About this episode
THE WHITELEY MURDER (1907) — The Crime That Shook Edwardian BritainNews of the Times | Episode 593 | 1907In January 1907, William Whiteley — London’s famous “Universal Provider” and the man who transformed British shopping — was shot dead inside his own department store.The killer? A well-dressed young man who calmly announced he was Whiteley’s illegitimate son.What followed was one of the most sensational murder trials of the Edwardian age: a story of hidden relationships, vast wealth, respectability, scandal, and a public so captivated that hundreds of thousands signed a petition to save the killer from the gallows.In today’s episode, we uncover:• The moment gunfire shattered Britain’s most modern store• The extraordinary claim that turned a murder into a national reckoning• A tangled family history of secrecy, money and legitimacy• How the press shaped public outrage — and unexpected sympathy• Why the Whiteley case still echoes through British legal and social historyPlus:A remarkable Further Particulars story — when a runaway horse smashed through a Moorgate jeweller in 1922 and left London’s pavement literally covered in diamonds.? Narrated by Robin Coles ? New episodes: Monday, Wednesday & Friday ?? Long-form historical crime compilations: Final Sunday of every month ? Related cases from the archive: 1907: Monte Carlo Trunk Murder | EP284 https://youtu.be/oTOwoof-jKs1907: The Croydon Killer | Ep287 https://youtu.be/JOcmekUMZjw1907: Camden Town Murder Mystery | EP326 https://youtu.be/glZvLvCJVZY?? Support Independent History If you enjoy our ad-free, archive-based storytelling, help us keep the lantern lit: ? **Patreon** – Full archive, early access, bonus compilations (and it keeps us independent): https://www.patreon.com/NewsOfTheTimesHistoricalCrime ? Prefer a one-off thank-you? We LOVE a posh coffee indulgence! We tip our top hats: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/newsofthetd? About the Channel We’re an independent team of historical researchers and narrators specialising in 18th to early 20th century British true crime. Each episode is based entirely on archival material — from coroners’ inquests to forgotten newspaper columns. If you like your true crime thoug Hear about our ad-free archive on Patreon – 650+ episodes and counting! ? https://www.patreon.com/c/NewsoftheTimesHistoricalCrime Fancy a chuckle between corpses? Discover our first lovingly illustrated volume of wildly unreliable memoirs. Grab it here: https://ko-fi.com/s/b406f
