Janice Morgan

And we can't forget the newly purchased life insurance policies. Shortly after receiving Anne's death certificate, Palmer collected £13,000 in life insurance. He quickly paid off two of his creditors. Even if Anne's death was completely random, it lines up with Palmer's M.O. for killing John Cook. And while no one in town openly accused Palmer of any foul play, things only grew more dubious.

And we can't forget the newly purchased life insurance policies. Shortly after receiving Anne's death certificate, Palmer collected £13,000 in life insurance. He quickly paid off two of his creditors. Even if Anne's death was completely random, it lines up with Palmer's M.O. for killing John Cook. And while no one in town openly accused Palmer of any foul play, things only grew more dubious.

A few months later, Palmer's alleged love for Anne was further thrown into question when his new housekeeper, Eliza Tharm, announced she was pregnant with his child. Palmer tried to keep this a secret, but people in Rugeley talked. Meanwhile, Palmer still had over £10,000 worth of debt and struggled to come up with regular payments to cover the interest.

A few months later, Palmer's alleged love for Anne was further thrown into question when his new housekeeper, Eliza Tharm, announced she was pregnant with his child. Palmer tried to keep this a secret, but people in Rugeley talked. Meanwhile, Palmer still had over £10,000 worth of debt and struggled to come up with regular payments to cover the interest.

His inheritance was completely gone and his medical practice couldn't support him and his son. How could he support another child? Quite simply, fraud. Palmer started signing checks in his mother's name. However, it didn't take the creditors long to call Palmer out. They threatened to go after his mother for the money he'd borrowed, allegedly on her behalf.

His inheritance was completely gone and his medical practice couldn't support him and his son. How could he support another child? Quite simply, fraud. Palmer started signing checks in his mother's name. However, it didn't take the creditors long to call Palmer out. They threatened to go after his mother for the money he'd borrowed, allegedly on her behalf.

This stopped Palmer in his tracks, possibly because his mother still had money left over from his father's nest egg, and he didn't want to lose out on that inheritance when she died. But as debt collectors circled like vultures, his situation only grew more dire. If he couldn't come up with the necessary cash, he'd likely land in a debtor's prison.

This stopped Palmer in his tracks, possibly because his mother still had money left over from his father's nest egg, and he didn't want to lose out on that inheritance when she died. But as debt collectors circled like vultures, his situation only grew more dire. If he couldn't come up with the necessary cash, he'd likely land in a debtor's prison.

Despite years of gambling, his biggest payout had been Anne's life insurance policy. He might have wished he had taken out more policies or had someone else to insure. Because when his older brother Walter stumbled back into his life, Palmer concocted a new plan. In late December 1854, Dr. William Palmer needed a plan to repay his massive debts.

Despite years of gambling, his biggest payout had been Anne's life insurance policy. He might have wished he had taken out more policies or had someone else to insure. Because when his older brother Walter stumbled back into his life, Palmer concocted a new plan. In late December 1854, Dr. William Palmer needed a plan to repay his massive debts.

Insurance from his wife's untimely death had wiped out about half of what he owed, and fraudulent checks in his mother's name kept him afloat. But with over 10,000 pounds lingering, Palmer was still in over his head. So he turned his attention to the rest of his family, namely his older brother, Walter. Five years earlier, Walter went bankrupt after his factory closed down.

Insurance from his wife's untimely death had wiped out about half of what he owed, and fraudulent checks in his mother's name kept him afloat. But with over 10,000 pounds lingering, Palmer was still in over his head. So he turned his attention to the rest of his family, namely his older brother, Walter. Five years earlier, Walter went bankrupt after his factory closed down.

Then, Walter turned to alcohol. A few years later, Walter's wife left, and Walter kept drinking. When Palmer met his brother in Rugeley, he found Walter at the bottom of several bottles of liquor. Palmer later noticed that when Walter went too long without alcohol, he experienced severe tremors in his arms, possibly a sign of withdrawal caused by long-term alcohol misuse.

Then, Walter turned to alcohol. A few years later, Walter's wife left, and Walter kept drinking. When Palmer met his brother in Rugeley, he found Walter at the bottom of several bottles of liquor. Palmer later noticed that when Walter went too long without alcohol, he experienced severe tremors in his arms, possibly a sign of withdrawal caused by long-term alcohol misuse.

At least, that's how Palmer interpreted it. After seeing his brother's tremors, Palmer believed that within a handful of years, Walter would die. And Palmer was always a betting man, so he conspired to get a life insurance policy on Walter. But there was a problem. Walter had to agree to it. So Palmer bribed him. He offered his brother 400 pounds cash and a place to live.

At least, that's how Palmer interpreted it. After seeing his brother's tremors, Palmer believed that within a handful of years, Walter would die. And Palmer was always a betting man, so he conspired to get a life insurance policy on Walter. But there was a problem. Walter had to agree to it. So Palmer bribed him. He offered his brother 400 pounds cash and a place to live.

When presented with this generous offer, Walter hesitated for a moment, understanding the morbid implications. But he needed the money and housing. He agreed to sign whatever forms his brother needed. To make sure his plan was foolproof, Palmer ensured that Walter stayed sober for a brief period, just enough time for his most significant tremors to vanish.

When presented with this generous offer, Walter hesitated for a moment, understanding the morbid implications. But he needed the money and housing. He agreed to sign whatever forms his brother needed. To make sure his plan was foolproof, Palmer ensured that Walter stayed sober for a brief period, just enough time for his most significant tremors to vanish.

Palmer worried that insurance companies wouldn't hand out a policy on someone with visible signs of alcohol addiction. But even with Walter momentarily sober, most insurance companies denied the request outright. Only one of the half-dozen companies Palmer visited, Prince of Wales Insurance, agreed in principle to the policy. They were the same company that had covered Ann Palmer's life insurance.

Palmer worried that insurance companies wouldn't hand out a policy on someone with visible signs of alcohol addiction. But even with Walter momentarily sober, most insurance companies denied the request outright. Only one of the half-dozen companies Palmer visited, Prince of Wales Insurance, agreed in principle to the policy. They were the same company that had covered Ann Palmer's life insurance.