Episode 589: John George Haigh: The Acid Bath Murderer
In this episode of Morbid, Alaina Urquhart and Ash Kelley explore the life and crimes of serial killer John George Haigh, known as the "Acid Bath Murderer." They delve into Haigh's strict religious upbringing and his progression from minor scams to brutal murders of wealthy individuals.
The hosts detail Haigh's meticulous disposal methods, which involved dissolving bodies in acid and forging documents to cover his tracks. They also examine his capture by investigators and the sensational trial where he was found guilty and sentenced to death for the murder of Olive Durand-Deacon, despite his dubious insanity plea.
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Hay's Strict Religious Upbringing
John Hay was raised in an extremely strict Plymouth Brethren household, according to Alaina Urquhart and Ash Kelley. His family followed rigid rules derived from the Old Testament, avoiding outsiders seen as sinful. Hay couldn't interact with other children and turned to animals for companionship. His parents instilled that happiness was sinful, severely limiting his childhood.
Hay's Criminal Path
After high school, Hay started small scams and frauds, escalating to elaborate schemes like buying cars under false identities. He served jail time for forgery and fraud. When fraud didn't sustain his lifestyle, Hay began murdering the wealthy McSwans, Hendersons, and Olive Durand-Deacon. He lured them under false pretenses, shot them, dissolved their bodies in acid, and forged documents covering his tracks.
Disposing of Victims
Hay would shoot victims like Olive in the back of the head. To hide evidence, he perfected an acid disposal method, dissolving bodies like Olive's in barrels. He meticulously forged letters and documents impersonating victims to convince families they were alive.
Caught by Investigators
Hay's patterns like late rent payments and suspicious letters raised investigators' suspicions. When searched, Hay's workshop revealed barrels, chemicals, a revolver, and victim belongings tying him to murders despite the lack of bodies.
Trial and Execution
At his sensationalized trial, Hay claimed insanity based on a "bleeding Christ dream" delusion, but psychiatric experts found him malingering. The judge instructed the jury to focus solely on determining if Hay murdered Olive Durand-Deacon, to which he'd confessed. Hay was swiftly found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging in 1949.
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Clarifications
- The Plymouth Brethren is a Christian movement that originated in the early 19th century in Ireland. They emphasize the authority of the Bible and often gather in informal settings without traditional church structures. The group focuses on individual interpretation of scripture and values a simple, non-hierarchical approach to worship and fellowship.
- Malingering is the act of pretending or exaggerating symptoms for personal gain or to avoid responsibility. It is not a medical diagnosis but is recognized in healthcare and legal contexts. Individuals may fake symptoms to achieve specific outcomes like obtaining medication or evading consequences. Detecting malingering is crucial as it can impact various aspects of society, including healthcare and legal systems.
- A sensationalized trial is a legal proceeding that garners significant public attention due to dramatic or shocking elements involved in the case. These trials often feature intense media coverage, heightened emotional reactions from the public, and sometimes unconventional or controversial legal strategies. The sensationalism can stem from the nature of the crime, the personalities involved, or the courtroom theatrics during the trial. Such trials may captivate the public imagination and lead to widespread discussion and debate.
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Hay's strict religious upbringing and its impact on his development
John Hay's upbringing under the severe doctrines of the Plymouth Brethren played a crucial role in his development, shaping his worldview and personal habits.
Raised in a devout Plymouth Brethren household
John Hay's family was deeply entangled with their religion, following the Plymouth Brethren, a group known for its non-ritualistic and anti-clerical approach to Protestantism. The family lived by an incredibly strict and inflexible set of rules derived from the Old Testament, considering their neighbors and the outside world to be sinful and dangerous to their souls. This belief created a perception that interactions with others could jeopardize their chances of reaching heaven.
Hay's parents enforced a lifestyle that bred isolation and an obsession with avoiding sin. Their adherence to the doctrines of the Plymouth Brethren meant that all forms of entertainment, sports, and celebrations were strictly forbidden, and reading material was limited exclusively to the Old Testament of the Bible.
In this atmosphere of rigid devotion, Hay didn't interact with other children and always found himself amongst adults. Lacking friends and good at making them, he turned to animals for companionship—developing a love for animals by doting on rabbits and feeding stray dogs and cats.
Limited childhood experiences and happiness viewed as sin ...
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Hay's strict religious upbringing and its impact on his development
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Counterarguments
- The Plymouth Brethren's non-ritualistic and anti-clerical approach could be seen as a positive simplification of faith, focusing on personal spirituality rather than institutionalized religion.
- Strict adherence to religious doctrines might provide a strong moral framework and a clear sense of right and wrong.
