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William Palmer (murderer)
Encyclopedia
William Palmer was an English doctor who was convicted of murder in one of the most notorious cases of the 19th century.
, Staffordshire
, he had an extravagant lifestyle; his medical training was constantly interrupted by allegations of stealing money, and he also had a reputation as a ladies' man. While working at Stafford
infirmary, he was accused of poisoning an acquaintance during a drinking competition; although nothing was proven, the hospital imposed tighter controls on the dispensary as a precaution. Palmer also enjoyed gambling, but his lack of success in this pursuit led him into serious debt.
, married Ann Thornton, also known as Brookes (b. 1827) in 1847. The marriage took place on 7 October 1847. Their first son, William Brookes Palmer, was born either in 1848 or 1850. He would long outlive his father, dying on 29 April 1926.
The first of several suspicious deaths connected to Palmer was that of his mother-in-law. On 18 January 1849, Ann Mary Thornton died while visiting her daughter at Palmer's house. She was about 50 years old. On 10 May 1850, Leonard Bladen died. He was a 49-year-old house guest of the Palmers. William and Ann would have four more children, who all died in infancy:
The only other family member to die in this period was an elderly uncle of Palmer. Joseph Bentley died on 27 October 1852. He was 62 years old and his death attracted no suspicion. But then followed the death of Ann Palmer. She died on 29 September 1854, only 27 years old. At about this time, Palmer was involved in an affair with Eliza Tharme, his housemaid. On 26 June/27 June 1855, Tharme gave birth to Alfred. He was an illegitimate son to Palmer. The sequence of events did not attract much attention. Ann was believed to have died of cholera
. In 1853-1854, the so-called third cholera pandemic
was affecting Great Britain
. There were 23,000 cholera-related deaths on the island. But Palmer did benefit financially from the death of his wife. He had taken out a £13,000 insurance policy on her life.
Palmer then insured his brother Walter's life. Walter Palmer died on 16 August 1855. But Walter died a bit too soon and the insurance company refused to pay up. By this time, Palmer was heavily in debt, and was being blackmailed by one of his former lovers, the daughter of a Staffordshire policeman.
In November, 1855, Palmer attended the Shrewsbury
Handicap Stakes. He was accompanied by a friend. John Parsons Cook. Both bet on various horses between 13 November and 15 November. Cook won a large amount of money by betting on "Polestar"; Palmer lost heavily by betting instead on "the Chicken". Cook and Palmer had a celebration party at the Raven, a local drinking establishment. Already on 14 November, Cook was complaining of feeling ill, but he was only thought to have drunk too much brandy
. On 15 November, the two gamblers returned to Rugeley. Cook booked a room at the Talbot Arms.
On 17 November 1855, two people close to Palmer fell suddenly ill: young Alfred Palmer and John Cook. Alfred died within the day, the fifth child of Palmer to die in infancy. On 18 November, a chambermaid sampled the broth
prepared for Cook. She too fell ill. On 19 November, Palmer went to London in order to collect Cook's earnings from the horse races. On 21 November, Cook died at about 1:00 AM. On 23 November, Mr. Stevens, Cook's stepfather, arrived to represent the family. A post mortem examination of Cook's body took place on November 26. An inquest on Cook opened on 29 November, the verdict was delivered on 15 December. Deciding that the Cook case concerned "willful murder". Suspicions of foul play were heightened when Palmer tried to bribe several people involved with the coroner
's inquest, but the final straw was Palmer's purchase of strychnine
shortly before Cook's death.
