A list of tracks used and the links are listed on the relevant transcript blog here

No plans this weekend? Why not book yourself into Murder Mile Walks, hailed as one of the best "curious, quirky and unusual things to do in London". Click BOOK NOW for tickets

Michael J Buchanan-Dunne is a writer, crime historian, podcaster and tour-guide who runs Murder Mile Walks, a guided tour of Soho’s most notorious murder cases, hailed as “one of the top ten curious, quirky, unusual and different things to do in London”, nominated "one of the best true-crime  podcasts at the British podcast Awards 2018", and featuring 12 murderers, including 3 serial killers, across 15 locations, totaling 75 deaths, over just a one mile walk
0 Comments

Murder Mile True-Crime Podcast #29 - The Blackout Ripper - Part Five (Margaret "Greta" Hayward and Kathryn Mulcahy)

9/5/2018

0 Comments

 
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Love true-crime podcasts? Subscribe to Murder Mile on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podbean, Pocketcast, Stitcher, Acast, Tune-In, Otto Radio, Spotify or Libsyn
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Criterion Theatre
Welcome to the Murder Mile true-crime podcast and audio guided walk of London's most infamous and often forgotten murder cases, set within one square mile of the West End. 
  • Nominated BEST BRITISH TRUE-CRIME PODCAST 2018
  • 300+ infamous, untold or often forgotten true murders
  • Based on Soho's FIVE STAR rated Murder Mile Walks
  • Research collected from original and first-hand sources
  • Authentic sounds recorded from the location itself
  • An audio guided walk... all from the comfort of your home
To accompany your audio guided walk, what follows is a series of photos, videos and maps, so that no matter where you are listening to this podcast, you'll feel like you're actually there.

EPISODE TWENTY-NINE
Episode Twenty Nine: The Blackout Ripper Part 5: before the brutal murder of 34 year old Doris Jouanett on Thursday 12th February 1942 at roughly 11pm, The Blackout Ripper had attacked two more women in London's West End - Greta Hayward and Kathryn Mulcahy - but why did his killing spree abruptly come to an end?
  • Date: Thursday 12th February 1942
  • Location: St Alban's Street & 29 Southwick Street
  • Victims: 2 (Greta Hayward & Kathryn Mulcahy)
  • Culprit: The Blackout Ripper
CLICK HERE to download the Murder Mile podcast via iTunes and to receive the latest episodes, click "subscribe". You can listen to it now by clicking the green PLAY button on the embedded media player below. All transcribed versions are available in "Podcast Transcripts" (right)

THE LOCATIONS
As The Blackout Ripper committed two separate attacks, on the same day (technically three) both of which occur in this episode, I've included two Murder Mile maps below.
The Attack on Greta Hayward
The doorway on the corner of St James Market  and St Alban's Street, where Greta Hayward was attacked is marked with a yellow dot at the bottom of the screen. To explore, click on the map to zoom in and scroll left/right.

For all other murder maps and episodes, click on this link - PODCASTS
And to go with the map and this episode, I have included a short video showing you St James Market and St Alban's Street, at the back of Brasserie Universelle as it looks today. It's been almost entirely redeveloped, but you can get a sense of its size and darkness.

The videos are links via youtube, so they won't eat up your data.

The Attack on Kathryn Mulcahy
29 Southwick Street where The Blackout Ripper attacked Kathryn Mulcahy is marked on the interactive map with a dark green dot. To explore, click on the map to zoom in and scroll left/right.

For all other murder maps and episodes, click on this link - PODCASTS
And to go with this week's episode, here's a short video taken outside of 29 Southwick Street, where The Blackout Ripper attempted to murder Kathryn Mulcahy.

This video in roughly 1 minute long and is a link via youtube, so won't eat up all of your data.
Credits: The Murder Mile true-crime podcast was researched, written and recorded by Michael J Buchanan-Dunne, with the sounds recorded on location (where possible), and the music written and performed by Erik Stein & Jon Boux of Cult With No Name. ​​Additional music was written and performed by various artists, as used under the Creative Common Agreement 4.0. A list of tracks used and the links are listed on the relevant transcript blog here

No plans this weekend? Why not book yourself into Murder Mile Walks, hailed as one of the best "curious, quirky and unusual things to do in London". Click BOOK NOW for tickets

Michael J Buchanan-Dunne is a writer, crime historian, podcaster and tour-guide who runs Murder Mile Walks, a guided tour of Soho’s most notorious murder cases, hailed as “one of the top ten curious, quirky, unusual and different things to do in London” and featuring 12 murderers, including 3 serial killers, across 15 locations, totaling 75 deaths, over just a one mile walk.
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The Mysterious Mediterranean Murder of Soho's "Ginger Rae"

2/8/2016

0 Comments

 
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Do you watch Sherlock? Remember the scene in 'A Study in Pink' when Sherlock and Watson are seated opposite each other in a Soho tapas bar, having texted the phone of murder victim - Jennifer Wilson - knowing her killer still has it on him.

