Sinister and Deadly Victorian* Women Compilation (And One Georgian!)

In this compilation we explore the cases of several poisonous Victorian (and one Georgian) women.
Mary Blandy, Mary Ann Cotton, Madeleine Smith and Adelaide Bartlett
00:00 - Intro
00:30 - Mary Ann Cotton
24:20 - Mary Blandy
35:41 - Adelaide Bartlett and the Pimlico Mystery
53:04 - Madeleine Smith and the 'Not Proven' verdict
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[@ladydar69pluto76]

Awe the good ol' days.........when you didn't have to divorce em, you just had make their favorite dish, and then drop em in the back yard, under some rose bushes. And better still, afterwards, make a few bucks for your trouble! Bahahahaha :) lol JK ;)

[@technomickdocumentalist2495]

Great fertilizer for the roses 🌹 too . 👌

[@bobbisparks53]

Don't forget that you also just had to move one town over to either side of the one u committed your crimes in!! It would have probably been way easier to get away with all sorts of stuff!! Especially if you happen to be a nice, quiet woman with a sweet natured demeanor to you and the world could be yours for the pickings!😂😂😂 Fortunately for me, I am a pretty tall girl so I'd most likely would of had to dress up as a man before I went off and had myself a good ol' feloniously crazy time that may or may not have made it into the history books 😂😂..... still waiting on y'all to do a video on Lavinia Fischer (suspected serial killer and slave trader/seller from back in the late 1700s, I believe) talk about some serious antisocial behavior!😂😅

[@donaldlyons537]

That's Cold Blooded, woman !!! Lol...😮

[@karenb1472]

B v

[@satanstrophywife3867]

Life before no fault divorce was dangerous for a man 😅

[@sylviasnyder6751]

Mary Cotton was def. guilty. NOBODY is that unlucky!

[@pjsavastano6353]

This gentleman is a wonderful story teller, I enjoy listening to his voice

[@moetimski9767]

He seems like he could be the nicest person in the world literally

[@KwertyKeys]

He’s from Glasgow but I think he’s lived in England a long time, his accent is a mix of Scottish and English accents

[@shannonshorts-johnson306]

I want to take a moment and extend hearty thanks to you for bringing us such informative videos. I discovered your channel about a year ago and have binged every episode. Also, my husband commented on how stylish you are and how professional your voice is. You are a very debonair gentleman! Thank you, again, for your amazing channel!

[@violetfemme411]

Ditto 🥰💯

[@tt8807]

My mom took me to see Arsenic and Old Lace at Drurylane theater. I was 8 and was given no info on the play. I just kept thinking the old ladies were geniuses! Was clueless poisoning was so trendy back in the day!

[@hughgabin8068]

Have you seen the film? It's quite good! Old also!

[@meatavoreNana]

My mum took me to see the movie..Can't remember how old I was.😊

[@gaylegoodman9097]

The movie is hilarious, with Cary Grant, showing his great comedic skills! 😂

[@littlemissmichele9254]

I love the movie. It's one of my favourites.

[@MegCazalet]

It’s a really fun play for high schools to do. ❤

[@ingridfong-daley5899]

Oh wow--"impecunious" is a word i haven't heard in a long time. There are so many things i love about this channel, and your phrasing/vocabulary choices are definitely part of that.

[@kenijonesESQ]

And can rock the tweed too

[@franciebelcher4594]

Ditto👏👏👏

[@ingridfong-daley5899]

Somebody reminded me of the term 'wordsmith' recently, and i thought about what a noble profession i consider that to be. I subsequently realised how anachronistic my existence has become, and i watched a bunch of Victorian-themed docos to console myself. Then Paul Brodie said "impecunious" and suddenly all was right with the world again because a wordsmith is a magician, amiright? :) @@franciebelcher4594

[@lawrencedewan9838]

Your remark seems impecunious...

[@nancyekstrom8409]

This was the first time I’ve ever seen or heard that word. I’m 78 years old, but there’s more to learn.

[@BennyM_]

The lack on conscience in some people stuns me. I enjoy your narration, thank you!

