Crime Classics CBS · November 25, 1953

Crime Classics 1953 11 25 (022) The Killing Story Of William Corder And The Farmer's Daughter (afrts)

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# Crime Classics: The Killing Story of William Corder and the Farmer's Daughter

Step into the fog-shrouded countryside of 1820s Essex, where a tale of seduction, murder, and macabre justice unfolds with chilling authenticity. In this gripping installment of *Crime Classics*, listeners will follow the dark romance between William Corder and Maria Marden, the innocent daughter of a prosperous farmer, as their clandestine affair culminates in one of Victorian England's most sensational homicides. The dramatic recreation captures every sinister detail—from the fateful meeting in the Red Barn to the grim discovery that would captivate an entire nation. With precise narration and haunting sound design, this episode builds an atmosphere of dread that crackles through your radio speaker, transporting you to a bygone era when true crime captivated public imagination in ways both familiar and foreign.

*Crime Classics*, which aired on CBS during 1953-54, distinguished itself by treating historical murder cases with journalistic rigor and theatrical flair. Rather than sensationalizing, the program excavated real crimes with meticulous attention to detail, presenting them as cautionary tales of human nature. The Corder case is particularly significant—it represents a pivotal moment when criminology, forensic science, and popular culture converged in Victorian society, and the Red Barn murder became the era's equivalent of a blockbuster true-crime sensation.

The Corder episode exemplifies why *Crime Classics* earned its devoted following: it combines historical authenticity with dramatic storytelling, illuminating how our ancestors grappled with the same fascination with criminal psychology that compels modern audiences. Tune in to experience radio drama at its finest, where real history and compelling narrative create something unforgettable.