A number of people have asked if they can help support my channel - I don't have any adverts on my channel (and don't intend to) but if anyone wishes to help defray the expenses of making these videos in some small way, they can buy me a cup of coffee! www.buymeacoffee.com/MarkJohnMaguire
US courts have always been extremely sexist in favor of Karens and still are to this day. In 2021 we're calling this "male privilege" as political propaganda.
Thank you for your extraordinary work on all these cases. And thank you, too, for not being a mere robotic voice. My mother (1905-2004) was once married to the Daily Mail's gossip columnist, known as Tommy Thompson, in the mid|late 1930s so she probably knew many of the people involved herein. However, I was never able to elicit any information on these things, not even of the circumstances of my own birth at a clinic at 27, Welbeck St. Anyway, thank you again, Mr. Maguire (the maiden surname of my father's first wife).
How delightful the voice of the narrator is - the crisp, clear accent, the timbre of the voice … it is very engaging. The stories are captivating. I’m glad I found this channel. From a Texan who now lives in Mexico. :-)
I particularly appreciated the measured criticism of the prosecution. Subtlety, nuance, ambivalence --- these are in short supply in the genre. Superior prose and richly expressive narration also distinguish your offerings. Wonderful as usual.
You have no idea how much it's made my day finding out a new episode has just been released. This is the best channel I follow on RU-vid by far. Thank you :)
Brilliant exposition - especially the psychological, ontological and social elements that bore down on all concerned. I especially approved of your identifying how the Police (Sgt Campion esp) were actually only held as protectors, ie "servants" of the 'elite's' own status quo or safety (to them) mechanisms. Sir Francis Bacon, later Viscount St Alban would have been deeply dismayed at such a weak prosecution that just danced with the accused - a pathetic, useless yet dangerous vain spoiled woman who showed, apart from this 'trial', just how wasted a life she led. Very Shakespearian also! Talk about the decline of humankind even within the so-called 'elites' who are too often, not 'elite' at all on any level. YOU ARE A WONDERFUL RESEARCHER, PRESENTER, STORY-TELLER.
@@lissalives1 Yes the court completely overlooked the fact that she had an illegal lethal weapon in her possession which she had discharged several times prior to the actual murder. Any other person in similar circumstances would have been summarily hanged. Just remember Derek Bentley who was armed with a knife and knuckle duster but was hanged because his accomplice shot a police officer while Bentley was in police custody.
I'm so glad I've found your channel Mark, you have a rare storytelling gift and I hope you never stop doing it. The first time I watched one of your videos, after the first few sentnces I was hooked in and had to listen on. Thank you for all your research and hard work!
I feel the same way. I am so pleased that I found Mark's channel. I had been a huge fan of 'Briefcase' & 'Crime Reel.' Whilst they are very good, they focus on the facts of the case, rather than exploring a deeper and more eloquent, almost literary study of all the characters in the story. Well done Mr. Maguire.
The way Mark John Maguire tells these stories, his voice, pace, tone, clarity, etc. are what I think make these stories so compelling and engaging. I stopped listening to "real crime" podcasts last year because they all sound too generic, and not as compelling. This series is amazing because it's from the side we rarely get to understand getting away with murder. I would suggest you exact the audio and upload them all to iTunes as a podcast. Thanks for the stories. Amazing works. Hoping for more.
Thank you very much for your generous comment! If I could find the time to re-record this series I would do it - and produce them as podcasts, yes. Time just seems to be the most precious commodity!
They Got Away With Murder There no need to read-record. Just export the audio and and save them as an MP3 file format and that’s it. I’ve watched all your videos and they are more than podcast ready. You have a great opening theme, the narration is clear and the story is fluid. I would recommend checking out Anchor app. Its a free app that lets you submit your podcasts to multiple platforms like iApple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcast, etc., all at once. Thanks again for this amazing series.
@@TheyGotAwayWithMurder , You want an extra 20-30 years Mark? STOP CONsuming DEAD ANIMAL carcASSes! I'm 70, I look about 60, and I have NOT been sick since 1986, (not a sniffle) the year I went to a VEGAN diet! I'm also a drinker of about 30 years, otherwise I would look more like 40 or 50. My DO NO HARM diet has saved my life actually!