[@claires8735]

I agree. I ❤ the way these stories are written as well as read. 🙂

[@AAMARTCLUB]

You cannot imagine the effect of listening to your beautiful voice has on my health: physical and mental. I live for my family and my garden, but illness has isolated me from much company. You make the day so much more interesting! Thank you Sir!

[@resarm5007]

Just found your channel this week, Paul. Appreciate your unique way of presenting these stories. I find myself relaxing to them as I wind down and go to sleep...and then I'll have to rewatch to get the entire story if I nod off 😊

[@Harley_Girl68]

Paul is definitely a fan favorite!!! We love him!

[@commonsense571]

Lucky you get to binge on it all for the first time 🎉❤

[@gaylegoodman9097]

I am doing the same thing right now, having fallen last night during this story. 😂

[@secondchairmusic]

I'm gonna need about....100 more of these compilations! I can't get enough!

[@abigailhornibrook2470]

My friend, you are one of the elite, the bold and the knowledgeable, thank you for what you do.

[@claires8735]

I'm sure Mary Ann Cotton was just unlucky. Very, very unlucky. All the time. Wherever she went. 😂😂😂

[@MrsABC7997]

I know that arsenic was heavily used in the color green in that time. Anything colored green, books, clothes, wallpapers. However, if there was enough "green" items around to kill all of those people around her, how exactly did she survive??? She totally did it!

[@MariamaDiallo-fj6ow]

I see- so is this why green is the favorite color of Disney villains?

[@lorrainedalgleish7616]

Me and mine would have been in trouble as green is my fav colour. Death by green clothes.

[@keddy5627]

William Morris Green!

[@flavia8504]

I was thinking the same.

[@dawnchester7352]

Hmmmm The Green Book?

[@Liz-re3ek]

Yay!!! I’m soooo happy!!! A new episode!! Thank you so much, Paul! You have no idea how much people enjoy you!! 👍💜

[@jessica-fcm]

Mr. Brodie, I would like to make another video request if you please. I recently read about the murder of the actor William Terris by fellow actor Richard Prince, who was jealous of him. It happened in the 19th century. It's quite an interesting story. I have not found any good videos about the story and I think you would tell it to perfection. I hope you like this idea I love your channel. Much love from Brazil 🇧🇷❤️

[@LazyIRanch]

I googled this story out of curiosity, and you're right! It's a perfect story for Paul. I hope he sees your suggestion.

[@shuga1313]

The skull in the drops at the beginning ..... Nice touch to this nicely narrated macabre

[@julieblackstock8650]

Mary Ann Cotton is one of the most interesting and loved the series Dark Angel about her, although in real life she wasn't anywhere near as beautiful as the actress who played her

[@Mrs.TJTaylor]

No, not beautiful, but she sure knew how to comfort a grieving widower.

[@bettyfeliciano7322]

Hello Paul! I’ve missed seeing your handsome face and hearing your voice tell tales of murder & mystery. Thank you for all you do in bringing these marvelous videos to us! Take care……blessings always! ❤️😊✝️

[@gigiwilson9124]

Fantastic, another wonderful video, an awesome compilation with outstanding research. I'm sitting back take it away Paul

[@RHM707]

Thank you for your research and presentation. I love listening to you. So interesting and listenable.

[@GrahamOrm]

Mary Anne. Deffo guilty! Biggest mystery is how the pumpkins moved across the table? 😅. Love it Paul well presented and told. Thank you from someone housebound. Graham.

[@alphooey]

😂😂😂😂 glad I wasn’t the only one who was intrigued by this.

[@delilahhart4398]

I think that Mary Blandy was as much a victim as anyone. She didn't intend to kill her father.

[@possumaintdead]

Lovely!❤❤ The arch pronunciations in the Adelaide Bartlett section were glorious.

[@deenichols491]

One of my favorite channels.. thank you Paul... I really appreciate your topics for narrative..

[@randelbrooks]

Mr. Sherlock Holmes spoke of these types of cases especially the use of poison by women and that goes back in to early history as well. Good show. Thank you for your work.

[@mikesanders8621]

Mr. Sherlock Holmes was also junkie. Just saying.