- The avoidance of popular entertainment and sports could be argued to foster creativity and alternative forms of learning and play.
- Limited interaction with peers could potentially lead to a more focused and undistracted childhood, allowing for deeper family connections and self-reflection.
- The emphasis on avoiding sin and the focus on securing a place in heaven could be seen as a form of spiritual discipline that encourages virtuous living.
- Isolation from the community, while seen as limiting, could also be a form of protection against negative external influences, preserving certain values and traditions.
- The restriction to reading only the Old Testament might result in an in-depth understanding of those texts, which could be valued in certain religio ...
Actionables
- Explore the impact of a strict upbringing by journaling about your own childhood rules and their long-term effects on your behavior and beliefs. Reflect on how these rules have shaped your interactions with others and your personal development. For example, if you had a rule against watching TV on weekdays, consider how this might have influenced your creativity or time management skills.
- Create a safe space for open dialogue with family members who have different beliefs by initiating regular family meetings where everyone can share their perspectives without judgment. This can help bridge gaps in understanding and allow for a more inclusive family dynamic. You might discuss topics like the importance of leisure activities or varying interpretations of religious texts.
- Volunteer at an animal shelter to experience the ...
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Hay's criminal history, including scams, frauds, and murders
John Hay, infamously known for his trail of fraudulent activities and gruesome murders, began his descent into crime post-high school with petty scams, ultimately escalating to serial murder.
After graduating high school, Hay began experimenting with petty scams and fraud schemes, demonstrating a disregard for morality and a desire for easy money
Hay's journey into criminal life commenced shortly after he graduated from high school. Initially, he started running petty scams and frauds in the Leeds area, cheating local businesses out of small amounts of money or evading payment for services. By 21 years old, Hay, dissatisfied with legitimate work, leveraged his charming and persuasive personality to venture into more elaborate fraud schemes, which involved scamming local car dealerships. He’d purchase cars under false identities, arrange to pay in installments, sell the cars quickly for a profit, and then disappear, leaving the dealerships unable to track him down due to the fake names and phone numbers he provided. His fraudulent activities were lucrative but led to his arrest; in November 1934, Hay was sentenced to 15 months in jail for forgery and fraud.
Hay's criminal ventures continued after his release. Calling himself William Adamson, he would pose as a solicitor to swindle wealthy clients before vanishing with their investments. The cycle of crime persisted with another stint in prison, but Hay's ambitions grew. He began planning more severe crimes to sustain his extravagant lifestyle without working.
Hay's criminal activities escalated to more serious crimes, including the murders of the McSwans, Hendersons, and Olive Durand-Deacon
Hay's crimes escalated from fraud to murder as his fraudulent schemes ceased to provide the substantial funds he required. He meticulously executed the murders of the McSwans and the Hendersons and later Olive Durand-Deacon. Hay utilized acid to dispose of his victims’ bodies and forged documents and letters to cover up his tracks, demonstrating a sinister mix of intelligence and brutality.
His confidence and cold indifference to human life were apparent in his dealings with others. Hay would befriend his victims, bond with them, and then, in a chilling breach of trust, murder them and violate their bodies with a ruthless disregard akin to disposing of unwanted refuse. He went so far as to indulge in the macabre, claiming to have drunk the blood of his victims.
The McSwans, the Hendersons, and Olive Durand-Deacon were all w ...
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Hay's criminal history, including scams, frauds, and murders
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Actionables
- You can enhance your personal security by regularly reviewing and updating your privacy settings on social media to limit the amount of personal information accessible to potential scammers. Given that criminals often target individuals who appear vulnerable or isolated, ensuring your online profiles do not reveal excessive personal details can reduce the risk of becoming a target.
- Develop a habit of verifying the credentials of any professional or business representative you engage with, especially in fields like patent law or investment, where fraud is more common. For instance, if someone approaches you claiming to be a liaison officer or a financial advisor, request their official identification and check their standing with relevant professional bodies before proceeding with any transactions.
- Encourage conversations within y ...
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Hay's murders of the McSwans, Hendersons, and Olive Durand-Deacon, and his methods of disposing of the bodies
John Hay, through deception and forgery, drew wealthy individuals to their deaths and carefully concealed his crimes by dissolving their bodies in acid, leaving few traces for investigators to follow.
Hay lured his victims, who were all relatively wealthy, to secluded locations under the pretense of business opportunities or other benign reasons
John Hay, after encountering Donald McSwann, a son of his previous employer, at a bar, began working for him collecting rents. This jobless and nearly homeless man took advantage of the wealthy but socially isolated McSwann. McSwann subsequently disappeared. Similarly, Hay enticed Archie and Rose Henderson to his workshop, pretending to show Archie a new product for potential investment and deceiving Rose with the false news of her husband's heart attack. With Olive Durand-Deacon, Hay feigned interest in her business idea for artificial fingernails, coaxing her with the prospect of collaborating on a special kind of paper to his workshop. Durand-Deacon, a widow with close friends, unsuspectingly followed Hay for a supposed business opportunity.
