Aghast at the Past

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Travel back in time to the darkest depths of the Gilded Age with a show that chronicles the strangest and most terrifying true crime tales of 1892. Each story you hear, penned during the golden age of yellow journalism, is ripped straight from period newspapers on the 129th anniversary of the day it was first printed. First episode drops on January 1st, 2021. From the creators of the Most Notorious podcast.

Blue Ewe Media


    • Jan 3, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 26m AVG DURATION
    • 30 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Aghast at the Past

    "Trefethen Innocent"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 3, 2022 7:41


    In this final episode of Aghast at the Past:1892, we skip to September of 1893 for the conclusion of the Tena Davis case. Also some reflection from me on the show in general, including possibilities for its future.

    "Ten Years Old and a Murderer"

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2021 17:18


    New news on the Lizzy Borden and James Trefethen trials. A ten year old boy commits murder over a pocket watch, and other tales of true crime.

    "A New Trial"

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2021 10:03


    Unfortunate new developments for Tena Davis's family in James Trefethen's murder trial.

    "Their Last Raid"

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2021 20:44


    The final fate of the notorious Dalton Gang, plus selected true crime stories from the first week of October, 1892.

    "Looking For Her Child"

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2021 15:48


    Lizzie Borden news, plus new true crime stories from September.

    "Sent to Jail"

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2021 33:06


    Lizzie Borden becomes the primary suspect in the murder of her father and step-mother.

    "No Clue As Yet"

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2021 25:53


    The Borden murder case continues to baffle investigators. Andrew Borden's brother-in-law, John Morse, tells his story about his visit hours before their death.

    "A. J. Borden and Wife Butchered"

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2021 12:43


    Lizzie Borden's father and step-mother are discovered murdered at their Fall River, Massachusetts home on August 4th, 1892.

    "The Work of Fiends"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2021 21:56


    A handful of disturbing crime stories from the week of July 25th, 1892.

    "Bob Ford's Death"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 8, 2021 15:07


    The assassin of Jesse James is killed in Colorado, and the volatile Homestead Strike leads to dozens dead and wounded in Pennsylvania.

    "Life in the Balance"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2021 45:03


    Attorney General Pillsbury gives the prosecution's closing remarks in the Tena Davis Murder Case, and the jury delivers a verdict.

    "Long Begins"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2021 57:00


    James Trefethen and William Smith's defense team, Marcellus Coggan and John Long, make the case that their clients had nothing to do with the murder of Deltena Davis.

    "He Shed Tears"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2021 47:59


    The prosecution lays down it's case in the highly anticipated and sensational Tena Davis murder trial against James Trefethen and William Smith...

    "A Frontier Fight"

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2021 27:16


    On this episode of Aghast at the Past:1892, we examine how the murder of Nathan Champion, accused but never proven cattle rustler, sparked Wyoming's infamous Johnson County War.

    "The Doctor and the Devil"

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2021 32:11


    The honorable Dr. Charles Parkhurst, esteemed pastor of New York City's Madison Square Presbyterian Church, was on a mission in 1892 to clean up municipal vice and corruption. From February to May of that year, Parkhurst made headlines for his infamous "slumming" trip to the worst dens of sin and deprivation in the city. His guide, a private detective named Charles Gardner, documented their escapades in the now legendary book he called "The Doctor and the Devil, Or Midnight Adventures of Dr. Parkhurst." In this episode of Aghast at the Past: 1892, I read all of chapter ten, and most of chapter eleven, which highlight some of the more notorious visits they made in March of that year. WARNING: I do basically read word for word from the book, and the author does use some language that is considered highly offensive by modern standards. While kept for historical context, listener discretion is still, very much advised.

    "Beaten And Left for Dead."

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2021 22:31


    Three disturbing murders and one attempted one, all taking place in the first week of April,1892, make this episode one of the darkest yet...

    "Extra Five Shocks"

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2021 35:15


    On this episode of Aghast at the Past: 1892, we explore the murder of Louis Franklosa by Jeremiah Cotto, and his eventual execution. And more tales of true crime, of course.

