The Life and Career of Dr. William Palmer of Rugely

The Life and Career of Dr. William Palmer of Rugely PDF

Author: George Fletcher

Publisher: Peschel Press

Published: 2014-07-05

Total Pages: 270

ISBN-13:

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In 1856, Dr. William Palmer made history when he was hanged for poisoning his best friend. It was not only the first trial involving strychnine, but the first that was moved because of the extensive publicity it received in the new penny newspapers that were exploding in popularity. In 1925, George Fletcher published his lifetime’s research on the case. Drawing on his family’s ties to the area, he visited Staffordshire repeatedly over several decades. He interviewed many of the people connected with the case and collected their stories and observations. His biography of Palmer was the first to feature new information about him, his murders, and the controversies surrounding his trial. This new edition of “The Life and Career of Dr. Palmer of Rugeley” brings Fletcher’s biography back into print with the original illustrations and photographs. Annotator Bill Peschel has added more than 100 annotations, two maps and essays on strychnine, Rugeley then and now, Palmer's influence on popular culture and more. This material, created especially for this edition, expands the story and explains the social and cultural references unfamiliar to today’s readers. Fletcher’s biography is part of “The Rugeley Poisoner” trilogy that includes two books published in 1856: “The Illustrated Life and Career of William Palmer” and “The Illustrated Times Trial of William Palmer.” With these three books, true-crime fans can experience early Victorian Britain where money was king, reputations ruled, and where evil lurked in the heart of a benign doctor.

The Times Report of the Trial of William Palmer

The Times Report of the Trial of William Palmer PDF

Author: Bill Peschel

Publisher: Peschel Press

Published: 2015-02-14

Total Pages: 553

ISBN-13:

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The Case of the Deadly Doctor IT IS THE YEAR 1856. Queen Victoria has ruled for 19 years. The Crimean War recently ended after three years of bloody fighting. The elimination of taxes on newspapers unleashed a demand for stories and the bloodier the better. The arrest of Dr. William Palmer of Rugeley for murder gave the public what it wanted: a terrifying death by strychnine; a glimpse into the shady world of horse-racing; and the possibility of insurance fraud. And the horrible suspicion that the soft-spoken, placid Palmer had also poisoned his wife, mother-in-law, brother, and four of his children. The sensational 12-day trial in London's Old Bailey drew the attention of royalty (Prince Albert bought one of Palmer's horses) and inspired Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins. Doctors clashed on the stand as expert witnesses and spoke out in public. The public took it all in and heatedly debated the question: Did the good doctor poison his friend under the guise of curing him? Originally published in 1856, this edition of "The Times Report of the Trial of William Palmer" reprints the court transcript, edited and corrected for the first time, along with more than 60 woodcuts restored to make them look better than the day they were printed. This edition also includes: More than 250 footnotes explaining historical, legal, and medical references Period maps of England and the Staffordshire region A glossary of medical and scientific terms Profiles of the leading legal figures in the case. The result is a fresh look at the mass-murdering country doctor and the trial that shocked Britain. The Rugeley Poisoner series also includes "The Illustrated Life and Career of William Palmer" (1856) and "The Life and Career of Dr. William Palmer of Rugeley" (1926).

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