You're right, a poor woman would've been found guilty. She got off because of her status. Pathetic. And I would not call Sir Percy a man of integrity when he purposely lost 2 cases.
What an interesting time in British history. Your description of the "bright young things" and their controversial antics was really enlightening - I want to find out more about them. Great video, Mark!
Once again, an exemplary production in my estimation. The narrative is clear, compelling and erudite. I find it to be couched in just enough context to transport me to the early twentieth century without wandering off topic and very detailed in regard to research and description. Combine all this with a cultured and calming style of reading and this is my current favourite channel in the real crime drama by quite a long shot. Thank you for making this content and helping to keep RU-vid worthwhile.
@@TheyGotAwayWithMurderI'd like to add that my phone changed 'genre' that I intended to write to 'drama' which is wrong. That being said, if I edit the comment, experience tells me I'll lose that precious ❤ you generously awarded me so I'll just leave the swypo.
It is sad to see how easily justice can turn a blind eye when there is someone with some social status in the seat. Things have not changed at all through all these years. What a pity. At least she did not have a long joyful life.
It is a little shocking, yes. I also feel a great deal of sympathy for her parents - yes, her father did all he could to ensure her acquittal, but any father would... He seems to have been lurking in the shadows at every stage in her life ready to pick up the pieces. He went over to Paris to arrange her cremation and died the year after Elvira in 1937... He managed to save her from the gallows, but not from herself.
@@TheyGotAwayWithMurder You said it so eloquently Mark. He enabled her extremely risky behaviour. Michael's family had shut off his finances, Elvira' s family should have done the same. She would not have had the means to supply herself with drugs and massive amounts of alcohol each day. I might appear to be cold by saying that her father was part of the problem. Maybe he realised that, hence all the damage control that he did for her. Once again another fabulous video. Many thanks. 🥂
Beautifully-written. Sterling work! Perfect music, too. 'The joy of living a life of excess, seemed to have become a compulsive and tawdry one, made arduous by its very predictability.' Great line, sir!
What a great morning treat. Elvira was the perfect example of an empty and arrogant rich woman with absolutely no purpose in life. You are right, after the trial , she didn't look 27, she was more of a middle-aged woman.
If she had lived till 54, then she'd have been a middle aged woman at 27!🤣 But now, 13 year old girls can look like they're in their late 20's as they wear so much makeup and they wear unsuitable clothes as well. It's so sad as they're robbed of their childhood.
Even though she was acquitted, legally, history has shown her to be fully guilty. Her reputation is permanently marked. Live as she might, drinking, drugs and promiscuity marks a person. Her taunt was expectable...she was most certainly guilty of premeditated murder. She spun down and burnt herself out, and died, and no loss to society.
Your comment reveals your prejudices, as best I understand your shaky grasp of English. The behavioral traits you cite to not lead to murder necessarily. That she took the life of another marks her as a murderer.
I love how you illuminate the drama of trials. My older brother was an incredible public defender and is currently a federal judge (in California). I really appreciate how you bring the context around figures in the legal system into your telling of events ☺️ you're very insightful
And Elvira Barney was found dead... and nothing of value to the world as a whole was lost. Sounds like not even her family was particularly upset about it.
This is an inevitable outcome when offspring are raised never being told "no". Never suffering consequences for bad acts ... never being given an ultimatum and following through on it. Too bad that there was no one among her circle who could have told her the truth about the habits she had picked up. Then again... maybe they did.
"Hard" work is pushing a wheelbarrow full of fresh concrete for 8 hours a day! I did that in 1974ish as a young man, surrounded by drunken iron-workers! lol. This is ' a walk in the park' in comparison.
It seems strange to have a feeling of exaltation when another of Mark's murder stories pops up in my notification box. I'll just put it down to guilty pleasure ! They should have renamed this lady Elvira Barmy. Establishment class structure seems to be at work here and debauchery can be deadly. Truly excellent research, many thanks.
What an intelligent deconstruction of the psychology of these dysfunctional young people. The best thing about this series is the calm and rational examination of the psychology of motives and outcomes of the people involved. The Bright Young Things of those days are not that different in their excesses to those of the present day. Today though I think it's fuelled by an even stronger drive for drama, and the technology which encourages sensationalising one's own life for attention. Sad. Great series tough. .
