Overview of Behind the Scenes Minis: Pistols and Candy Corn
This Stuff You Missed in History Class minisode is a loose behind-the-scenes chat about leftovers from two recent episodes: the Red Barn murder and an episode on eponymous candy bars. Holly Fry and Tracy V. Wilson revisit interesting research details that didn’t make it into the main episodes, from bizarre 19th-century legal procedures to candy-industry family lore and Halloween candy favorites.
Red Barn Murder: Extra Details and Oddities
The pistols dispute
- The hosts discuss a strange post-trial dispute over William Corder’s pistols.
- In the old legal system, there was confusion about who actually owned the pistols after the arrest and trial.
- The arresting officer claimed the pistols were promised to him by Corder and therefore belonged to him, while court officials also wanted them taken into custody.
- Holly and Tracy note how bizarre this would seem in a modern case.
A legal system in transition
- The case happened during a period when the London Metropolitan Police did not yet exist.
- Law enforcement was a patchwork of:
- unpaid public officials,
- semi-formal local roles,
- and private police forces.
- The hosts point out how interesting it was that such a high-profile case involved multiple jurisdictions and an emerging police culture.
The baby and the well
- Holly revisits a lingering question from the case: why was William so intent on filling in the well?
- Her speculation is that the well may have held the baby’s body, though the historical record never confirmed this.
- The hosts emphasize that Maria Marten’s baby was never conclusively found.
Overall reaction
- They describe the case as:
- deeply sad,
- full of deception,
- and compelling because of how calculated William Corder was.
- They also note that Corder’s wife reportedly visited him in prison until the end, which they find striking and unsettling.
Candy Bars and the Mars Family
Family secrecy and the Mars legacy
- The discussion focuses on research around the Mars candy family.
- The Mars family was notably private, with interviews and public family stories becoming more available only in the 1990s.
- This made it hard to verify some family-history details.
- The hosts suggest that later narratives may have been shaped in ways that made the Mars family story seem simpler or more polished than it really was.
Forrest Mars and the business
- Holly notes that Forrest Mars took over the family business at age 60 and kept working for years.
- She pushes back a bit on the idea that he came from an unsuccessful candy-making background, since his father Frank C. Mars had already built a successful enterprise.
Fun and strange candy facts
- Frank Mars reportedly gave out full-size candy bars at Halloween, which was especially generous for the era.
- They mention a pineapple-flavored Mars bar sold in Britain, which surprises and intrigues them.
- They also note that candy companies in the U.S. often seemed to be collaborative rather than ruthlessly cutthroat, at least in their early history.
A few research rabbit holes
- Holly shares a funny example of old newspaper phrasing: “Frank C. Mars is victim of death.”
- Another strange detail involved a woman hired to decorate the Mars home who later tried to sue for breach of contract after Frank’s death.
- Holly also had a humorous reading error involving the word Tacoman (a person from Tacoma), which she initially read as “taco man.”
Halloween Candy Preferences and Closing Thoughts
Favorite candies
- The hosts compare candy favorites and safe-to-binge treats:
- Reese’s is a major favorite for both, though dangerous in quantity.
- Tracy mentions a fondness for white chocolate Hershey’s Kisses and Cadbury Creme Eggs.
- Holly confesses a weakness for Hershey’s cherry cordial Kisses.
- They both enjoy Cadbury Scream Eggs when available.
Candy corn and trick-or-treating
- Holly admits she loves candy corn and cannot be trusted around it.
- They end by wishing listeners:
- full-size candy bars,
- a fun Halloween,
- and a joyful weekend, whether or not they celebrate.
Key Takeaways
- The Red Barn murder still has lingering historical mysteries, especially around the baby and the pistols.
- The Mars candy family history is more complicated and more private than a simple brand narrative suggests.
- Even in a history podcast, the hosts find room for Halloween candy debates, personal snack confessions, and a few accidental laugh lines.