Dr. William Palmer was a physician in the mid-1800s in England who was a little too fond of gambling. So fond, in fact, that he was willing to kill multiple relatives for the life insurance payouts he took out on them, sometimes without their knowledge. He is famous for Palmer’s Act, the law that later prevented someone from taking out life insurance on someone unless they could show they would suffer a financial loss if that person died.
Show Notes:
Sources and resources:
Wikipedia
The Elements of Murder by John Emsley
“Palmer the poisoner,” Distillations Magazine, 3 October 2010, Science History Institute Museum and Library, https://www.sciencehistory.org/stories/magazine/palmer-the-poisoner/
“Tale of the Rugeley poisoner described by Dickens as ‘greatest villain that ever stood in Old Bailey,’” Staffordshire Live News, 9 April 2022, https://www.staffordshire-live.co.uk/news/history/tale-rugeley-poisoner-described-dickens-6908677
“A trip to Rugeley,” 24 September 2017, https://helenbarrell.co.uk/a-trip-to-rugeley/
William Palmer’s trial transcript: https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/record/t18560514-490
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All statements in this podcast represent the opinions of the host and her guests.
Cover art photos: photo, public domain.
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