    "Horror in a House"

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2021 18:26


    In this episode, the wife and four children of Jack the Ripper suspect Frederick Bailey Deeming are found buried under cement in a Liverpool home...

    "Dark Deeds Alleged"

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2021 29:21


    In this latest episode of Aghast at the Past:1892, a review of some of the most fascinating stories of true crime and tragedy of the week, including the apparently diabolical Dr. Henry M. Scudder Jr., who is alleged to have plotted to murder members of the Dunton family after marrying one of the daughters, in an effort to have his wife made sole heir to the family fortune. He was seen by a witness clubbing Mrs. Dunton to death in her bedroom, and arrested for the crime.

    "Hazel Leighton Gets a Bullet in Her Heart."

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2021 26:44


    On this latest episode of Aghast at the Past: 1892 - a Los Angeles prostitute is stalked by her disturbed suitor, and a man awaits execution for killing his wife with an axe. Feeback? Email Erik at aghastatthepast@gmail.com

    "An Odor of Blood"

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2021 26:41


    We spend most of the episode today covering a wild and wooly train robbery and escape attempt by the boldest and most colorful 19th century outlaw that you've probably never heard of - Oliver Curtis Perry. Also - Miss Lillie Johnson has difficulty keeping her courtroom composure in the emotional Freda Ward murder case.

    "Poison In the Biscuit"

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2021 27:31


    Tales of suffering and murder on Valentine's Day, 1892, including more details on the Freda Ward murder case.

    "Baby Drunkards"

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2021 23:28


    A murder in New Jersey has a tenuous connection to a Jack the Ripper suspect, an outlaw in Oklahoma Territory meets his maker, and two little boys accused of drunkenness boldly face a judge (plus an update on the Tena Davis case) on this episode of Aghast at the Past: 1892.

    "I LOVED HER SO! And That Is Why I Cut Her throat.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2021 30:02


    A new sensational murder covered today. Alice Mitchell, angry that she was forbidden to see her friend (and alleged lover) Freda Ward, slashed her throat in a fit of anger and passion. Plus other sordid stories from a bygone era.

    "He Speaks"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2021 32:46


    Trefethen offers his alibi and explains his formal friendship with the now deceased Tena Davis. Mrs. Davis, however, has a much different version of Trefethen's relationship with her daughter. Plus more facts (and rumors) about her death.

    "Poor Tena Davis"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2021 29:59


    A mining disaster in Oklahoma, a double killing in Missouri, and the investigation into Tena Davis's disappearance takes a tragic turn.

    "Tena Davis' Whereabouts Still a Mystery"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2021 27:23


    On this episode of Aghast at the Past: 1892, mysterious wheel tracks found near a Mystic River bridge provide new information on the Deltena Davis mystery. Plus, a Tong War murder in San Francisco's Chinatown, and other grisly goings-on.

    "Unfortunate Tena Davis"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 4, 2021 24:55


    On this episode of Aghast at the Past: 1892, A strange letter arrives for Mrs. Davis, deepening her anxiety about her missing daughter Tena. Also, a San Francisco girl is stabbed in the head by a deranged stranger (plus other distressing tales yanked straight from the rank corners the Gilded Age).

    "A Mysterious Case" ( & Other True Crime Tales)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2021 35:08


    Happy New Year! Stories include a young woman who attempts escape from a convent in Saint Louis MO, a Pennsylvania man dies from swallowing lizards, a convicted wife-killer readies for execution in Vermont, and a Massachusetts girl who had told her mother she was leaving to marry her boyfriend, disappears without a trace.

    Introducing Aghast at the Past: 1892

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2020 2:15


    Enjoy this sneak-peak of Aghast at the Past: 1892, a brand-new podcast from the creator of Most Notorious. Ghastly true-crime stories culled from newspapers published in the dark heart of America's Gilded-Age and the golden era of yellow journalism. Subscribe now, wherever you listen, to ensure immediate delivery of new episodes!

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