Hay would kill his victims, often by shooting them in the back of the head, and then meticulously dissolve their bodies in acid to hide the evidence
Hay's murder method involved shooting his victims in the back of the head; for instance, he killed Olive Durand-Deacon in this manner while she examined a piece of paper. He disposed of their bodies using a sulfuric and hydrochloric acid mixture to dissolve them in a sealed barrel, with Olive’s body being an example of such disposal method. His approach was cold and calculated, even practicing beforehand with mice to perfect his gruesome disposal technique.
Hay went to great lengths to cover up his crimes, forging documents, letters, and alibis to throw off authorities and his victims' families
To cover his tracks, Hay forged letters and documents, impersonating his victims to convince their families they were still alive. He deceived the McSwanns into believing their son was hiding in Scotland to evade the draft, transferred their properties to himself. He maintained the illusion of the McSwanns relocating to America and of the Hendersons traveling to South Africa, going as far as sending postcards from abroad to solidify the lie. Hay meticulously studied his victims' handwriting to produce convincing forgeries, although some discrepancies were noted by recipients.
Hay's ...
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Hay's murders of the McSwans, Hendersons, and Olive Durand-Deacon, and his methods of disposing of the bodies
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Actionables
- Enhance your personal safety by setting up a buddy system when meeting new people, especially in unfamiliar or secluded locations. Inform a trusted friend or family member about your whereabouts and who you're meeting, and arrange to check in at specific times. This can be as simple as sending a pre-arranged text message or making a quick phone call to confirm your safety.
- Protect your identity by using a document shredder for sensitive papers and opting for digital statements where possible to reduce the risk of document forgery. Regularly review your bank statements and credit reports for any unusual activity that could indicate someone is attempting to forge your identity or financial documents.
- Educate yourself on basic fo ...
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Hay's trial, insanity defense, and eventual execution
The trial of John Hay at the Old Bailey was a shocking event that garnered widespread attention as he attempted to use an insanity defense that was ultimately unsuccessful, leading to his execution.
Hay's trial at the Old Bailey was highly sensationalized, as he attempted to claim insanity due to a supposed "dream of the bleeding Christ" and other delusional beliefs
John Hay, arrested on February 28th, 1949 for the murder of Olive Durand-Deacon, initially claimed to be a victim of blackmail but could provide no supporting details. He later confessed to the murders of the McSwans and the Hendersons and intended to pursue an insanity defense. Dubbed the "vampire killer" by the press, Hay's trial featured medical and mental health professionals who considered him a malingerer—a liar manipulating the truth for his benefit.
However, the court-appointed psychiatric experts found no evidence that Hay was truly insane, concluding that he was merely malingering and manipulating the system
Despite his claims of draining his victims of blood and experiencing "the dream of the bleeding Christ," forensic psychologists like Catherine Ramsland argued that Hay's defense was built on fabrications and inconsistencies. None of the experts could confirm his insanity at the time of Olive Durand-Deacon's murder.
Despite Hay's attempts to portray himself as mentally unfit, the judge rejected the insanity plea and instructed the jury to focus solely on whether Hay had committed the murders
The prosecution, led by E.G. Robey, presented a case free of doubt that Hay killed Mrs. Durand Deacon for financial gains. The defense ...
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Hay's trial, insanity defense, and eventual execution
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Actionables
- Dive into the world of true crime by starting a book club focused on historical criminal cases. This can be a way to explore the psychological and sociological aspects of crime, similar to the case of John Hay. You and your friends can read and discuss books that delve into infamous cases, their legal proceedings, and the media's role in shaping public perception.
- Enhance your critical thinking skills by playing detective games that require you to solve fictional crimes. Games like these often involve analyzing evidence, questioning suspects, and determining the credibility of insanity defenses, mirroring the complexities of real-life cases like Hay's. This can be a fun and engaging way to sharpen your deductive reasoning and understand the intricacies of criminal investigations.
- Write a short story or screenplay inspired by the sensational aspects of hi ...
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1-Page Summary- Hay's strict religious upbringing and its impact on his development
- Hay's criminal history, including scams, frauds, and murders
- Hay's murders of the McSwans, Hendersons, and Olive Durand-Deacon, and his methods of disposing of the bodies
- Hay's trial, insanity defense, and eventual execution
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