Title

Rugeley, Staffordshire - the High-Street and Townhall, 1856. Creator: Unknown.

Caption

Rugeley, Staffordshire - the High-Street and Townhall, 1856. English doctor William Palmer, also known as the Rugeley Poisoner or the Prince of Poisoners, was found guilty of murder in one of the most notorious cases of the 19th century. Palmer got into debt through gambling on horse races, and took out life insurance policies on his wife and brother Walter. His friend John Parsons Cook became ill after drinking gin which Palmer had poisoned with strychnine. Palmer was arrested on the charge of murder and forgery - Palmer had been forging his mother's signature to defraud her - was tried at the Old Bailey in London in 1856, and convicted for the murder of Cook. It is likely that Palmer also poisoned his wife, his brother, and four of his own infant children. Palmer was executed in public by hanging. From "Illustrated London News", 1856.

Credit line

Photo12/Heritage Images

Reference

HRM23A57_327

Model release

NA

Property release

NA

License type

Rights managed

Available size

27,1Mb (2,4Mb) / 12,8in x 8,2in / 3849 x 2457 (300dpi)

Keywords

England people job shopping shop shops sign law crime occupation British color location century Britain profession newspapers press murder B&W Staffordshire slaughter street scene poisoning plumber engraved engraving shoe shop Colour 19th century black & white black and white B W white and black nineteenth century The Print Collector Illustrated London News murdering shop sign slaughtering TGN ILN street newspaper Unknown William Palmer Rugeley 19th-century poisonings William Palmer Rugeley Poisoner Prince of Poisoners