“THE GIRL AND THE GALLOWS” and More Dark #RetroRadio Stories! EP0269 #WeirdDarkness
Weird Darkness: Stories of the Paranormal, Supernatural, Legends, Lore, Mysterious, Macabre, Unsolved
Deep Dive
WHY did the climbing boy fall down the chimney?
The climbing boy, likely very young, stopped partway up the chimney. Lord Hollander, impatient, instructed the sweep, Harding, to use pins to prod the boy upward. When that failed, a fire was lit beneath him. The boy, in fear or pain, let go and fell.
WHY did Lady Emily want to adopt the climbing boy?
Lady Emily, still grieving the death of her own young son, Peter, saw the climbing boy as a replacement. She believed he was about the same age her son would have been and felt a strong urge to care for him.
WHY did Lord Hollander object to adopting the boy?
Lord Hollander saw the boy as a burden and didn't want the responsibility. He also expressed concern about the boy's unknown background and potential health issues.
WHY did Maria see a ghostly woman and boy by the yew trees?
Maria, after witnessing Lady Emily's "dead spells" and the strange circumstances surrounding the boy's death and the fire, seems to have become convinced of Emily's supernatural abilities. She saw Emily's spirit with the climbing boy and, later, her own son, Peter, suggesting a merging of their souls in the afterlife.
WHY was Karen Marlowe suspicious of Laura Mason?
Laura Mason, Karen's father's fiancée, predicted Dennis Marlowe's murder during a trance. This, combined with the fact that Laura would inherit Dennis's wealth if he died, made Karen deeply suspicious.
WHY did Laura Mason disappear from her apartment?
Laura Mason was never a real person. The apartment was a staged set used for seances, and her appearance, along with the ringing buzzer and phone calls, were tricks designed to drive Karen insane and elicit a confession.
WHY did the cellar floor in Craig's house appear to drop?
The cellar floor hadn't actually dropped. Craig had dug a hole to bury his wife, Sally, and then disguised it with a leveling job. Ham, the ranger, noticed inconsistencies which led him to suspect foul play.
WHY did Ham suspect Craig of murdering Sally?
Ham noticed inconsistencies in Craig's story about Sally's weekend trip, including her leaving her purse and hat behind. Combined with rumors about Sally's infidelity and Craig's long absences, Ham suspected Craig killed Sally in a fit of rage.
WHY was Mr. Maggs so interested in the old chest?
Mr. Maggs was drawn to the mystery of the locked chest and its unknown contents, seeing it as a potential bargain. He was unaware of its dark history.
WHY were there traces of blood inside the chest?
The chest was previously used by a murderer to store his victims. This gruesome detail was unknown to Mr. Maggs when he purchased it.
WHY did George Stroud quit his job at Crimeways?
Stroud was denied his long-promised honeymoon vacation by Earl Janeth, who demanded he stay and work on a new case. Feeling undervalued and prioritizing his marriage, Stroud quit.
WHY did Earl Janeth want to find Jefferson Randolph?
Janeth, having killed Pauline York, orchestrated a fake investigation to find a scapegoat. Randolph, having been seen with Pauline, became the target, allowing Janeth to deflect suspicion.
WHY did Dr. Tortano invite his students to the island?
Dr. Tortano, under the guise of a celebratory weekend, conducted a dangerous experiment on his students, administering a stimulant to induce hallucinations and observe their effects.
WHY did Gloria attack Dick and Dr. Tortano?
Gloria received an overdose of the stimulant, which caused her to go mad and become a violent creature, ultimately killing both Dick and Dr. Tortano.
- Regency era England
- child chimney sweeps
- Lady Emily's 'dead spells'
- climbing boy's death
- adoption attempt
Shownotes Transcript