Thank you, Susan - what these people were thinking, what drove them is what interests me most about these cases, I am glad that this is so for you too!
Your fascinating expositions go far beyond just mere legal commentary. They draw the listener deep into another world and indeed into the emotional landscape of those involved. The effect of having viewing your work can leave a person both moved and disturbed.
Love the in-depth stories and that you give us almost 3 stories each time. The reported story, the trial version, then (the best bit) what is probably the real story. It's like you walk in the player's shoes...maybe when you're sketching the scenes. Plus, your voice. As a woman, it does things to me.
Your details in these videos is a testament of your hardwork. May I suggest one day you write a book on theses and future episodes.I look foward to the next video.
Elvira and her set lived in the world of Lord Peter Wimsey. This story is like stepping into one of Dorothy Sayers’ mystery novels, such as “Murder Must Advertise.” And the Barney trial is reminiscent of Harriet Vane’s trial in “Strong Poison.” But “Strong Poison” was published two years before the Elvira Barney case happened, so the novel couldn’t have been based on or inspired by the real trial.
Another excellently done, researched episode. You can only think what a sad waste this woman's life was. It could almost be the subject of an Evelyn Waugh satire, except for the real horror that she did to herself and others. Looking forward to your next video!
Mark, Another great video! " There was little predisposition to sympathise with either the accused or the victim in the case", Judge Humphreys. This shows that Humphreys understood well enough that these 'bright young things' were the very worst of the parasitic class which ruled the World at the time.. Was this the Judge airing his disgust in the strongest terms which would have been acceptable, at a group within his own class, whose behaviour was an embarrassment to the Establishment? The continued existence of this whole class was (and still is) dependent on the fact that its parasitic nature was not obvious to the masses. The behaviour of the delinquents among the class exposed it to unwanted scrutiny, and this had to be countered by Humphreys. Humphreys feigned surprise at the verdict with his statement, 'should we have given her a pat on the back', but I'd be surprised if he hadn't privately sighed with relief.
Thanks Michael - a thoughtful comment. You may well be right. Humphreys' position is a difficult one to understand. He gives a categorical one in terms of the law, but during the trial he seems ambiguous - was he wrestling with different imperatives? It seems so to me. I am sure he was disgusted by the conduct of the bright young things - the psychology of class must have affected him if only subconsciously; I believe Sir Percival Clark struggled with this at a conscious and a sub-conscious level - there is nothing else that can account for his woeful prosecution of the case, in my view. In his book Humphreys professes not to understand Clark's inadequate prosecution, but he was an astute man and must have had a good grasp of the dynamics of the situation. Indeed, his referring to - as I believe - Madame Fahmy case, suggests that he understand very well the undercurrents and external pressures being brought to bear...
You speak of class when you should speak of disregard for the mores of youth. I don't doubt that the judge fully supported the contemporary class system.
I’m SO delighted to find your channel! Your productions are some of the very very best I’ve seen and you do a excellent job with the storytelling.. I occasionally get bored with historical crime, but not with your videos.. it’s definitely about the presentation and you nail it.. really! Much appreciate the time and effort you put into the story and finding historical images that actually apply to the story .. thanks for making historical stuff interesting again!! ATB ~Ruth
There's a wicked sense of irony here in that Elvira and her family invested so much store in obtaining an acquittal in a 'worldly' Court of Law, only to fall foul, one might say, of 'divine' law through her own self-indulgences: she was effectively her own executioner. "Lady Justice" wasn't gracing The Old Bailey during this trial and I rather think that she had been surreptitiously replaced by "Adikia" the Greek goddess of injustice and wrong-doing. Sir Percival Clarke seems to have been noticeably obsequious to his fellow, silk-stockinged blue bloods resulting in a terrible miscarriage of justice. Yes, she 'Got Away With Murder' but when asking why this was the case I think we have to focus in part on the unwillingness of juries in general to question the ethics employed by the legal fraternity during the trial. It's as if they are very much made aware of their servility to the elite and ignorance of the British judiciary system; clearly an Erin Brockovich character was desperately needed on the jury to force the issues that were avoided by the prosecution. A very professional presentation of this infamous case Mark and congratulations on your research and summing up!
