42. Annie Gordon Baillie - Serial Swindler

Lucy Worsley continues her new series of Lady Swindlers, where true crime meets history, with a twist. Lucy and her team of all female detectives travel back more than a hundred years to tail scammers, crooks, conwomen and convicts. Women from all walks of life, who find themselves on the wrong side of the law.

In this episode, Lucy is investigating  Annie Gordon Baillie, a serial swindler who has over 40 aliases. She cons everyone from the milkman to government ministers.

She specialises in petty swindling but also concocts an elaborate scheme to help the crofting community on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. She promises to fund their cause, give them a voice and provide them with their own land, while pocketing any donations. With Lucy to explore Annie Gordon Baillie’s story is author Denise Mina, who writes historical fiction, crime fiction, and graphic novels. Lucy is also joined by historian Rosalind Crone, Professor of History at the Open University and Archivist Catherine MacPhee. Catherine paints a picture of what life was like for the crofters of Skye. Lucy and Ros visit Old Scotland Yard to find out more about a tenacious detective, Henry Marshall, who finally brings Annie to justice.

Lucy asks how did a poor, illiterate woman pass herself off as aristocracy and get away with swindling for so long? And shows that Annie’s charitable fundraising has a very dark side.

Producer: Julia Hayball Readers: Clare Corbett, Jonathan Keeble and Alex Phelps Sound design: Chris Maclean Executive producer: Kirsty Hunter

A StoryHunter production for BBC Radio 4.