5.021: The walls are closing on Sweeney Todd! — The woman who sold her murdered baby’s clothes to buy gin. — A bloody cautionary tale for “drinking men”! (Segment 3 — The “Ha’penny Horrids.”)
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5.021: The walls are closing on Sweeney Todd! — The woman who sold her murdered baby’s clothes to buy gin. — A bloody cautionary tale for “drinking men”! (Segment 3 — The “Ha’penny Horrids.”)
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About this listen
SHOW NOTES
— for —
MINISODE 21 (Season 5)
(March 8, 2026)
"THE HA’PENNY HORRIDS"!
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- 01:00: HANGED TODAY IN HISTORY (MARCH 8, 1734): Judith Dufour, convicted of murdering her 2-year-old daughter to sell her clothes for a quartern of gin. It’s a well-known cautionary tale about the evil influence of alcohol. But, is that all there is to the story? No. No, it is not. Let’s explore “The Rest of the Story” of this Lost Girl. (Art: See pennydread.com/discord)
- 11:25: SWEENEY TODD, THE BARBER OF FLEET-STREET, Chapter 90-91: Todd reads the two letters. The first is Colonel Jeffery’s letter, saying he doesn’t find it convenient to prosecute just now, but if Todd ever comes around again, he will. The other letter is from the Hamburg ship line that he’s booked passage on. At Sir Richard’s request, they have sent a letter telling Todd that the ship has been delayed 24 hours. The two letters put Todd into a frightful rage, to Johanna’s great alarm. — Speaking of Johanna: It turns out she’s been recognized in Fleet-street … by Mr. Lupin, the hypocritical drunken Puritan preacher with designs on Johanna. (Art: See pennydread.com/discord)
- 39:15: HORRID BROADSIDE: The Committal of W. THOMPSON, to the County Gaol at Oxford for the MURDER OF HIS WIFE and THREE CHILDREN on the 12th Inst.! (1840s). A probably-made-up account of a super-heinous murder committed under the influence of Demon Rum (or, more likely, Demon Gin). (Art: See pennydread.com/discord)
GLOSSARY OF EARLY-VICTORIAN SLANG USED IN THIS EPISODE: (Just two this time.)
- SCRAGGED: Executed by hanging.
- QUARTERN: One quarter of an Imperial pint, that is, roughly 5 1/3 ounces. A common measurement of hard liquor.
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