Thanks a lot, Nick, for your usual thoughtful comment. I agree with you - I would only say that I think the jury could do little but follow the evidence they were given in this case. I found it interesting that they were out for almost 2 hours, which was a very long time for a jury to be out in those days - I can only guess they were struggling between a manslaughter and not guilty decision... So they were trying to exercise some spirit, in spite of all the steerage they had been given by the bewigged principals here!
@@TheyGotAwayWithMurder Mark, in thinking further about this case it would be very interesting to know what Sir Bernard Spilsbury and Robert Churchill thought about the verdict and the capricious nature of the Law in general. Noting that there was an absence of powder burns on Michael Stephen's hands and voicing the improbability of the trigger being pulled accidentally they must have been bewildered at Clarke's reticence in not pursuing this very important piece of evidence; after all, there had only been TWO people in the room at the time of the shooting. If, forensically, it wasn't Stephen then logically it had to have been Barney and no one else. Given her penchant for firing the revolver on previous occasions it surely wasn't too difficult to reach a guilty verdict. The quandary for Spilsbury and Churchill of course lay in knowing that their professional opinion had been rightly sought after in so many other trials and deemed meticulous and error-free. Yet here they were, bearing witness to a high-class, degenerate woman escaping the clutches of the hangman when clearly she was, in reality, nothing more than a murderess; both of their testimonies having been egregiously disparaged. Barney's 'Sloane ranger' lifestyle of privilege and wealth highlights the difference between her and Ruth Ellis, a woman who perhaps had been poorly used and abused emotionally and physically by David Blakely yet kept her appointment with Pierrepoint in 1955. I realise that there is a fundamental difference in that Ellis did have the intestinal fortitude to confess her guilt. Sadly history is replete with examples of the 'haut monde' belittling the tenets of civil law and Elvira Barney solicits no sympathy from the vast majority of the public nowadays.
@@groundedtarot5386 Yes I hadn't realised this until I read about her on wikipedia. I strongly suspect that her notoriety and the continuing gossip that ensued following her acquittal became too much of an embarrassment for her family to cope with. I half suspect that they may have believed her to be guilty after all.
@@NickPenlee Indeed, Nick - I don't know what Spilsbury or Churchill thought of the verdict. They must have realised there was something of a circus going on! Spilsbury may have been resigned to it, having been involved in almost 30 years of these cases - as with barristers and judges, he had probably learned not to take the injustices and failures too personally.
Another masterpiece! A case I am familiar with is very well researched and presented. Avrill Mullen's husband ( 1025-1932), Prince George Imeretinsky, was a Georgian royal prince of the royal Bagrationi dynasty of Imereti( Western Georgia)... and my grandmother's relative. By the way, he was a godson of the last Emperor Nicholas II of Russia. As far as I know, the reason for their divorce in 1932 was Elvira's behaviour, when some newspapers reported the Barney shooting with the headline: ''Princess' sister on murder charge''. Thank you, Mark, this was a brilliant story and your usual high standard of narration and people who care about proper grammar and diction, ,your stories are a pleasure. I love your sketches, as always, they show that you convey the story using simple, but talented drawings. Congratulations!
Thank you very much indeed for your wonderful and informative comment, Madonna. I had an idea Prince Imeretinsky might be a Georgian prince; his name was familiar to me... The additional information is quite fascinating - and had I known he was related to your grandmother, I would have sought your advice! It makes sense that the divorce between the Prince and Avril was caused by Elvira's conduct - I can well imagine that in spite of all their influence, they would become rather excluded by society. Even if there was a determination to see Elvira saved from hanging, there would be few people who would wish to taint themselves by association with the family - which it would have done in those days. Many thanks again for that additional information and for your generous comments!
your stuff is beautifully done, so glad I have found it. Seen so much very poorly made true crime stuff on youtube it's a breath of fresh air to have found your channel, keep up the wonderful work.