(the Central Criminal Court Act 1856
) was passed to allow the trial to be held at The Old Bailey, London
, as it was felt that a fair jury
could not be found in Staffordshire. His defence was led by Mr Serjeant William Shee
who took over the case at the last minute after his previous counsel had fled to France to evade his debts. The defence case suffered adverse comment from the judge because Shee had, against all rules and conventions of professional conduct, told the jury
that he personally believed Palmer to be innocent. Despite the evidence being circumstantial, the similarity between Cook's death and that of known strychnine victims was enough for the jury to find Palmer guilty of murder. The prosecution team of Alexander Cockburn
and John Walter Huddleston
possessed fine forensic minds and proved forceful advocates. Palmer expressed his admiration for Cockburn's cross-examination
after the verdict through the racing metaphor "It was the riding that did it." Some 30,000 were at Stafford prison on 14 June 1856 to see Palmer's public execution
by hanging
at the hands of George Smith
. As he stepped onto the gallows, Palmer is said to have looked at the trapdoor and exclaimed, "Are you sure it's safe?" After he was hanged his mother is said to have commented: "They have hanged my saintly Billy". Some scholars believe that the evidence should not have been enough to convict him, and that the summing up of the judge, John Campbell, 1st Baron Campbell
, was prejudicial.
The notoriety of the case alarmed many of eminent men in Rugeley, who were worried that their town would forever be linked with "Palmer the Poisoner". There is a persistent urban myth that they petitioned the Prime Minister
of the day to change the name of the town. He reputedly said he would accede to their request, but only if they would name it after himself...Palmerston
. This story is now generally thought to be untrue.
's "Can You Forgive Her?
" (1864-5), where the character George Vavasor considers him "a man of genius as well as courage". Arthur Conan Doyle
's detective Sherlock Holmes
remarks on Palmer in The Adventure of the Speckled Band
. The case is also mentioned in Dorothy L. Sayers
' mysteries, Whose Body?
, The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club
and Unnatural Death
. The fictional character of Inspector Bucket in Charles Dickens
' Bleak House
is reputed to be based on Charles Frederick Field
, the policeman who investigated Walter Palmer's death for his insurers. Robert Graves
's novel They Hanged My Saintly Billy is a re-examination of the case.
The salutation "What's your poison?" is thought to be a reference to the events.
The film The Life and Crimes of William Palmer
was released in 1998.
Early life
Born in RugeleyRugeley
Rugeley is a historic market town in the county of Staffordshire, England. It lies on the northern edge of Cannock Chase, and is situated roughly midway between the towns of Stafford, Cannock, Lichfield and Uttoxeter...
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
, he had an extravagant lifestyle; his medical training was constantly interrupted by allegations of stealing money, and he also had a reputation as a ladies' man. While working at Stafford
Stafford
Stafford is the county town of Staffordshire, in the West Midlands region of England. It lies approximately north of Wolverhampton and south of Stoke-on-Trent, adjacent to the M6 motorway Junction 13 to Junction 14...
infirmary, he was accused of poisoning an acquaintance during a drinking competition; although nothing was proven, the hospital imposed tighter controls on the dispensary as a precaution. Palmer also enjoyed gambling, but his lack of success in this pursuit led him into serious debt.
Murder spree
He returned to his home town of Rugeley to practice as a doctor, and, in St. Nicholas Church, Abbots BromleyAbbots Bromley
Abbots Bromley is a village in Staffordshire, England. It is famous for the annual Abbots Bromley Horn Dance. It is also the home of one of the Woodard Schools, Abbots Bromley School for Girls...
, married Ann Thornton, also known as Brookes (b. 1827) in 1847. The marriage took place on 7 October 1847. Their first son, William Brookes Palmer, was born either in 1848 or 1850. He would long outlive his father, dying on 29 April 1926.
The first of several suspicious deaths connected to Palmer was that of his mother-in-law. On 18 January 1849, Ann Mary Thornton died while visiting her daughter at Palmer's house. She was about 50 years old. On 10 May 1850, Leonard Bladen died. He was a 49-year-old house guest of the Palmers. William and Ann would have four more children, who all died in infancy:
- Elizabeth Palmer. Died on 6 January 1851. She was about two and a half months old at the time of death.
- Henry Palmer. Died on 6 January 1852. He was about a month old.
- Frank Palmer. Died on 19 December 1852, only 7 hours following his birth.
- John Palmer. Died on 27 January 1854. He was three or four days old.
