Janice Morgan

The insurance company only requested that a local physician examine Walter first. So William Palmer called up a local acquaintance, Dr. Cornelius Waddell. Like with Dr. Bamford and John Cook's death certificate, it's unclear if Palmer made efforts to deceive Dr. Waddell or if he was in on the scheme, perhaps for a cut of the money.

The insurance company only requested that a local physician examine Walter first. So William Palmer called up a local acquaintance, Dr. Cornelius Waddell. Like with Dr. Bamford and John Cook's death certificate, it's unclear if Palmer made efforts to deceive Dr. Waddell or if he was in on the scheme, perhaps for a cut of the money.

Since Palmer was already trying to defraud the life insurance company by keeping his brother sober, it's likely he pulled one over on Dr. Waddell, too. Either way, Dr. Waddell gave Walter Palmer a clean bill of health, cleared for life insurance, not a liability. Palmer was thrilled.

Since Palmer was already trying to defraud the life insurance company by keeping his brother sober, it's likely he pulled one over on Dr. Waddell, too. Either way, Dr. Waddell gave Walter Palmer a clean bill of health, cleared for life insurance, not a liability. Palmer was thrilled.

A few days later, he had a deal for a 13,000-pound life insurance policy, more than enough to cover most of his remaining debt if, and only if, his brother died. Palmer paid the first annual premium on his brother. Another gamble, but Palmer seemed convinced he'd make it back. The first evidence is that in March 1855, Palmer bought two more racehorses. Then he gave his brother 19 gallons of gin.

A few days later, he had a deal for a 13,000-pound life insurance policy, more than enough to cover most of his remaining debt if, and only if, his brother died. Palmer paid the first annual premium on his brother. Another gamble, but Palmer seemed convinced he'd make it back. The first evidence is that in March 1855, Palmer bought two more racehorses. Then he gave his brother 19 gallons of gin.

For context, one gallon of gin is roughly 78 shots of liquor. So that's over 1,400 shots in just a few months. Palmer funneled the gin through Walter's roommate, instructing him to let Walter drink it. This bar tab only racked up Palmer's enormous debt. But still, everyone thought he was good for it. Even as several months passed, Walter trusted Palmer to come through with the money he was owed.

For context, one gallon of gin is roughly 78 shots of liquor. So that's over 1,400 shots in just a few months. Palmer funneled the gin through Walter's roommate, instructing him to let Walter drink it. This bar tab only racked up Palmer's enormous debt. But still, everyone thought he was good for it. Even as several months passed, Walter trusted Palmer to come through with the money he was owed.

His younger brother, the physician, wouldn't let him down. On August 16, 1855, William visited Walter. That afternoon, Walter grew very ill and died. Walter had never received the money his brother owed him, and now he never would. As if this wasn't all suspicious enough, Palmer hurried his brother's burial process. Within days, the local undertaker had handed Walter's body over to Palmer.

His younger brother, the physician, wouldn't let him down. On August 16, 1855, William visited Walter. That afternoon, Walter grew very ill and died. Walter had never received the money his brother owed him, and now he never would. As if this wasn't all suspicious enough, Palmer hurried his brother's burial process. Within days, the local undertaker had handed Walter's body over to Palmer.

No autopsy was performed, and at least one doctor listed his cause of death as apoplexy. That's the same official cause of death as Palmer's mother-in-law and his known victim John Cook. And while alcohol misuse can increase the risk of stroke, it's much more common for people with alcohol addiction to die from liver disease or cancer.

No autopsy was performed, and at least one doctor listed his cause of death as apoplexy. That's the same official cause of death as Palmer's mother-in-law and his known victim John Cook. And while alcohol misuse can increase the risk of stroke, it's much more common for people with alcohol addiction to die from liver disease or cancer.

It doesn't help Dr. Palmer's case that he buried his brother without a respectable funeral and before receiving the life insurance policy that should have funded it. Speaking of the life insurance policy, Palmer probably expected his claim to go as smoothly as it had when he received the payout for his wife's death since it was the same company.

It doesn't help Dr. Palmer's case that he buried his brother without a respectable funeral and before receiving the life insurance policy that should have funded it. Speaking of the life insurance policy, Palmer probably expected his claim to go as smoothly as it had when he received the payout for his wife's death since it was the same company.

In fact, Palmer started the process to take out another insurance policy on a man named George Bates. Bates worked in Palmer's stables as a part-time groom, not exactly raking in the cash, which meant he wouldn't qualify for a particularly large policy. But the insurance companies didn't need to know that. For this scheme, Palmer didn't work alone.

In fact, Palmer started the process to take out another insurance policy on a man named George Bates. Bates worked in Palmer's stables as a part-time groom, not exactly raking in the cash, which meant he wouldn't qualify for a particularly large policy. But the insurance companies didn't need to know that. For this scheme, Palmer didn't work alone.

He brought in Benjamin Thurlby, who worked in his medical office, and John Cook, his final victim. Together, the trio convinced Bates to sign the paperwork for life insurance. They submitted the documents to a few companies, including the Prince of Wales Life Insurance Company. Alarm bells immediately went off at the Prince of Wales Life Insurance Company.

He brought in Benjamin Thurlby, who worked in his medical office, and John Cook, his final victim. Together, the trio convinced Bates to sign the paperwork for life insurance. They submitted the documents to a few companies, including the Prince of Wales Life Insurance Company. Alarm bells immediately went off at the Prince of Wales Life Insurance Company.

Not only was Palmer requesting a new policy, but he was filing for a major payout for his brother, after receiving a similarly large amount less than a year before. The company immediately wrote back to Palmer, saying they disputed the claim on Walter Palmer's policy and were sending investigators to Rugeley.

Not only was Palmer requesting a new policy, but he was filing for a major payout for his brother, after receiving a similarly large amount less than a year before. The company immediately wrote back to Palmer, saying they disputed the claim on Walter Palmer's policy and were sending investigators to Rugeley.