I've seen all your uploads, some more than once, and yours is by far the best true crime content I've seen on RU-vid, or indeed anywhere. Most true crime RU-vidrs make their subjects out to be either caricatures or monsters. But this is something altogether different. I'm sure (or I hope) you've been told, but you have a real gift for storytelling. Your perfect delivery of prose that is by turns incisive and tender, and your thoughtful and balanced commentary breathe life into your subjects and their times. Instead of monsters, your listeners are confronted with people, whether we ultimately despise or sympathize with them (or both). Most astoundingly of all, you accomplish all this in a way that seems effortless. By the way, do you have a Patreon? If not, you should; if so, I'd gladly support with what little I can spare each month, and I'm sure others of your fans would too. In the meantime, thank you, and keep it up!
Thank you very much for that wonderful comment! Yes, you are right - I think there is a natural tendency in us all, to judge a person solely on their crime alone. But that is a very 2-dimensional approach - human beings are not caricatures: I have never met a person in my life who was all good or all bad. People are a curious mixture of good and bad in which one or the other predominates... None of the people in these stories have horns or a tail, or fangs: some are much worse than others, too. We do ourselves a disservice, I think, when we view everything as being black and white. I am very glad that you understand this also - and absolutely delighted that you have thought so highly of my efforts, for which I thank you! I don't have Patreon - I have only recently become aware of it - I certainly wouldn't want anyone to feel under any kind of obligation, but yes, it does cost me more than most people would imagine, researching these cases. I cover the cost of it with sales of my paintings, but even so it is a constant drain on resources! Thanks again for your kind and very generous comment!
@@TheyGotAwayWithMurder It is easy to think of historical figures as characters in some alien fiction rather than as people like us. Some wind up doing things that seem unthinkable to those of us looking in from outside, or looking back 100 years or more. I certainly recognize the effort that goes into your videos, for all that you make it *seem* effortless, which I consider a mark of mastery in any venture. I don't consider myself a "writer" by any stretch, but have lately made my modest living by writing. Hence, my deep appreciation (and, I must admit, jealousy!) of your skills in prose. Mindful of this, I do encourage you to join Patreon. Of course, there will be many who can't or won't contribute. But those that do will do so in recognition and appreciation of your efforts rather than out of any sense of "obligation". So, please consider it, and thank you again for your wonderful content and for taking the time to reply!
Great efforts! Can’t imagine you must’ve spent so much time and energy finding the right material and resources to make this long documentary. Kudos. Also loved watching it Keep up the good work
these are such well produced episodes. Im glad I watch RU-vid and don't bother with a TV licence any more. With material like this I am definitely not missing out.. Keep up the good work
How tragic that this group of people lived such a decadent lifestyle. They gave nothing to society even though they were very wealthy even by today’s standards.
Indeed, Jeremy - I suppose it is the reality of the world of PG Wodehouse. He had a wonderful gift for making the vacuous young aristocratic set of Mayfair and Knightsbridge seem amusing and endearing - the reality is less wholesome!.
In America, it's F. Scott Fitzgerald's ``the Great Gatsby.'' People who are spoiled rotten are, well, spoiled rotten (have you ever seen a piece of fruit revived from such a state?) And, they're unhappy because they have no purpose, no needs to strive to meet (part of the total ruination of character and lives.)
@@TheyGotAwayWithMurder Bertie had money and a certain amount of access to fashionable circles, but he wasn't a Bright Young Thing. (As he complained in the stories, when mistaken for one.) He didn't take drugs and he wasn't fashionable and crazy enough. He also had morals and tried to avoid crime. The most you can say is that he drank a lot, but not nearly as much as Nick and Nora Charles. And he seems to have liked food enough (especially when gourmet and free) that it took the place of vices. One could argue that Jeeves' advice and remedies kept him from being too much of a gambler, bad investor, etc., as well as keeping him out of prison when constantly set up to be the Anti-Raffles.
They were young and escaping the rigid generation before them and the misery the post war era brought. Most settled down, you cannot live like that forever plus the Great Depression slow themed them down a bit. I liken it to the first time a kid goes to live on a college campus. There is a new found freedom and at first some get heady. Or how the Hippies who all grew up to be lawyers. Lol
I have recently found your channel and I really enjoy the cases you cover, particularly I like the time in which most cases took place. Really well researched. Looking forward to the next one!!