[@stephanyg.8717]

I’m worried about myself because I enjoy your channel so much. My hubby gets nervous when I tell him about some of these arsenic stories. He’s starting to smell his coffee before drinking it 😂😊. Thank you?

[@deewhite4346]

Excellent this is my evening sorted ❤❤❤ thank you dear sir

[@NancyvanD]

The woman in the first story, we had one of those in my city as well during the 1880's. Her name was Maria Catherina Swanenburg (born 09-09-1839, died 11-04-1915). She was initially viewed as a good samaritan (her nickname was "Goeie Mie" which roughly translates to "Mie the Good") because she took care of the elderly and the sick. It was established that she poisoned at least 102 people. 27 of her victims died, however there were 90 suspicious deaths related to the investigation. 45 of the survivors suffered chronic health issues after they were poisoned. Her motive was to collect health insurence payouts. In December of 1883 she was apprehended and on the 23rd of April 1885 she was convicted with 3 counts of murder and was sentenced to life in prison where she died in 1915. #Wellinever

[@joanhoffman3702]

I have heard, watch, and read about these cases before, but your video provided more information. Thank you for another interesting look at historic crimes.

[@joeanderson8839]

I don't believe that Madeline Smith killed Emile. I believe Emile killed himself with arsenic to get revenge on her for breaking his heart.

[@janetpendlebury6808]

She killed him, he had her letters if he wanted to get revenge on her, that would have hurt her more. He was probably blackmailing her with them as she wanted to marry someone else.

[@snippyJ]

I just want you to know that I love your channel and if you don't do audio books, you really should do audio books. I wouldn't care what it was about I would just want to hear you reading the text for me.😊

[@SecretWars98]

These types of stories are my favorite lol, excellent compilation all around, thank you! ❤

[@donnariahi2975]

Another excellent episode Paul

[@BarbaraJV1]

Another fab story and really interesting history. Thank you Paul 🙏

[@bunyz9728]

Still loving you and your channel! I love the info, the way you give the info, your voice, your lovely beard and the way you dress!

[@deemecklin4864]

OMG I just love your videos. I'm trying to watch them all and I've been telling my fellow crime enthusiasts about your channel!! Keep up the great work!

[@emilieraphael4431]

What a creepy looking woman Mary Cotton was!

[@Charlotte66666]

I'm about to lay down in bed here in London so this upload is perfect timing, thank you for all of your hard work Paul 😊

[@CraigRatcliff61]

Nothing like waking up here in Bendigo Australia 🇦🇺 listening to one of your historical stories thanks Paul

[@carolmanning8367]

G'day, also in Sydney.😊

[@lukeeade6226]

Melbourne here

[@lesleygraham5927]

Near Melbourne 😊😊

[@alphooey]

Canberra

[@gailmaree7719]

Queensland here 😊

[@franceswray8340]

Excellent as always, this is now my favorite channel.

[@dennyhickey3110]

You are very talented Mr Paul, thank you for sharing it with us!

[@michelledesgroseilliers2956]

Paul, you are fabulous ❤ I was so happy to see a new video from you!

[@user-cn7mv2ey8m]

I just ordered a Cup from your Merch. I’m looking forward to enjoying a coffee while I watch your videos. You are now my favourite KZbinr. Thank you for your informative and interesting videos ❤

[@cadillacdeville5828]

Thank-you for all the hard work 😊

[@Constance-cl3wg]

The ability to pronounce the name at 37:00 deserves 10 likes and a subscription!👍

[@pamelamyers9613]

Too many deaths with one common person.

[@witchflowers6942]

poison is such a scary way to go. Often slow and always painful, it’s terrifying and you usually have no idea what is causing the suffering.

[@alphooey]

11:10 “he decided not to dwell on the matter”

[@rohsek7298]

Can’t wait to listen ❤

[@sheffieldamanda]

Love these compilations! ❤

[@newfiejoe4998]

If the coroner found arsenic in the stomach contents, then the person would have eaten it. I think that would be damming evidence.

[@ceceliaclarke]

If the arsenic from the wallpaper had carried the potential to kill one person in a house, it would have poisoned others in the household. Mary Ann Cotton was always breathing the same air, and she lived. So even if coloring of wall paper had the potential to cause death, that explanation, for these cases, makes absolutely no sense. It is surprising that a writer of our time would try for that explanation.

