Murder by Poison: A Casebook of Historic British Murders
Murder by poison is often thought of as a crime mainly committed by women, usually to despatch an unwanted spouse or children. While there are indeed many infamous female poisoners, such as Mary Ann Cotton, who is believed to have claimed at least 20 victims between 1852 and 1872, and Mary Wilson, who killed her husbands and lovers in the 1950s for the proceeds of their insurance policies, there are also many men who chose poison as their preferred means to a deadly end. Between 1897 and 1902, George Chapman poisoned three of his lovers with antimony, while Staffordshire doctor William Palmer murdered at least 10 victims between 1842 and 1856. Readily obtainable, poison was considered the ideal method of murder and its exponents rarely stopped at just one victim. Along with the most notorious cases of murder by poison in Britain, this book also features many of the cases that did not make headlines, examining not only the methods and motives but also the real stories of the perpetrators and their victims.
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Murder by Poison: A Casebook of Historic British Murders
Murder by poison is often thought of as a crime mainly committed by women, usually to despatch an unwanted spouse or children. While there are indeed many infamous female poisoners, such as Mary Ann Cotton, who is believed to have claimed at least 20 victims between 1852 and 1872, and Mary Wilson, who killed her husbands and lovers in the 1950s for the proceeds of their insurance policies, there are also many men who chose poison as their preferred means to a deadly end. Between 1897 and 1902, George Chapman poisoned three of his lovers with antimony, while Staffordshire doctor William Palmer murdered at least 10 victims between 1842 and 1856. Readily obtainable, poison was considered the ideal method of murder and its exponents rarely stopped at just one victim. Along with the most notorious cases of murder by poison in Britain, this book also features many of the cases that did not make headlines, examining not only the methods and motives but also the real stories of the perpetrators and their victims.
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Murder by Poison: A Casebook of Historic British Murders

Murder by Poison: A Casebook of Historic British Murders

by Nicola Sly
Murder by Poison: A Casebook of Historic British Murders

Murder by Poison: A Casebook of Historic British Murders

by Nicola Sly

Paperback

$34.99 
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Overview

Murder by poison is often thought of as a crime mainly committed by women, usually to despatch an unwanted spouse or children. While there are indeed many infamous female poisoners, such as Mary Ann Cotton, who is believed to have claimed at least 20 victims between 1852 and 1872, and Mary Wilson, who killed her husbands and lovers in the 1950s for the proceeds of their insurance policies, there are also many men who chose poison as their preferred means to a deadly end. Between 1897 and 1902, George Chapman poisoned three of his lovers with antimony, while Staffordshire doctor William Palmer murdered at least 10 victims between 1842 and 1856. Readily obtainable, poison was considered the ideal method of murder and its exponents rarely stopped at just one victim. Along with the most notorious cases of murder by poison in Britain, this book also features many of the cases that did not make headlines, examining not only the methods and motives but also the real stories of the perpetrators and their victims.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780752450650
Publisher: The History Press
Publication date: 01/01/2010
Pages: 256
Product dimensions: 6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Nicola Sly teaches criminology to adult learners. She is the author of Bristol Murders, Dorset Murders, Hampshire Murders, Shropshire Murders, Wiltshire Murders, and Worcestershire Murders and coauthor of Cornish Murders, Somerset Murders, and West Country Murders.

Table of Contents

About the Author 7

Introduction and Acknowledgements 8

1 'You hussy! You have murdered your baby!' 15

Buckfastleigh, Devon, 1817

2 'Why should Emery be hanged?' 21

White Notley, near Chelmsford, Essex, 1821

3 'There you go, you varmints!' 25

Burnham Market, Norfolk, 1835

4 'What have I done that I must be suffering this way?' 32

Bolton, Lancashire, 1842

5 'My station in society places me above or beyond suspicion' 36

Slough, Berkshire, 1845

6 'It's dumpling night' 44

Acton, near Sudbury, Suffolk, 1846

7 'Take that devil away from me!' 48

Rugeley, Staffordshire, various dates

8 'I wish you were dead and out of the way' 67

Burley, near Leeds, Yorkshire, 1856

9 'I won't be troubled long' 76

South Hetton/Hendon/Pallion/West Auckland, County Durham, 1860-1872

10 'Don't cry, you hypocrite' 86

Glasgow, 1865

11 'I don't like it. It tastes nasty' 92

Brighton, Sussex, 1870-1871

12 'See how easily they can be swallowed' 100

Wimbledon, London, 1881

13 'It's nauseous stuff, and as sour as vinegar' 106

Plumstead, London, 1882

14 'Can they tell if she has had mouse powder?' 113

Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, 1886

15 ' Oh, mama, I cannot drink it' 120

Oldham, Lancashire, 1887

16 'I will not die with a lie on my lips' 126

Whitechapel, London, 1887

17 'But all doctors are fools' 132

Liverpool, 1889

18 'I have evidence strong enough to ruin you forever' 143

London, 1891-1892

19 'I never murdered the dear' 153

Finchley, London, 1902

20 'If I had not got all this bastard lot to keep, I could get on better by myself' 163

Harlesden, London, 1905

21 'I am innocent and some day evidence will prove it' 171

North London, 1910

22 'If you interfere with her money you will be in a rough corner' 183

Islington, London, 1911

23 'Excuse my fingers' 192

Hay-on-Wye, Herefordshire, 1921

24 'They will blame one of us' 202

Bude, Cornwall, 1930

25 'It looks very black against me' 212

Kirkby-on-Bain, Lincolnshire, 1934

26 'I've been a good wife to him and nobody can say I haven't' 223

Coombe, Dorset, 1935

27 'You need not worry about me as everything is all right' 235

Nottingham, 1935

28 'She was ill, ill, ill on many occasions' 243

Greenford, Middlesex, 1941

29 'I am looking after them that look after me' 247

Blackpool, Lancashire, 1953

30 'Nothing to say' 254

Gosport, Hampshire, 1955

31 'Has the old bugger got any money?' 260

Hebburn / Felling, County Durham, 1956-1957

32 'What I feel is the emptiness of my soul' 266

Various locations, 1961-1971

Bibliography and References 281

Index 282

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