The only other family member to die in this period was an elderly uncle of Palmer. Joseph Bentley died on 27 October 1852. He was 62 years old and his death attracted no suspicion. But then followed the death of Ann Palmer. She died on 29 September 1854, only 27 years old. At about this time, Palmer was involved in an affair with Eliza Tharme, his housemaid. On 26 June/27 June 1855, Tharme gave birth to Alfred. He was an illegitimate son to Palmer. The sequence of events did not attract much attention. Ann was believed to have died of cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
. In 1853-1854, the so-called third cholera pandemic
Third cholera pandemic
The third cholera pandemic was an outbreak of cholera that occurred from 1852-1860, and mainly affected Russia, with over a million deaths. In 1853-1854, London's epidemic claimed over 10,000 lives with 23,000 deaths for all of Britain.-External links:*...
was affecting Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
. There were 23,000 cholera-related deaths on the island. But Palmer did benefit financially from the death of his wife. He had taken out a £13,000 insurance policy on her life.
Palmer then insured his brother Walter's life. Walter Palmer died on 16 August 1855. But Walter died a bit too soon and the insurance company refused to pay up. By this time, Palmer was heavily in debt, and was being blackmailed by one of his former lovers, the daughter of a Staffordshire policeman.
Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, in the West Midlands region of England. Lying on the River Severn, it is a civil parish home to some 70,000 inhabitants, and is the primary settlement and headquarters of Shropshire Council...
Handicap Stakes. He was accompanied by a friend. John Parsons Cook. Both bet on various horses between 13 November and 15 November. Cook won a large amount of money by betting on "Polestar"; Palmer lost heavily by betting instead on "the Chicken". Cook and Palmer had a celebration party at the Raven, a local drinking establishment. Already on 14 November, Cook was complaining of feeling ill, but he was only thought to have drunk too much brandy
Brandy
Brandy is a spirit produced by distilling wine. Brandy generally contains 35%–60% alcohol by volume and is typically taken as an after-dinner drink...
. On 15 November, the two gamblers returned to Rugeley. Cook booked a room at the Talbot Arms.
On 17 November 1855, two people close to Palmer fell suddenly ill: young Alfred Palmer and John Cook. Alfred died within the day, the fifth child of Palmer to die in infancy. On 18 November, a chambermaid sampled the broth
Broth
Broth is a liquid food preparation, typically consisting of either water or an already flavored stock, in which bones, meat, fish, cereal grains, or vegetables have been simmered. Broth is used as a basis for other edible liquids such as soup, gravy, or sauce. It can be eaten alone or with garnish...
prepared for Cook. She too fell ill. On 19 November, Palmer went to London in order to collect Cook's earnings from the horse races. On 21 November, Cook died at about 1:00 AM. On 23 November, Mr. Stevens, Cook's stepfather, arrived to represent the family. A post mortem examination of Cook's body took place on November 26. An inquest on Cook opened on 29 November, the verdict was delivered on 15 December. Deciding that the Cook case concerned "willful murder". Suspicions of foul play were heightened when Palmer tried to bribe several people involved with the 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...
's inquest, but the final straw was Palmer's purchase of 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...
shortly before Cook's death.
Arrest and trial
Palmer was arrested for Cook's murder. The bodies of Ann and Walter Palmer were also exhumed and re-examined, although not enough evidence was found to charge Palmer with their deaths. An Act of ParliamentAct of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
(the Central Criminal Court Act 1856
Central Criminal Court Act 1856
The Central Criminal Court Act 1856 , originally known as the Trial of Offences Act 1856 and popularly known as Palmer's Act, was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
) was passed to allow the trial to be held at The Old Bailey, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, as it was felt that a fair jury
Jury
A jury is a sworn body of people convened to render an impartial verdict officially submitted to them by a court, or to set a penalty or judgment. Modern juries tend to be found in courts to ascertain the guilt, or lack thereof, in a crime. In Anglophone jurisdictions, the verdict may be guilty,...
could not be found in Staffordshire. His defence was led by Mr Serjeant William Shee
William Shee
Sir William Shee QS was an Anglo-Irish politician, lawyer and judge, the first Roman Catholic judge to sit in England and Wales since the Reformation.-Early life and legal career:...
