The Strange Case of Charles and Florence Bravo - Victorian True Crime

The story of Charles Bravo centers on the mysterious and controversial death of an English barrister in 1876. Charles Bravo was a newly married lawyer who suddenly fell ill and died over the course of three days after ingesting a large dose of antimony, a toxic substance. His death became one of the most famous unsolved poisoning cases in Victorian England.

Key elements of the story include:

Charles Bravo's Background: Bravo was a successful barrister who married Florence Ricardo, a wealthy widow. Their marriage was reportedly troubled, with frequent quarrels and tensions.

The Incident: Bravo suddenly became violently ill on the evening of April 18, 1876. Despite medical treatment, his condition worsened, and he died on April 21. Before dying, he claimed to have taken nothing voluntarily that could have caused his illness.

Investigation: The inquest into Bravo’s death revealed that he had ingested antimony, a poison often used at the time in small doses for medicinal purposes. The circumstances suggested that the poison had been administered over time, leading to a buildup in his system.

Suspects:

Florence Bravo: His wife, whose previous marriage ended in scandal, was suspected due to their troubled relationship.
Dr. James Gully: Florence’s former lover and a prominent physician, was also suspected due to his close association with Florence.
Mrs. Jane Cox: The housekeeper, who had a contentious relationship with Bravo, was another suspect.
Outcome: Despite a thorough investigation and sensational media coverage, no one was ever charged with the murder. The inquest concluded with an open verdict, leaving the case unsolved.

The mystery of Charles Bravo's death remains one of the most intriguing unsolved cases in British criminal history, with theories ranging from accidental overdose to deliberate poisoning by one of the close associates.

[danaMccabe-dagmarK]

“What slower, deadlier poison is there than a lifetime of abuse, tragedy, and loneliness?” That gave me the shivers. Thank you…very well done!

[queenligoo]

My 93yr old grandma told me about this channel haha i love it as much as she does ❤

[AllGoodOutside]

Mr. Brodie, I felt compelled to tell you that when I am feeling quite depressed and begin to be overwhelmed by hopeless irrational thoughts, I try to focus on the truly wonderful things in life that I appreciate, such as my wife, my dog, a excellent pastrami sandwich, a warm breeze on a sunny day in spring, and knowing that there are uniquely gifted people such as You in the world, who can raise my spirits and bring a feeling of comfort merely by the sound of their voice and natural charisma. Thank You kindly Paul, Mr. Brodie!

[tysmom]

What an incredibly sad story all around

[hattinghmelanie]

Well I never… thought that a YouTube channel would be my escape from anxiety, become a closely followed interest, educate me, and intensify my absolute love for history! Thank you!

[arlanstrong]

When you introduce us to these people and their stories I feel as if I have met them. Well done!

[GradKat]

I’ve always been fascinated by this story. I like Jane Cox for this. Bravo didn’t get along with her, and maybe she was afraid she would be fired, like the coachman. She had three children to support, so wouldn’t have wanted to lose a good job as Florence’s companion/housekeeper. Great video, anyway!

[sadielevens]

It's always a special treat when I see your notifications.

[VixGB]

Paul, thank you for such interesting content, which despite being grim subjects, they are delivered with gravitas, wit and
panache! Thank you 🙏🏻❤️

[izzatimare]

Poor Florence! Her unhappy marriages lead her to become alcoholic and finally died alone.

Thank you Paul for the story. Looking forward for the next videos! 😁

[emmajulian]

Thank you Mr brodie can't wait to watch this video. You videos cheer me up especially now I'm stuck in bed with a terrible flu 😢

[BeeWhistler]

I could believe he did it out of spite. I knew a man years ago who killed himself after his wife left with the kids. But she left because he was abusive, and since he was the type of guy everyone liked, I suspect he didn’t care for his shattered image. I’ve always seen his suicide more as an act of revenge than despair.

[angelfriend]

I always look forward to your calm, easy storytelling of historical items of interest. Makes for an enjoyable time for me. Thank you so much!

[spacecowgurl]

I believe it was Jane Cox. She had become protective and didn't like how she was being treated. She had access to the horses meds. Disappeared after inquiry to me is "whew, that was close."❤

[miriammerritt]

Great commentary, so clearly spoken, Thank-you.Such a fascinating

[Smudge-]

A recent follower of yours, Sir. But I think your videos are fantastic!

Keep up the great work!

❤ from a subscriber

[gregevans]

Gee, thanks, Paul. Just had to throw in that tear-jerker ending, didn’t ya? Lol, another great story, sir. Good to see you!

[bettyfeliciano]

What a tragic story! In the end, no one really won. Thank you Paul for another intriguing story! Blessings always! ❤️😊🙏

[elizabethnash]

A fascinating account ~ many thanks for your meticulous work ⭐️

[donaldlyons]

Quite a story. Thanks for this bit of history