The telegram that caught a killer

The telegram that caught a killer

From No One Saw It Coming by ABC Australia

April 26, 2026 · 26 min

About this episode

The episode discusses how a horrific crime in the 1800s changed perceptions of the telegraph machine.

When he got on the train to London, he thought he got away with it. He thought he got away with murder. But little did he know that something was racing alongside the train, pulsing deep underground, that would change his life forever. Writer and cultural historian Kassia St Clair tells Marc Fennell (Stuff The British Stole) how a horrific crime changed the way people living in the 1800s viewed the telegraph machine. Binge all the episodes of No One Saw It Coming now on ABC listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. Get in touch: Got a story for us? We'd love to hear from you! Email us at noonesawitcoming@abc.net.au

People in this episode

Host: Marc Fennell

Guest: Kassia St Clair

Topics covered

  • crime
  • telegraph
  • 19th century
  • communication
  • history

Keywords

  • telegram
  • murder
  • London
  • telegraph machine
  • history
  • crime
  • communication

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: ABC Australia

Books & works: Stuff The British Stole

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