Museum of Crime – DVD Review

 

Sandy Kaye, the producer of Police 5 and Crime Stoppers, has re-released on DVD her films about the Crime Museum – previously known as the Black Museum – at New Scotland Yard.

The disc, with commentary read by the familiar voice of Shaw Taylor, contains two 25 minute programmes detailing artefacts housed at the museum (details below).

Originally produced in 1990, the programmes give fascinating accounts of the various historic – sometimes grisly – items to be found. Supported by video and photographs the commentary gives background and context to the items mentioned.

From a BTPHG viewpoint the second disc relates two cases that have a railway aspect. The first features the murder of Minnie Bonati whose corpse was found in a trunk at London’s Charing Cross Station left-luggage office. The second details the exploits and execution of Franz Muller the first railway murderer in Britain.

The museum is not open to the general public, so this video gives an insight into what is usually only available to police officers and invited guests.

The DVD can be purchased via the Museum of Crime website. (dead link as of Nov 2020)

 

 

 

 

 

Disc contents:

Programme 1

AN INVITATION TO THE BLACK MUSEUM

1876 CHARLIE PEACE
Amateur musician – professional burglar. Eventually convicted murderer. Oldest exhibit in the museum.

1911 SYDNEY STREET SIEGE
Flavour of revolution. The Sydney Street siege takes its place in history.

1953 RUTH ELLIS
Last woman to be hanged in Britain.

1964 JAMES STEELE
Skilled forger extraordinaire.

1976 SMITH & JONES
United States dollar forgeries.

1976 BANK CLERK MURDER
Armed robbery that turns into a tragic murder.

1980 IRANIAN SIEGE
An ordinary day that ended as a six-day siege.

1983 PETER ARNE
Murder of the famous. An actor murdered for his kindness?

 

Programme 2

INSIDE THE BLACK MUSEUM

1984 THE MULLER ‘HAT’ MURDER
The first railway murder in Britain.

1905 THE STRATTON BROTHERS
The first murder to be proved by fingerprints.

1910 DR. CRIPPEN
Caught by wireless telegraph.

1927 MINNIE BONATI
The body in the trunk murder.

1952 JOHN CHRISTIE & THE RILLINGTON PLACE MURDERS
9 women strangled.

1969 THE KROGERS
Russian spies extraordinary.

1978 THE UNSOLVED MURDER OF GEORGI MARKOV
Victim of a poisoned pellet.

1983 DENIS NILSEN
The man who killed for company.

Congratulations Paul Crowther

Crowther Alan CC  Viv Head, Chairman of BTPHG, wrote to the new Chief Constable in waiting– On behalf of the BTP History Group may I offer my heartiest congratulations on the announcement of your appointment. Your career in the Force has been outstanding and it is richly deserved. Not only is it half a century since W.O. Gay was appointed CC after coming through the ranks but it is a unique achievement in todays more demanding environment. You may be assured that the History Group is very pleased, indeed proud, of your appointment and we look forward to a good working relationship.