Sweeney Todd is a well-known fictional character, a murderous barber who colludes with a cook to bake his victims into pies. There are many instances of the demon barber story being touted as a tale based in real-life events, but how true is that?

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Sweeney Todd is a well-known fictional character, a murderous barber who colludes with a cook to bake his victims into pies. There are many instances of the demon barber story being touted as a tale based in real-life events, but how true is that? Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href="https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com">https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com</a>

Join Holly and Tracy as they bring you the greatest and strangest Stuff You Missed In History Class in this podcast by iHeartRadio.

Stuff You Missed in History Class

Sweeney Todd is a well-known fictional character, a murderous barber who colludes with a cook to bake his victims into pies. There are many instances of the demon barber story being touted as a tale based in real-life events, but how true is that?

Was there a real Sweeney Todd?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/6f7b0067-d8c3-4fa9-9dc8-ae28007fda81/transcript

Holly shares an odd detail about the red barn murder case. She and Tracy also discuss the way Forrest Mars may have affected the way his father's life is described.

Holly shares an odd detail about the red barn murder case. She and Tracy also discuss the way Forrest Mars may have affected the way his father's life is described.

Behind the Scenes Minis: Pistols and Candy Corn

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/6f8c31cf-fa83-49a9-bc48-b4e20026f7cc/transcript

This installment of the eponymous foods series covers candy bars, including Snickers, Mars Bars, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, and some side mentions of other candies.

Research:
“Behind the Bar.” Snickers. https://www.snickers.com/our-story
Brenner, Joel Glenn. “Life on Mars: The Mars family saga has all the classic elements.” Independent. July 25, 1992. https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/life-on-mars-the-mars-family-saga-has-all-the-classic-elements-1535722.html
“Forrest Mars Sr., Candy Bar Titan Famed for Snickers.” The Plain Dealer. July 3, 1999. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1071308390/?match=1&terms=%22Forrest%20Mars%2C%20sr.%22&search-id=695f29a8-5f65-43f4-8445-637d2758eb9e&search-rank=1
“Frank C. Mars Buys Trotters.” The Lexington Herald. May 30, 1933. https://www.newspapers.com/image/684730957/?match=1&terms=%22Frank%20C.%20Mars%22%20Pulaski&search-id=b3e1ac20-1b03-4d55-8bb0-bf38efd85070&search-rank=7
