Christiana Edmunds
Encyclopedia
Christiana Edmunds was a notorious English
woman
who, in the late 19th century, became known as The Chocolate Cream Poisoner, when she poisoned several people by way of adulterated chocolate cream, killing at least one.
, in 1829, Edmunds was, by reports, a pretty woman, but suffered from a mental illness
that went undetected until her poisoning spree came to light. It was while she was living with her widowed mother in Brighton
, in the late 1860s, that Edmunds became involved in an affair with a married doctor
named Charles Beard. When, in the summer of 1870, Beard had attempted to end their relationship, Edmunds had visited his home with a gift of chocolates for his wife. The following day, Mrs Beard became violently ill, but recovered. Dr Beard would say later that he suspected Edmunds had poisoned his wife at that time, but he declined to act on it, possibly fearing his affair with Edmunds being discovered.
In 1871, however, Edmunds began obtaining chocolate creams, taking them home and lacing them with strychnine
, then returning them to the unknowing vendors, who then sold them to the public, not knowing, of course, that the chocolates were poisoned. Initially, Edmunds was obtaining the strychnine from a dentist
, Dr Isaac Garrett, on the pretence that she needed it to poison stray cat
s. When Dr Garrett told her he believed this was cruel, she began using a milliner friend, Mrs Stone, to obtain the strychnine.
Edmunds also began to draw attention with her constant purchases of chocolates, at which point she began paying young boys to purchase them for her. By this time several people in Brighton
had become ill from eating the chocolates, but no one had connected the illnesses with the chocolates. However, in June 1871, 4-year-old Sidney Albert Barker, on holiday with his family, died as a result of eating chocolates from a shop called Maynard's. The Brighton Coroner
, David Black, ruled the death accidental, although it would later be confirmed that this was the only death due to the poisoning.
Edmunds then increased her poisoning campaign, and began sending parcel
s of chocolates to prominent persons, including Mrs Beard, who then became violently ill. By this time, the police had connected the large numbers of ill people with the chocolates. Edmunds also sent parcels to herself, claiming that she, too, was a victim of the poisoner, in the hope that this would deflect suspicion from her and on to the shopkeeper, John Maynard, from whom the victims had purchased their chocolates. At this point Dr Beard informed the police of his suspicions, which resulted in Edmunds being arrested, and charged with the attempted murder
of Mrs Beard, and the murder of Sidney Barker. After committal hearings, it was decided to move the case from Lewes
to the Old Bailey
, and Edmunds's trial began in January 1872.
Her mother testified that both sides of their family had a history of mental illness. Dr Beard claimed that he and Edmunds never had a sexual relationship, but that instead it was merely a series of letters sent by her to him, and mild flirtations. The defence, however, was able to indicate that the two had in fact become involved in an affair, arguing that it was this that sent Edmunds over the edge. Edmunds was sentenced to the death penalty, but she was reprieved because of her mental state, life in prison being automatically substituted. She spent the rest of her life in Broadmoor Criminal Lunatic Asylum
, dying there in 1907.
by John Dickson Carr
is based on the Edmunds case.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
woman
Woman
A woman , pl: women is a female human. The term woman is usually reserved for an adult, with the term girl being the usual term for a female child or adolescent...
who, in the late 19th century, became known as The Chocolate Cream Poisoner, when she poisoned several people by way of adulterated chocolate cream, killing at least one.
Poisoning spree
Born in MargateMargate
-Demography:As of the 2001 UK census, Margate had a population of 40,386.The ethnicity of the town was 97.1% white, 1.0% mixed race, 0.5% black, 0.8% Asian, 0.6% Chinese or other ethnicity....
, in 1829, Edmunds was, by reports, a pretty woman, but suffered from a mental illness
Mental illness
A mental disorder or mental illness is a psychological or behavioral pattern generally associated with subjective distress or disability that occurs in an individual, and which is not a part of normal development or culture. Such a disorder may consist of a combination of affective, behavioural,...
that went undetected until her poisoning spree came to light. It was while she was living with her widowed mother in Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
, in the late 1860s, that Edmunds became involved in an affair with a married doctor
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
named Charles Beard. When, in the summer of 1870, Beard had attempted to end their relationship, Edmunds had visited his home with a gift of chocolates for his wife. The following day, Mrs Beard became violently ill, but recovered. Dr Beard would say later that he suspected Edmunds had poisoned his wife at that time, but he declined to act on it, possibly fearing his affair with Edmunds being discovered.