Interesting to note that she died from a "hemorrhaging"...which, ironically, is how her lover died, too, after she shot him. Karma is such a clever player!
So happy to have found your channel! I know it must take a lot of time to make one of these awesome videos. Still, I have binge watched all of the remaining videos which just leaves me wanting more. Your voice and narration of them adds to the mystery. Thank you for all of your hard work and I look forward to the next one.
Had to post again to commend your superb analysis of the class prejudices which led to this outrageous miscarriage of justice, Mr Maguire, thank you again for your razor sharp perception and wonderfully evocative narrative.
"A law for thee and not for me" Aye, we'll never see Andrew investigated as he should be! As always, your video is beautifully presented and narrated- your exploration of the prosecution's actions was exceptional.
It’s a rare skill to be able to speak in a way that i think can be characterized as easy listening and also not be boring keeping me relaxed yet engaged.
I've recently stumbled across your channel, and loving the high quality uploads. These are well researched and I commend you for your ability to find visuals for these older cases.
I absolutely love these brilliant presentations which include sketches done by the author of this channel! Mr. Maguire, you are a very clever, very talented man, and a terrific artist -- your oils, et al, are marvelous! Very much looking forward to the next "got away with murder" episode! Cheers from Ashland, Oregon USA ~ Danyel
@Lebwuh I know, he was recommended on a crime fb page I follow and have watched all his videos and had been waiting on the new one. Back in the day people were so polite and respectful even too the murderer. " would you like to get your fur coat as it will be chilly on the way to the police station? " 🤣
I found your site by accident. Watched one video and immediately subscribed. I think that you are and excellent historian and narrator. Looking forward to catching up on your other videos. Greatly appreciate this. Thank you very much.
But it has 987 wonderful comments from people who were so impressed with the quality of these videos, that they simply had to express their joy! That is in a way worth a lot more than 1 million subscribers who couldn't bother to write a comment. Maybe Mark doesn't have that many subscribers because this is very serious reporting, not designed to sensationalise the story, but to share it as it had happened. Proper documentary makers do it for the love of producing it and they enjoy every stage of it, they stay up all night not even feeling tired. I can see this is the case with Mark and I'm so glad, I can benefit from his enthusiasm and expertise. Thank you so much Mark. 🥀
Karen Voncripps The same is true here in the US. Donald Trump would never have gotten away with boasting (on tape) about sexually assaulting multiple women if he had been Black &/or poor.
@@saydvoncripps Britain has progressed since those days. Would anyone believe in those days that the mother in law of the future King of England would come from a family of coal miners and labourers ?
I’ve just found you and so glad I did. Great job. The amount of work put in is amazing and appreciated. Have a feeling you are about to grow quickly. As for the case, some things never change. All about $ as always. Only as good as the defense you can afford unfortunately. Although I can’t believe the judge wrote a book undermining the goings on in his own courtroom. Thank you:)
Thank you - I'm so glad you liked it. I have a feeling that Judge Travers felt guilt over what he knew to be a bad trial and was seeking to exculpate himself - possibly even to assuage his own conscience,
How nice to have a new episode tonight! Your voice is so calming. I've read true crime stories for years, so I was aware of most of the cases you've done, but you always have some details I hadn't heard before. Thank you so much. The title 'Murder in the Mews' are me think of Agatha Christie. Her story with that title was published in 1937. Perhaps this case gave her some ideas?
Thank you, Kelly. My title was actually a play on the Agatha Christie title - I don't know whether she based her story on this - but it is possible because there are some similarities: a woman appears to have shot herself in a Mews house but the Dr thinks it would have been impossible for her to have fired the gun herself given the angle of the wound... That is striking!
Thank you, Michael - yes, indeed. It is surprising how the same names crop up repeatedly in these cases - Roche Lynch, the Paddington poisons expert, is another regular.
The treatment of that lady on the stand giving testimony was cruel and uncalled for. She was just trying to help and had nothing to gain from serving as a witness. She did not deserve such insults and public humiliation. Disgusting
I love your channel. You present the story perfectly and it's very interesting to hear about old crimes, it's amazing how far we've come with our technology. Greetings from Sweden!