“Frank C. Mars Dies of Heart Attack.” The Atlanta Constitution.” April 9, 1934. https://www.newspapers.com/image/398152288/?match=1&terms=%22Frank%20C.%20Mars%22%20Pulaski&search-id=b3e1ac20-1b03-4d55-8bb0-bf38efd85070&search-rank=8
“Frank C. Mars Is Victim of Death.” The Decatur Daily. April 9, 1934. https://www.newspapers.com/image/534932502/?match=1&terms=%22Frank%20C.%20Mars%22%20Pulaski&search-id=b3e1ac20-1b03-4d55-8bb0-bf38efd85070&search-rank=4
“Frank C. Mars Taken By Death.” Tacoma Daily Ledger. April 9, 1934. https://www.newspapers.com/image/725917256/?match=1&terms=%22Frank%20C.%20Mars%22&search-id=3bd9eccf-f65f-485c-ac5b-70d3f755a3fc&search-rank=6
“Frank C. Mars.” Candy Hall of Fame. https://candyhalloffame.org/inductee/frank-c-mars/
“Frank Mars.” Oak Park River Forest Museum. https://oprfmuseum.org/people/frank-mars
“The H.B. Reese Candy Company Story.” The Daily News. June 9, 1956. https://www.newspapers.com/image/517725214/?match=1&terms=%22H.B.%20Reese%22&search-id=a96c9fd5-6131-45ad-91a5-d3390afd07b1&search-rank=9
“H.B. Reese Company Housed in Large, Modern Building.” The Patriot-News. Nov. 27, 1957. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1094489845/?match=1&terms=%22H.B.%20Reese%22&search-id=cc48e553-f70b-43c6-a7b2-c7374b30be88&search-rank=1
“Harry Burnett ‘H.B.’ Reese.” Candy Hall of Fame. https://candyhalloffame.org/inductee/harry-burnett-h-b-reese/
Lieberman, Hallie. “Was It Hershey or Reese That Made Peanut Butter Cups Great?” Atlas Obscura. October 27, 2016. https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/was-it-hershey-or-reese-that-made-peanut-butter-cups-great
Mari, Christopher. “H.B. Reese.” EBSCO. 2024. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/h-b-reese/
“Mars Family.” Forbes. June 29, 2026. https://www.forbes.com/profile/mars-1/?list=families
“Mars, Incorporated: History in the Making.” https://www.mars.com/about/history
“The Milky Way: How Frank Mars started a candy bar empire in Minnesota.” Fox9 KMSP. March 30, 2022. https://www.fox9.com/news/the-milky-way-how-frank-mars-a-minnesotan-created-a-candy-bar-empire
“Snickers History: The Horse, the War, and the World’s Top Candy Bar.” Moss & Fog. Oct. 25, 2023. https://mossandfog.com/the-history-of-snickers-the-worlds-most-popular-candy-bar/
“Sons, Daughters Willed H.B. Reese Property.” The Patriot-News. May 25, 1956. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1094130007/?match=1&terms=%22H.B.%20Reese%22&search-id=a96c9fd5-6131-45ad-91a5-d3390afd07b1&search-rank=8
“Table Data - Automobile Registrations, Passenger Cars, Total for United States.” Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. https://fred.stlouisfed.org/data/A01108USA258NNBR
Upton, Emily. “The Fascinating Rise of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.” Business Insider. June 30, 2013. https://www.businessinsider.com/the-fascinating-rise-of-reeses-peanut-butter-cups-2013-6

This installment of the eponymous foods series covers candy bars, including Snickers, Mars Bars, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, and some side mentions of other candies.
Research:
<ul>
<li>&ldquo;Behind the Bar.&rdquo; Snickers. https://www.snickers.com/our-story</li>
<li>Brenner, Joel Glenn. &ldquo;Life on Mars: The Mars family saga has all the classic elements.&rdquo; Independent. July 25, 1992. https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/life-on-mars-the-mars-family-saga-has-all-the-classic-elements-1535722.html</li>
<li>&ldquo;Forrest Mars Sr., Candy Bar Titan Famed for Snickers.&rdquo; The Plain Dealer. July 3, 1999. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1071308390/?match=1&amp;terms=%22Forrest%20Mars%2C%20sr.%22&amp;search-id=695f29a8-5f65-43f4-8445-637d2758eb9e&amp;search-rank=1</li>
<li>&ldquo;Frank C. Mars Buys Trotters.&rdquo; The Lexington Herald. May 30, 1933. https://www.newspapers.com/image/684730957/?match=1&amp;terms=%22Frank%20C.%20Mars%22%20Pulaski&amp;search-id=b3e1ac20-1b03-4d55-8bb0-bf38efd85070&amp;search-rank=7</li>
<li>&ldquo;Frank C. Mars Dies of Heart Attack.&rdquo; The Atlanta Constitution.&rdquo; April 9, 1934. https://www.newspapers.com/image/398152288/?match=1&amp;terms=%22Frank%20C.%20Mars%22%20Pulaski&amp;search-id=b3e1ac20-1b03-4d55-8bb0-bf38efd85070&amp;search-rank=8</li>
<li>&ldquo;Frank C. Mars Is Victim of Death.&rdquo; The Decatur Daily. April 9, 1934. https://www.newspapers.com/image/534932502/?match=1&amp;terms=%22Frank%20C.%20Mars%22%20Pulaski&amp;search-id=b3e1ac20-1b03-4d55-8bb0-bf38efd85070&amp;search-rank=4</li>
<li>&ldquo;Frank C. Mars Taken By Death.&rdquo; Tacoma Daily Ledger. April 9, 1934. https://www.newspapers.com/image/725917256/?match=1&amp;terms=%22Frank%20C.%20Mars%22&amp;search-id=3bd9eccf-f65f-485c-ac5b-70d3f755a3fc&amp;search-rank=6</li>
<li>&ldquo;Frank C. Mars.&rdquo; Candy Hall of Fame. https://candyhalloffame.org/inductee/frank-c-mars/</li>
<li>&ldquo;Frank Mars.&rdquo; Oak Park River Forest Museum. https://oprfmuseum.org/people/frank-mars</li>
<li>&ldquo;The H.B. Reese Candy Company Story.&rdquo; The Daily News. June 9, 1956. https://www.newspapers.com/image/517725214/?match=1&amp;terms=%22H.B.%20Reese%22&amp;search-id=a96c9fd5-6131-45ad-91a5-d3390afd07b1&amp;search-rank=9</li>
<li>&ldquo;H.B. Reese Company Housed in Large, Modern Building.&rdquo; The Patriot-News. Nov. 27, 1957. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1094489845/?match=1&amp;terms=%22H.B.%20Reese%22&amp;search-id=cc48e553-f70b-43c6-a7b2-c7374b30be88&amp;search-rank=1</li>
<li>&ldquo;Harry Burnett &lsquo;H.B.&rsquo; Reese.&rdquo; Candy Hall of Fame. https://candyhalloffame.org/inductee/harry-burnett-h-b-reese/</li>
<li>Lieberman, Hallie. &ldquo;Was It Hershey or Reese That Made Peanut Butter Cups Great?&rdquo; Atlas Obscura. October 27, 2016. https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/was-it-hershey-or-reese-that-made-peanut-butter-cups-great</li>
<li>Mari, Christopher. &ldquo;H.B. Reese.&rdquo; EBSCO. 2024. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/h-b-reese/</li>
<li>&ldquo;Mars Family.&rdquo; Forbes. June 29, 2026. https://www.forbes.com/profile/mars-1/?list=families</li>
<li>&ldquo;Mars, Incorporated: History in the Making.&rdquo; https://www.mars.com/about/history</li>
<li>&ldquo;The Milky Way: How Frank Mars started a candy bar empire in Minnesota.&rdquo; Fox9 KMSP. March 30, 2022. https://www.fox9.com/news/the-milky-way-how-frank-mars-a-minnesotan-created-a-candy-bar-empire</li>
<li>&ldquo;Snickers History: The Horse, the War, and the World&rsquo;s Top Candy Bar.&rdquo; Moss &amp; Fog. Oct. 25, 2023. https://mossandfog.com/the-history-of-snickers-the-worlds-most-popular-candy-bar/</li>
<li>&ldquo;Sons, Daughters Willed H.B. Reese Property.&rdquo; The Patriot-News. May 25, 1956. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1094130007/?match=1&amp;terms=%22H.B.%20Reese%22&amp;search-id=a96c9fd5-6131-45ad-91a5-d3390afd07b1&amp;search-rank=8</li>
<li>&ldquo;Table Data - Automobile Registrations, Passenger Cars, Total for United States.&rdquo; Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. https://fred.stlouisfed.org/data/A01108USA258NNBR</li>
<li>Upton, Emily. &ldquo;The Fascinating Rise of Reese&rsquo;s Peanut Butter Cups.&rdquo; Business Insider. June 30, 2013. https://www.businessinsider.com/the-fascinating-rise-of-reeses-peanut-butter-cups-2013-6</li>
</ul>

This installment of the eponymous foods series covers candy bars, including Snickers, Mars Bars, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, and some side mentions of other candies.

Eponymous Foods: Full Bars

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/921cbf46-cad1-45b3-84c3-b4e20026ba5a/transcript

In the spring of 1828, a news story broke in Suffolk, England about the horrific murder of Maria Marten. Her paramour was the only suspect, but he evaded authorities for some time before he was captured and put on trial.

Research:
Curtis, J. “AN AUTHENTIC AND FAITHFUL HISTORY OF THE MYSTERIOUS MURDER OF MARIA MARTEN, WITH A FULL DEVELOPMENT OF ALL THE EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH LED TO THE DISCOVERY OF HER BODY IN TO WHICH IS ADDED, THE TRIAL OF WILLIAM CORDER, TAKEN AT LARGE IN SHORT HAND SPECIALLY FOR THIS WORK, WITH AN ACCOUNT OF HIS EXECUTION, DISSECTION, &c. AND MANY INTERESTING PARTICULARS RELATIVE TO THE VILLAGE OF POLSTEAD AND ITS VICINITY; THE PRISON CORRESPONDENCE OF CORDER, AND FIFTY-THREE LETTERS, IN ANSWER TO HIS ADVERTISEMENT FOR A WIFE.” London. Thomas Keity. 1828. https://archive.org/details/b20443237
Devlin, Laura. “Who was the murderer whose skin binds a book?” BBC. April 22, 2025. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn0wrdleer2o
Harding, J. “Celebrated Trials of All Countries, and Remarkable Cases of Criminal Jurisprudence.” 1847. https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=pj3FyXaS91YC&rdid=book-pj3FyXaS91YC&rdot=1
“Horrible Murder.” Bristol Mirror. April 19, 1828. https://www.newspapers.com/image/970366046/?match=1&terms=%22Maria%20Marten%22&search-id=6e26d629-68a9-4c86-a81d-4164828d99b9&search-rank=1
“Horrible Murder.” The Morning Chronicle. April 24, 1828. https://www.newspapers.com/image/392094838/?search-id=6e26d629-68a9-4c86-a81d-4164828d99b9&search-rank=3
“Horrid Murder. North Wales Chronicle. May 1, 1828. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1367388437/?match=1&terms=William%20Corder&search-id=15f8324b-4277-49e4-ade3-f37de505ca71&search-rank=4
Langbein, John H. “THE PROSECUTORIAL ORIGINS OF DEFENCE COUNSEL IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY: THE APPEARANCE OF SOLICITORS.” Cambridge Law Journal. 58(2), July 1999, pp.314-365. https://law.yale.edu/sites/default/files/documents/pdf/Faculty/Langbein_Prosecutorial_Origins_of_Defence_Counsel.pdf
“Murder in Suffolk.” Cambridge Chronicle and University Journal, Isle of Ely Herald and Huntingdonshire Gazette. May 2, 1828. https://www.newspapers.com/image/785569973/?match=20&terms=William%20Corder&search-id=15f8324b-4277-49e4-ade3-f37de505ca71&search-rank=2
“Murder in Suffolk.” Birmingham Journal. May 3, 1828. https://www.newspapers.com/image/784498364/?match=1&terms=%22William%20Corder%22&search-id=9a769e68-25cc-42f4-b01d-1bca08e64ac6&search-rank=38
“The Red Barn Murder.” St. Edmundbury Chronicle. http://www.stedmundsburychronicle.co.uk/rbpeople.htm
“Sanguinary and Atrocious Murder.” Cheltenham Chronicle and Gloucestershire Graphic. May 1, 1828. https://www.newspapers.com/image/786265260/?match=3&terms=William%20Corder&search-id=15f8324b-4277-49e4-ade3-f37de505ca71&search-rank=1
“William Corder.” Lancaster Gazette. May 24, 1828. https://www.newspapers.com/image/395993259/?match=1&terms=William%20Corder&search-id=a5f1199d-5191-413d-943a-1cbabcb0a368&search-rank=16

In the spring of 1828, a news story broke in Suffolk, England about the horrific murder of Maria Marten. Her paramour was the only suspect, but he evaded authorities for some time before he was captured and put on trial.
Research:
<ul>
<li>Curtis, J. &ldquo;AN AUTHENTIC AND FAITHFUL HISTORY OF THE MYSTERIOUS MURDER OF MARIA MARTEN, WITH A FULL DEVELOPMENT OF ALL THE EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH LED TO THE DISCOVERY OF HER BODY IN TO WHICH IS ADDED, THE TRIAL OF WILLIAM CORDER, TAKEN AT LARGE IN SHORT HAND SPECIALLY FOR THIS WORK, WITH AN ACCOUNT OF HIS EXECUTION, DISSECTION, &amp;c.&nbsp;AND MANY INTERESTING PARTICULARS RELATIVE TO THE VILLAGE OF POLSTEAD AND ITS VICINITY; THE PRISON CORRESPONDENCE OF CORDER, AND FIFTY-THREE LETTERS, IN ANSWER TO HIS&nbsp;ADVERTISEMENT FOR A WIFE.&rdquo; London. Thomas Keity. 1828. https://archive.org/details/b20443237</li>
<li>Devlin, Laura. &ldquo;Who was the murderer whose skin binds a book?&rdquo; BBC. April 22, 2025. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn0wrdleer2o</li>
<li>Harding, J. &ldquo;Celebrated Trials of All Countries, and Remarkable Cases of Criminal Jurisprudence.&rdquo; 1847. https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=pj3FyXaS91YC&amp;rdid=book-pj3FyXaS91YC&amp;rdot=1</li>
<li>&ldquo;Horrible Murder.&rdquo; Bristol Mirror. April 19, 1828. https://www.newspapers.com/image/970366046/?match=1&amp;terms=%22Maria%20Marten%22&amp;search-id=6e26d629-68a9-4c86-a81d-4164828d99b9&amp;search-rank=1</li>
<li>&ldquo;Horrible Murder.&rdquo; The Morning Chronicle. April 24, 1828. https://www.newspapers.com/image/392094838/?search-id=6e26d629-68a9-4c86-a81d-4164828d99b9&amp;search-rank=3</li>
<li>&ldquo;Horrid Murder. North Wales Chronicle. May 1, 1828. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1367388437/?match=1&amp;terms=William%20Corder&amp;search-id=15f8324b-4277-49e4-ade3-f37de505ca71&amp;search-rank=4</li>
<li>Langbein, John H. &ldquo;THE PROSECUTORIAL ORIGINS OF DEFENCE COUNSEL IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY: THE APPEARANCE OF SOLICITORS.&rdquo; Cambridge Law Journal. 58(2), July 1999, pp.314-365. https://law.yale.edu/sites/default/files/documents/pdf/Faculty/Langbein_Prosecutorial_Origins_of_Defence_Counsel.pdf</li>
<li>&ldquo;Murder in Suffolk.&rdquo; Cambridge Chronicle and University Journal, Isle of Ely Herald and Huntingdonshire Gazette. May 2, 1828. https://www.newspapers.com/image/785569973/?match=20&amp;terms=William%20Corder&amp;search-id=15f8324b-4277-49e4-ade3-f37de505ca71&amp;search-rank=2</li>
<li>&ldquo;Murder in Suffolk.&rdquo; Birmingham Journal. May 3, 1828. https://www.newspapers.com/image/784498364/?match=1&amp;terms=%22William%20Corder%22&amp;search-id=9a769e68-25cc-42f4-b01d-1bca08e64ac6&amp;search-rank=38</li>
<li>&ldquo;The Red Barn Murder.&rdquo; St. Edmundbury Chronicle. http://www.stedmundsburychronicle.co.uk/rbpeople.htm</li>
<li>&ldquo;Sanguinary and Atrocious Murder.&rdquo; Cheltenham Chronicle and Gloucestershire Graphic. May 1, 1828. https://www.newspapers.com/image/786265260/?match=3&amp;terms=William%20Corder&amp;search-id=15f8324b-4277-49e4-ade3-f37de505ca71&amp;search-rank=1</li>
<li>&ldquo;William Corder.&rdquo; Lancaster Gazette. May 24, 1828. https://www.newspapers.com/image/395993259/?match=1&amp;terms=William%20Corder&amp;search-id=a5f1199d-5191-413d-943a-1cbabcb0a368&amp;search-rank=16</li>
</ul>

In the spring of 1828, a news story broke in Suffolk, England about the horrific murder of Maria Marten. Her paramour was the only suspect, but he evaded authorities for some time before he was captured and put on trial.

Red Barn Murder

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/4585cce8-d3f5-4c92-b93c-b4dd010976ff/transcript

Was there a real Sweeney Todd?

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