In 1871, however, Edmunds began obtaining chocolate creams, taking them home and lacing them with strychnine
Strychnine
Strychnine is a highly toxic , colorless crystalline alkaloid used as a pesticide, particularly for killing small vertebrates such as birds and rodents. Strychnine causes muscular convulsions and eventually death through asphyxia or sheer exhaustion...
, then returning them to the unknowing vendors, who then sold them to the public, not knowing, of course, that the chocolates were poisoned. Initially, Edmunds was obtaining the strychnine from a dentist
Dentist
A dentist, also known as a 'dental surgeon', is a doctor that specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity. The dentist's supporting team aides in providing oral health services...
, Dr Isaac Garrett, on the pretence that she needed it to poison stray cat
Cat
The cat , also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felids and felines, is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests...
s. When Dr Garrett told her he believed this was cruel, she began using a milliner friend, Mrs Stone, to obtain the strychnine.
Edmunds also began to draw attention with her constant purchases of chocolates, at which point she began paying young boys to purchase them for her. By this time several people in Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
had become ill from eating the chocolates, but no one had connected the illnesses with the chocolates. However, in June 1871, 4-year-old Sidney Albert Barker, on holiday with his family, died as a result of eating chocolates from a shop called Maynard's. The Brighton Coroner
Coroner
A coroner is a government official who* Investigates human deaths* Determines cause of death* Issues death certificates* Maintains death records* Responds to deaths in mass disasters* Identifies unknown dead* Other functions depending on local laws...
, David Black, ruled the death accidental, although it would later be confirmed that this was the only death due to the poisoning.
Edmunds then increased her poisoning campaign, and began sending parcel
Package delivery
Package delivery or parcel delivery is the shipping of packages or high value mail as single shipments. While the service is provided by most postal systems, private package delivery services have also existed in competition with and in place of public postal services.-Package delivery in the...
s of chocolates to prominent persons, including Mrs Beard, who then became violently ill. By this time, the police had connected the large numbers of ill people with the chocolates. Edmunds also sent parcels to herself, claiming that she, too, was a victim of the poisoner, in the hope that this would deflect suspicion from her and on to the shopkeeper, John Maynard, from whom the victims had purchased their chocolates. At this point Dr Beard informed the police of his suspicions, which resulted in Edmunds being arrested, and charged with the attempted murder
Attempted murder
Attempted murder is a crime in England and Wales and Northern Ireland.-Today:In English criminal law, attempted murder is the crime of more than merely preparing to commit unlawful killing and at the same time having a specific intention to cause the death of human being under the Queen's Peace...
of Mrs Beard, and the murder of Sidney Barker. After committal hearings, it was decided to move the case from Lewes
Lewes
Lewes is the county town of East Sussex, England and historically of all of Sussex. It is a civil parish and is the centre of the Lewes local government district. The settlement has a history as a bridging point and as a market town, and today as a communications hub and tourist-oriented town...
to the Old Bailey
Old Bailey
The Central Criminal Court in England and Wales, commonly known as the Old Bailey from the street in which it stands, is a court building in central London, one of a number of buildings housing the Crown Court...
, and Edmunds's trial began in January 1872.
Her mother testified that both sides of their family had a history of mental illness. Dr Beard claimed that he and Edmunds never had a sexual relationship, but that instead it was merely a series of letters sent by her to him, and mild flirtations. The defence, however, was able to indicate that the two had in fact become involved in an affair, arguing that it was this that sent Edmunds over the edge. Edmunds was sentenced to the death penalty, but she was reprieved because of her mental state, life in prison being automatically substituted. She spent the rest of her life in Broadmoor Criminal Lunatic Asylum
Broadmoor Hospital
Broadmoor Hospital is a high-security psychiatric hospital at Crowthorne in the Borough of Bracknell Forest in Berkshire, England. It is the best known of the three high-security psychiatric hospitals in England, the other two being Ashworth and Rampton...
, dying there in 1907.
In Popular Culture
The 1939 novel The Black SpectaclesThe Black Spectacles
The Black Spectacles , first published in 1939, is a detective story by John Dickson Carr featuring his series detective Gideon Fell...
by John Dickson Carr
John Dickson Carr
John Dickson Carr was an American author of detective stories, who also published under the pen names Carter Dickson, Carr Dickson and Roger Fairbairn....
is based on the Edmunds case.