John Tawell: Murder, Poison and the Electric Telegraph

When Sarah Hart died suddenly in 1845, suspicion quickly fell on John Tawell. His attempt to leave by train became one of the earliest famous examples of the electric telegraph being used to track a murder suspect. But behind the technological milestone was a complicated case involving poison, disputedforensic evidence, and a woman whose story was often overshadowed by the method used to catch her killer. For more exclusive content, check out our Patreon at patreon.com/historicaltruecrime Source Materials Carol Baxter, The Peculiar Case of the Electric Constable: A True Tale of Passion, Poison & Pursuit (Oneworld, 2013) David Skae, Trial of John Tawell for the Murder of Sarah Hart by Prussic Acid: With Remarks (1845) G. L. Strauss, Remarks and Comments on the Medical and Chemical Evidence Adduced at the Trial of John Tawell (1845) G. Lathom Browne and C. G. Stewart, Reports of Trials for Murder by Poisoning (1883) Iwan Rhys Morus, “‘The Nervous System of Britain’: Space, Time and the Electric Telegraph in the Victorian Age,” British Journal for the History of Science, Vol. 33 (2000) The Sydney Morning Herald, “English News / Trial of John Tawell,” July 11, 1845 The Commercial Journal and Advertiser (Sydney), report on the trial of John Tawell, July 12, 1845 The Melbourne Courier, “Trial of John Tawell,” July 21, 1845 The Australian, “The Convict John Tawell,” July 1845 The Australian, “John Tawell,” July 22, 1845, reprinted from the Hampshire Advertiser The Launceston Advertiser, “Execution of John Tawell,” July 10, 1845 Contemporary 1845 biographical accounts of John Tawell reprinted in the Australian press Andrew Wynter, “The Electric Telegraph,” The Quarterly Review (1854)