Historical records have led to a renewed examination of a mysterious Southend murder case from 1906.
More than a century has passed since the suspicious death of Caroline Elizabeth Lewin.
In collaboration with family history company, Findmypast, Tom Fitton has revisited the death of his ancestor, providing new insights into the mystery.
The case forms part of a new crime podcast, Was Justice Served?, which uses historical documents and articles to revisit old crimes and question if justice was indeed served.
In 1906, Ms Lewin was found dead in her Southend home, with a ruptured spleen cited as the cause of death, following an autopsy.
Robert Poynter, described as an "ex-army man" at the time who was living in her house, was convicted of manslaughter.
However, the quick deliberation and absence of jail time led to questions about the case.
The podcast episode revisits the circumstances surrounding her death and the role her partner may have played.
Clippings state the victim's mother said: 'You have killed my poor Carrie; you have murdered her' (Image: Findmypast)
The intriguing episode is one of many, with co-hosts Professor David Wilson, Emeritus Professor of Criminology at Birmingham City University, and research specialist Jen Baldwin from Findmypast.
The duo pick apart the complex relationships between the victim, her partner and family members, all living in close Victorian terraced housing.
Professor David Wilson said: "Recording this podcast was a fascinating journey into some truly intriguing historical crime stories, each of which has a twist you won’t expect.
"It's interesting to hear how different families feel toward ancestral crimes and the many ways it can significantly shape future generations."
The podcast, now available for download, invites listeners to act as jurors, unravelling historical mysteries using Findmypast's extensive newspaper collections, historical records, and family trees.
Recent studies reveal 28 per cent of Brits would openly share information about a criminal ancestor.
Nearly 23 per cent feel such an ancestor would make their family more interesting, and they would be more content discussing crimes which took place three to four generations prior.
Historical crimes such as spying, witchcraft accusations, and involvement in resistance movements are deemed by Brits to be the most fascinating.
More information about this case and others can be found at findmypast.co.uk/was-justice-served.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel