EPISODE · Apr 12, 2022 · 34 MIN
Episode 173: aka Humbug Billy
from The Nonessential Podcast · host Ben Matlock and Steve Gibson
If you were a good girl or boy in 1858, maybe your dad would spend a nickel to buy you the hottest, most desirable candy of the day: Hard peppermint "humbugs." The candy that featured plaster dust, and maybe poison. Sources: Elliott, Jenny. How Tainted Treats Led to a Halloween Tragedy in 1858. Atlas Obscura. How Tainted Treats Led to a Halloween Tragedy in 1858 - Gastro Obscura (atlasobscura.com) Johnson, Ben. Dying for a Humbug, the Bradford Sweets Poisoning of 1858. Historic UK. Dying for a Humbug, the Bradford Sweets Poisoning 1858 (historic-uk.com) Paul, David. Bradford Sweets Poisoning of 1858, The. Yorkshire Magazine. The Bradford Sweets Poisoning of 1858 - the tragic tale of 'Humbug Billy' (on-magazine.co.uk)
NOW PLAYING
Episode 173: aka Humbug Billy
No transcript for this episode yet
Similar Episodes
Dec 5, 2025 ·50m
Oct 9, 2025 ·33m
Oct 3, 2025 ·40m
Sep 11, 2025 ·31m
Aug 27, 2025 ·39m
Aug 18, 2025 ·54m