It was filmed here, at 46 Broadwick Street, Soho, at the window-side table of a lovely little restaurant called Tapas Brindisa. Try it! The food's lovely. 
But what neither the cast or crew would have known is that just two floors above then, in the second floor flat of 46 Broadwick Street, was a real-life murder, which even today - now almost seventy years on - it remains unsolved. 

Picture46 Broadwick Street
Ten years after the Soho Strangler - a sadistic maniac who would terrorise West London's notorious red-light district, strangling at least four prostitutes ("Dutch Leah", "French Marie", "French Fifi" and Marie Jeanette Cotton), and whose identity has never been uncovered -  three more prostitutes would be murdered.

As before, all were Soho prostitutes, all were female, and all lived just streets from each other; they were “Russian Dora” on Long Acre, “Black Rita” on Rupert Street, 
Margaret Cooke on Carnaby Street and “Ginger Rae” on Broadwick Street.

​None of their murders have ever been solved. 

On 26th September 1948, 41 year old Rachel Fennick (alias “Ginger Rae”), a prostitute since the mid 1920’s with eighty-seven convictions for soliciting, theft and brothel keeping, was found murdered in her flat, on the second floor of number 46 Broadwick Street. But unlike those before her, she hadn’t been strangled, mutilated or bludgeoned; instead she had been stabbed, once, in the stomach.

​Police knew this wasn’t the work of a sadistic killer. No, this was a contract killing. “Ginger Rae” died instantly, having been stabbed with a “Mediterranean” style knife, either a Sphairai or Janbiya. A short-handled dagger with a curved heavy blade, designed to cut through muscle and bone, but when stabbed, can be twisted upwards, slitting the internal organs (such as the intestines, lungs, liver or heart) in one swift movement, making it a much feared weapon.
Suspicion rightfully fell on her new pimps, the Messina Brothers; Salvatore, Carmelo, Alfredo, Attilio and Eugene, who were Italian born but Maltese raised, and who from the 1930’s to the 1950’s dominated London’s criminal underworld. They ran over thirty brothels in Soho, Mayfair & Fitzrovia, and bribed the Police with such efficiency that they ran unchecked in the city. Attilio Messina reportedly stated to the press: "We Messina's are more powerful than the British Government. We do as we like."
So were they ever arrested for the murder of (one of their prostitutes) "Ginger Rae"? No. Of course they weren't. So why was Ginger Rae killed? Well that we’ll never know. But one thing we do know is that the Messina Brothers were fans of issuing a big clear message to any of their "working girls" who stepped out of line, either by cutting off their tongue if they'd talked too much, gouging out their eyes if they'd seen something they shouldn't have, or...

...by the single slit to Ginger Rae’s stomach, which was a rather brutal warning to the other girls, about the dangers of “spilling your guts”. ​Whether that's true, we shall never know. 

Michael J Buchanan-Dunne is a writer, crime historian and tour-guide who runs Murder Mile Walks, a guided tour of Soho’s most notorious murder cases, hailed as “one of the top ten quirky & unusual things to do in London” and featuring 18 murderers, 3 serial killers, across 21 locations, totalling 75 deaths, over just a one mile walk.
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Murder Mile Walks is a true-crime podcast and guided walk of Soho's most notorious murders, hailed as one of the best "quirky, curious and unusual things to do in London", rated five stars and nominated one of the Best British True-Crime Podcasts of 2018
  • HOME
  • TICKETS
    • GIFT VOUCHERS
    • CORPORATE TOURS
    • PRIVATE TOURS
  • MEET HERE
  • REVIEWS
  • Q&A
    • PHOTOS
  • Shop
  • PODCAST
    • About the Host
    • About the Music
    • About the Sound
    • About the Research
  • Contact
  • Blog