[@joanbrennan2534]

Well done & wonderful compliation. Thank you.

[@Flamsterette]

Thanks for the upload!

[@USfoolsgold]

Excellent narration, sir. Subscribed.

[@Maddie123ffx]

I come to love your chanel. Thanks for the great work 👍 😊

[@karinac.3378]

More than an hour!!😮 this is amazing! AND talking about women being the criminals ! THANK YOU SIR😊

[@PSD-ms8yl]

fantastic channel.

[@magnacary]

*Yes* Thank you Paul a new compilation is a sweet surprise.

[@crystalclear6864]

Thanks!!!! Such joy to receive these:)

[@inanymin8705]

What a fantasic journey !❤😊 much Love ❤

[@hannahgosling8979]

I absolutely love the videos ❤ they're so interesting and informative! Thank you for everything you do!

[@heyysimone]

Whisper it with me now, 'Aqua Tofana'

[@janetcw9808]

Thank you so much for highlighting this sadly too often horror. It must be harrowing for you to do all your work. But Of Course, we are all still here to discuss this, these souls are not, the families and friends will have to Try and live with this forever 😢😢

[@jonathanhandsmusic]

Fascinating stories all! I enjoyed watching them.

[@deniseleplatt1616]

Yay Paul can keep me company on my treadmill. Thank you

[@micheledushsne712]

Thank you. Awesome again

[@itsJade360]

I Love this Channel ❤

[@mikesanders8621]

"For the sake of decency, don't hang me high, boys." Is actually pretty badass for a lady's last words at the gallows.

[@Traceva]

Just discovered you Channel. I am impressed. Love your deep dives which put all the Crimes in to their Historical, Societal and Cultural contexts. Also I enjoy it when you include Images, particularly Drawings, of the people involved, as well as Old Photographs. It is interesting when you go out in The Wild to show is where events took place. I love Old Buildings. LOVE your Scottish accent and your particularly clear way of speaking. Thank you. Hugs

[@technomickdocumentalist2495]

Great work 👌 🙏

[@nancymeeuwse5907]

Love your narration!

[@SueMarsh-tb3no]

Love this channel thank for sharing 😊

[@Indgirl57]

I am new to your channel and I just want to tell you that I am so glad that I found you. These videos are so interesting and I enjoy your narration so much.

[@dan5660]

She was a witch- never underestimate the extent of evil in an individual that's gotten away with murder for a season. She wasn't sorry for her crimes, she was sorry she got caught. The hangman knew what he was doing..

[@janetpendlebury6808]

I think she was a psychopath rather than a witch.

[@dan5660]

@@janetpendlebury6808 What's the difference?

[@umbralunea]

⁠ ‘devil worship’ or so they thought back then. Mostly hysteria, superstition, ignorance, and scapegoating. I definitely would not classify her as a witch. She alines better with the definition of what a sociopath is.

[@nadiaminerva]

Love this channel!

[@whatever190]

I love this channel and you and I hope you know how awesome you are ❤

[@francesmeyer8478]

I think that Paris Green wallpaper would kill slowly over time not suddenly like with the last Cotton boy. I think the author of Dark Angel is greatly mistaken. All that Paris Green wallpaper didn't make Maryanne Cotton ill, did it?🇺🇸

[@addie_is_me]

That first woman was too much for me. So much murder, so far reaching and seemingly casual, a matter of convenience maybe. That maid, Susana Gunnel was a hero, saving the letters and poison from burning! Mary Blandy was smart so I think she knew she was giving people poison. Thanks for including the pics with Mary in irons, they are fascinating. You all are so great! Great job on Adelaide’s possible father’s name, what a pretentious doozy. Lol That minister allowed for the purchase of poison but acted all innocent when others noticed the purchases. Hmm. I wonder if she got away with a reckless accident that she was afraid to admit to, but this happened at a time it was hard to get out of a marriage for a woman. Either way, I hope they got it right. Maddy was between a rock and a hard place, that’s what makes her look guilty. Again, I hope they got it right.