who took over the case at the last minute after his previous counsel had fled to France to evade his debts. The defence case suffered adverse comment from the judge because Shee had, against all rules and conventions of professional conduct, told the jury
Jury
A jury is a sworn body of people convened to render an impartial verdict officially submitted to them by a court, or to set a penalty or judgment. Modern juries tend to be found in courts to ascertain the guilt, or lack thereof, in a crime. In Anglophone jurisdictions, the verdict may be guilty,...
that he personally believed Palmer to be innocent. Despite the evidence being circumstantial, the similarity between Cook's death and that of known strychnine victims was enough for the jury to find Palmer guilty of murder. The prosecution team of Alexander Cockburn
Sir Alexander Cockburn, 12th Baronet
Sir Alexander James Edmund Cockburn, 12th Baronet Q.C. was a Scottish lawyer, politician and judge. A notorious womaniser and socialite, as Lord Chief Justice he heard some of the leading causes célèbres of the 19th century.-Life:Cockburn was born in Alţâna, in what is now Romania and was then...
and John Walter Huddleston
John Walter Huddleston
Sir John Walter Huddleston was an English judge, formerly a criminal lawyer who had established an eminent reputation in various causes célèbres....
possessed fine forensic minds and proved forceful advocates. Palmer expressed his admiration for Cockburn's cross-examination
Cross-examination
In law, cross-examination is the interrogation of a witness called by one's opponent. It is preceded by direct examination and may be followed by a redirect .- Variations by Jurisdiction :In...
after the verdict through the racing metaphor "It was the riding that did it." Some 30,000 were at Stafford prison on 14 June 1856 to see Palmer's public execution
Public Execution
Public Execution is a Mouse and the Traps retrospective album that has been released in both LP and CD formats. The LP has an unusually large number of tracks , while the CD includes 4 bonus tracks and catalogues almost all of the released music by Mouse and the Traps and their associated bands: ...
by hanging
Hanging
Hanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
at the hands of George Smith
George Smith (executioner)
George Smith , popularly known as Throttler Smith, was an English hangman from 1840 until 1866. He was born in Rowley Regis in the English West Midlands, where he performed the majority of his executions...
. As he stepped onto the gallows, Palmer is said to have looked at the trapdoor and exclaimed, "Are you sure it's safe?" After he was hanged his mother is said to have commented: "They have hanged my saintly Billy". Some scholars believe that the evidence should not have been enough to convict him, and that the summing up of the judge, John Campbell, 1st Baron Campbell
John Campbell, 1st Baron Campbell
John Campbell, 1st Baron Campbell PC, KC was a British Liberal politician, lawyer, and man of letters.-Background and education:...
, was prejudicial.
| Judges | |||||||||||
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| Prosecution counsel | Defence counsel | ||||||||||
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The notoriety of the case alarmed many of eminent men in Rugeley, who were worried that their town would forever be linked with "Palmer the Poisoner". There is a persistent urban myth that they petitioned the Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
of the day to change the name of the town. He reputedly said he would accede to their request, but only if they would name it after himself...Palmerston
Henry Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston
Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston, KG, GCB, PC , known popularly as Lord Palmerston, was a British statesman who served twice as Prime Minister in the mid-19th century...
. This story is now generally thought to be untrue.
Cultural references
Palmer is mentioned in Anthony TrollopeAnthony Trollope
Anthony Trollope was one of the most successful, prolific and respected English novelists of the Victorian era. Some of his best-loved works, collectively known as the Chronicles of Barsetshire, revolve around the imaginary county of Barsetshire...
's "Can You Forgive Her?
Can You Forgive Her?
Can You Forgive Her? is a novel by Anthony Trollope, first published in serial form in 1864 and 1865. It is the first of six novels in the "Palliser" series....
" (1864-5), where the character George Vavasor considers him "a man of genius as well as courage". Arthur Conan Doyle
Arthur Conan Doyle
Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle DL was a Scottish physician and writer, most noted for his stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes, generally considered a milestone in the field of crime fiction, and for the adventures of Professor Challenger...
