WATCH: https://youtu.be/o_UlTsytv7E Scotland's Murder Mysteries Episode 4 - Dr. Edward Pritchard In this episode of Scotland's Murder Mysteries, one of the most notorious cases in Victorian Scottish history is examined the story of Dr. Edward Pritchard, a flamboyant Glasgow physician whose extraordinary charm concealed a pattern of deception that ultimately cost two women in his own household their lives. Pritchard was ambitious, vain, and skilled at presenting himself as something he was not. To the public, he was a larger-than-life character who handed out photographic cards of himself in the street, claimed friendship with Garibaldi, and regaled audiences with exotic adventures most historians believe he largely invented. To Glasgow's medical establishment, he was regarded with suspicion. To the women closest to him, he proved fatal. By the early 1860s, Pritchard had settled in one of Glasgow's more affluent streets. Behind the respectable facade, however, he was heavily in debt, conducting affairs with members of his domestic staff, and already suspected in connection with the suspicious death of a young servant girl in a house fire in 1863 a case that was accepted as an accident and never properly pursued. In November 1864, chemist records show Pritchard began purchasing antimony under the pretext of medical use. Shortly afterwards, his wife Mary Jane began suffering severe recurring bouts of illness that no other physician could explain. When she traveled to Edinburgh to stay with her parents, she recovered. When she returned to Glasgow, she deteriorated again. The pattern was unmistakable but no one acted on it in time. When Mary Jane's mother, Mrs. Jane Taylor, traveled to Glasgow to nurse her daughter in February 1865, she too began displaying the same symptoms. Pritchard had quietly taken control of his mother-in-law's medication, giving him access to both women's food and drink simultaneously. One physician, Dr. James Patterson, declined to sign Mrs. Taylor's death certificate and submitted his concerns in writing. The registrar discarded the note. When Mary Jane died weeks later, an anonymous letter widely believed to have come from Patterson prompted a formal investigation. Pritchard was arrested on the train home from Edinburgh, having just wept over his wife's open coffin and, by the time the train reached Glasgow, cheerfully offered a fellow passenger one of his photographic cards. Post-mortems confirmed poisoning in both women. The trial drew national fascination. The jury returned a unanimous verdict in 55 minutes. On July 28th, 1865, Edward Pritchard became the last person to be publicly executed in Scotland, watched by an estimated 80,000 people. He was later known in historical accounts as "The Human Crocodile." He was convicted of two murders. Many historians believe the number was three. #KillerCrime #FullFreeMovies #ScotlandsMurderMysteries #EdwardPritchard #TrueCrime #VictorianMystery #PoisoningCase Welcome to ‘Killer’ Crime, where we delve into the intriguing world of crime. Join us as we explore the dark depths of human psychology, uncovering the stories of notorious murderers, serial killers, and the most infamous criminals in history. Our channel offers a captivating collection of one-off documentaries and full-length series, meticulously crafted. Immerse yourself in gripping narratives that shed light on the minds of female psychopaths and the lives of famed gangsters. Our documentaries feature compelling reenactments that bring these chilling stories to life, while also delving into the intricate details of procedural crime investigations, presenting wrongful convictions and shedding light on the flaws within the justice system. Join us as we explore cold cases and closed cases, showcasing the relentless pursuit of justice and the triumphs of catching the bad guys. Our documentaries take you behind prison walls, offering unprecedented access to encounters with criminals and providing a unique perspective on their lives. Subscribe to our channel and embark on a thrilling journey through the world of crime.
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