Editing William Palmer
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|hobby = Gambling | |hobby = Gambling | ||
|goals = Poison people and pay off his gambling debts | |goals = Poison people and pay off his gambling debts | ||
|crimes = [[Murder]]<br>Fraud< | |crimes = [[Murder]]<br>Fraud<be>Theft | ||
|type of villain = Serial Killer}} | |type of villain = Serial Killer}} | ||
'''William Palmer''' (6 August 1824 – 14 June 1856) was an English doctor convicted and hanged for the murder of his friend John Cook, although he is suspected to have poisoned several other people whose deaths were written off as various ailments. | '''William Palmer''' (6 August 1824 – 14 June 1856) was an English doctor convicted and hanged for the murder of his friend John Cook, although he is suspected to have poisoned several other people whose deaths were written off as various ailments. | ||
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Palmer's first son was born in 1848, and became the only Palmer child to outlive his father. The Palmers had four more children, but all four died in infancy. The cause was listed as "convulsions" by Dr. Bamford, although after Palmer's conviction it was concluded that he had killed all of them because he didn't want to have to support all of them. | Palmer's first son was born in 1848, and became the only Palmer child to outlive his father. The Palmers had four more children, but all four died in infancy. The cause was listed as "convulsions" by Dr. Bamford, although after Palmer's conviction it was concluded that he had killed all of them because he didn't want to have to support all of them. | ||
By 1854 Palmer was heavily in debt, resorting to forging signatures and defrauding his mother in order to pay off creditors. He took out life insurance on his wife, who died soon after. She was believed to have died of poisoning | By 1854 Palmer was heavily in debt, resorting to forging signatures and defrauding his mother in order to pay off creditors. He took out life insurance on his wife, who died soon after. She was believed to have died of poisoning. Palmer was still in debt to two creditors, taking out life insurance on his brother. His brother soon died, supposedly from alcohol poisoning, but the insurance company were suspicious and dispatched inspectors who discovered Palmer's history of suspicious deaths. Although unable to prove murder they were able to convince the company not to pay out. | ||
In November 1855 John Cook was violently sick while drinking with Palmer. He voiced his suspicion that Palmer had spiked his drink | In November 1855 John Cook was violently sick while drinking with Palmer. He voiced his suspicion that Palmer had spiked his drink, but went drinking with him again on 17 November after recovering. However, he was sick again and remained bedridden for the next few days. During this time, Palmer purchased some strychnine from a chemist, crushed it up and placed it inside two ammonia pills. On 21 November he administered the pills to Cook, who died in agony around 1:00 am. Palmer successfully obtained a death certificate from Dr. Bamford announcing the cause of death as apoplexy, but a post-mortem examination was ordered anyway. | ||
During the examination of Cook's corpse Palmer blatantly interfered; he bumped into the surgeon in charge, causing him to spill the contents of Cook's stomach across the floor, before putting it in a jar and taking it for "safekeeping". When Palmer sent the jar to a toxicologist he reported that the contents had been badly damaged and was of no use to him. During a second examination Palmer attempted to bribe the coroner, prompting the police to arrest him. This also lead to suspicion that he killed Cook. | During the examination of Cook's corpse Palmer blatantly interfered; he bumped into the surgeon in charge, causing him to spill the contents of Cook's stomach across the floor, before putting it in a jar and taking it for "safekeeping". When Palmer sent the jar to a toxicologist he reported that the contents had been badly damaged and was of no use to him. During a second examination Palmer attempted to bribe the coroner, prompting the police to arrest him. This also lead to suspicion that he killed Cook. | ||
Palmer was charged with Cook's murder at the Old Bailey. During the trial, the corpses of Palmer's wife and brother were exhumed. No poison could be found in his brother's corpse due to decomposition, but his wife's organs contained traces of antimony. During the trial several witnesses testified that Palmer had bought strychnine shortly before | Palmer was charged with Cook's murder at the Old Bailey. During the trial, the corpses of Palmer's wife and brother were exhumed. No poison could be found in his brother's corpse due to decomposition, but his wife's organs contained traces of antimony. During the trial several witnesses testified that Palmer had bought strychnine shortly before Palmer's death, and that Cook had personally believed that Palmer had poisoned him. Dr. Bamford testified on Palmer's behalf, but was soon found to be too senile to be regarded as a reliable witness. Several other doctors also testified that Cook had died from strychnine. He was eventually convicted and sentenced to death. | ||
Palmer was hanged on 14 June 1856. Before his death the prison governor asked him to confess his guilt, but Palmer ambiguously replied "Cook did not die from strychnine". | Palmer was hanged on 14 June 1856. Before his death the prison governor asked him to confess his guilt, but Palmer ambiguously replied "Cook did not die from strychnine". | ||
[[Category:Male]] | [[Category:Male]] | ||
[[Category:Early Modern Villains]] | [[Category:Early Modern Villains]] | ||
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[[Category:Con Artists]] | [[Category:Con Artists]] | ||
[[Category:Execution]] | [[Category:Execution]] | ||