's detective Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes is a fictional detective created by Scottish author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The fantastic London-based "consulting detective", Holmes is famous for his astute logical reasoning, his ability to take almost any disguise, and his use of forensic science skills to solve...
remarks on Palmer in The Adventure of the Speckled Band
The Adventure of the Speckled Band
"The Adventure of the Speckled Band" is one of the 56 short Sherlock Holmes stories written by Scottish author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It is the eighth of the twelve stories collected in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. It is one of four Sherlock Holmes stories that can be classified as a locked...
. The case is also mentioned in Dorothy L. Sayers
Dorothy L. Sayers
Dorothy Leigh Sayers was a renowned English crime writer, poet, playwright, essayist, translator and Christian humanist. She was also a student of classical and modern languages...
' mysteries, Whose Body?
Whose Body?
Whose Body? is a 1923 novel by Dorothy L. Sayers, which introduced the character of Lord Peter Wimsey.-Plot introduction:Lord Peter is intrigued by the sudden appearance of a naked body in the bath of an architect, and investigates...
, The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club
The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club
The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club is a 1928 novel by Dorothy L. Sayers, her fourth featuring Lord Peter Wimsey.- Plot outline:General Fentiman is found dead at the Bellona Club in London, where his body went unnoticed for some hours. His wealthy sister also passed away the same day and under...
and Unnatural Death
Unnatural Death
Unnatural Death is a 1927 mystery novel by Dorothy L. Sayers, her third featuring Lord Peter Wimsey. It has also been published in the United States as The Dawson Pedigree.-Plot introduction:...
. The fictional character of Inspector Bucket in Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
' Bleak House
Bleak House
Bleak House is the ninth novel by Charles Dickens, published in twenty monthly installments between March 1852 and September 1853. It is held to be one of Dickens's finest novels, containing one of the most vast, complex and engaging arrays of minor characters and sub-plots in his entire canon...
is reputed to be based on Charles Frederick Field
Charles Frederick Field
Charles Frederick Field was a British police officer with Scotland Yard and, following his retirement, a private detective. Field is perhaps best known as the basis for Inspector Bucket in Charles Dickens's novel Bleak House.-Career:...
, the policeman who investigated Walter Palmer's death for his insurers. Robert Graves
Robert Graves
Robert von Ranke Graves 24 July 1895 – 7 December 1985 was an English poet, translator and novelist. During his long life he produced more than 140 works...
's novel They Hanged My Saintly Billy is a re-examination of the case.
The salutation "What's your poison?" is thought to be a reference to the events.
The film The Life and Crimes of William Palmer
The Life and Crimes of William Palmer
The Life and Crimes of William Palmer is a British film made in 1998 about the Victorian poisonerWilliam Palmer....
was released in 1998.
See also
- John Bodkin AdamsJohn Bodkin AdamsJohn Bodkin Adams was an Irish-born British general practitioner, convicted fraudster and suspected serial killer. Between the years 1946 and 1956, more than 160 of his patients died in suspicious circumstances. Of these, 132 left him money or items in their will. He was tried and acquitted for...
- Thomas Neill CreamThomas Neill CreamDr. Thomas Neill Cream , also known as the Lambeth Poisoner, was a Scottish-born serial killer, who claimed his first proven victims in the United States and the rest in England, and possibly others in Canada and Scotland...
- Hawley Harvey CrippenHawley Harvey CrippenHawley Harvey Crippen , usually known as Dr. Crippen, was an American homeopathic physician hanged in Pentonville Prison, London, on November 23, 1910, for the murder of his wife, Cora Henrietta Crippen...
- H H Holmes
- Hendrik JutHendrik JutHendrik Jut was a murderer from The Hague. He killed two people and gained notoriety in the country comparable to Lizzie Borden in the United States or William Palmer in Britain....
- Harold ShipmanHarold ShipmanHarold Fredrick Shipman was an English doctor and one of the most prolific serial killers in recorded history with 218 murders being positively ascribed to him....
- Michael SwangoMichael SwangoJoseph Michael Swango is an American serial killer and former licensed physician. It is estimated that Swango has been involved in as many as 60 fatal poisonings of patients and colleagues, though he admitted to only causing four deaths...
- Other doctors accused or convicted of murder
External links
- williampalmer.co.uk
- William Palmer on the BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
- Staffordshire Past Track - William Palmer