[@alphooey]

Me: looses count how many people Mary Ann killed.

[@marykampa2978]

If i recall correctly, Paul used to change his vest and neckwear frequently when telling his tales. I found this very entertaining and looked forward to the patterns and colors in his clothing. Keep on bringing the stories of the murdering reprobates of the past, i love it.

[@cindysilfies5505]

Love listening to you telling story’s of history

[@allisoncuervo9816]

I would love to see a compilation video of all the bloopers from this channel. You can't convince me that he made that joke at 35 mins without laughing the first time xD

[@jo-annknowles1373]

Wow . Mary Ann Cotton was in a league of her own huh . I watched the drama about her last wk and it was really good but harrowing too . . Ty for such an interesting video xx Jo

[@thurayya8905]

Poor Mary Blandy! I think she was young, a bit spoiled, and very naive. She loved her father and wanted to please him. She had no idea that she was being used by a greedy suitor who loved her money, not her.

[@oldmanfromscenetwentyfour8164]

So much for a Mother's Love. Horrid woman!

[@Victoria-dh9vb]

Personally, I suspect that the relationship with Edwin and Adlaide was probably one where Adelaide was his beard. The whole story makes a lot more sense if Edwin was gay, and the two of them were friends with an understanding.

[@tubsy346]

What makes you think Edwin might have been gay? Maybe Adelaide was too.

[@paulk8532]

What's a beard?

[@cindysmith6612]

Thank you ❤

[@kellygnow1]

Interestingly, the first story about Mary Ann, is a series on pbs/prime right now it's crazy

[@ladysaffire4006]

Thank you 😊

[@NekomiSon]

For the last one, there's a movie about Madeleine's story.

[@michellethiesen7972]

Poor mary she had no idea. At least she had her father's forgiveness to comfort her through aftermath of her fiance's trickery and her death.

[@brucestratford5838]

I would love to hear you tell the tale of "The Axemans Jazz" of New Orleans.

[@williamskdn1]

Can you bring out on podcast so i can listen on my commute to work?

[@annfisher3316]

Well, l thank you, sir.

[@sisuguillam5109]

Bathory was extremly rich, very influential, and of a different religion than the people who slandered and then murdered her. They took her assets and pissed on her reputation... and it worked.

[@paulk8532]

She was the victim?

[@paulk8532]

She killed no one?

[@sisuguillam5109]

@@paulk8532 yes.

[@sisuguillam5109]

@@paulk8532 yes.

[@Jackiescala]

Thanks!

[@WellINever]

Thank you so much! :)

[@willowhofmann7409]

Aquatofana..... 🤫

[@taylorbutler334]

I whispered this to myself when I first started watching 😂

[@Traceva]

Wow! Your French accent is fabulous too.

[@joeanderson8839]

I believe that Mary Blandy's conviction and execution was wrong.

[@kerry-annjacobs6260]

Why, she did administer the drug that killed her father. Mary Blandy yes, a product of her time but she absolutely had no clue, no idea of a connection between the 'love powder' and the illness? She really was quite either simple or plainly stupid. This man was married at what point would they have been together really? I do not believe she was as clueless as she presented to be honest.

[@carasmith549]

I've read about four different books about Madeleine Smith, and I am quite convinced she was not guilty. Emile was a raging hypochondriac who regularly dosed himself up with all manner of drugs and potions, and had also threatened to do away with himself over a failed love affair years before. I believe he was setting her up, to take the blame for his death, or at least, his illness, via another 'try' at ending it all (by his own hands). It may be, he did not intend to actually lose his life, merely to cause himself some ill health, which he could pin on her, as revenge. He did once say to a friend, "if she were to poison me, I would forgive her." So poison was on his mind. I believe he was planning to take enough to cause illness, for which she could be blamed (revenge), and it would ruin her chances with the richer man and Emile would get her back. That is, if he survived it, but he didn't. The book "A Scottish Murder" has the most detailed account. Madeleine died in the USA in 1928.

[@kes78]

I live in Rhu and my dad's office was on Blythswood Square and he told me this story from when I was little, he was a lawyer and used this story to explain the not proven verdict in Scotland