Janice Morgan

Throughout the fall of 1855, Palmer went back and forth with the Prince of Wales Insurance Company. For weeks, he continued trying to get the policy payout, but they stonewalled him at each turn. The most the insurance company offered was to return Palmer's premium. He refused, insisting he was owed the full policy amount.

Throughout the fall of 1855, Palmer went back and forth with the Prince of Wales Insurance Company. For weeks, he continued trying to get the policy payout, but they stonewalled him at each turn. The most the insurance company offered was to return Palmer's premium. He refused, insisting he was owed the full policy amount.

Palmer had banked on Walter's life insurance money and now, without it, was even worse off than before this scheme started. He was out the money he paid for the premium on the insurance policy and the cost of 19 gallons of gin. Palmer had already been at least 11,000 pounds in the hole before he filed for the policy on Walter, and he'd kept up his lavish lifestyle buying those two new horses.

Palmer had banked on Walter's life insurance money and now, without it, was even worse off than before this scheme started. He was out the money he paid for the premium on the insurance policy and the cost of 19 gallons of gin. Palmer had already been at least 11,000 pounds in the hole before he filed for the policy on Walter, and he'd kept up his lavish lifestyle buying those two new horses.

Before long, his creditors were going to come knocking. In Victorian England, if debtors didn't pay, creditors could have the courts place them in debtor prisons. They'd remain incarcerated until they paid off their balance. But it was a flawed system. Debtors weren't allowed to leave the prisons, which meant they often couldn't find ways to pay off their debts, resulting in quasi-life sentences.

Before long, his creditors were going to come knocking. In Victorian England, if debtors didn't pay, creditors could have the courts place them in debtor prisons. They'd remain incarcerated until they paid off their balance. But it was a flawed system. Debtors weren't allowed to leave the prisons, which meant they often couldn't find ways to pay off their debts, resulting in quasi-life sentences.

To make matters worse, the Prince of Wales Life Insurance Company also rejected Palmer's proposal for George Bates, and so did every other insurance company the trio tried. Palmer may have felt like he had one hope left, the racetrack. And that's what brought him to November 13, 1855, the fateful day at the races, when he murdered his friend, John Cook.

To make matters worse, the Prince of Wales Life Insurance Company also rejected Palmer's proposal for George Bates, and so did every other insurance company the trio tried. Palmer may have felt like he had one hope left, the racetrack. And that's what brought him to November 13, 1855, the fateful day at the races, when he murdered his friend, John Cook.

Putting the pieces together in the wake of Cook's death, investigators believed they might be dealing with a serial killer. To find out, they'd have to go grave digging. Even though John Cook's autopsy in the fall of 1855 technically came out clean, not everyone was convinced he died of natural causes, especially because the person of interest was involved in the autopsy.

Putting the pieces together in the wake of Cook's death, investigators believed they might be dealing with a serial killer. To find out, they'd have to go grave digging. Even though John Cook's autopsy in the fall of 1855 technically came out clean, not everyone was convinced he died of natural causes, especially because the person of interest was involved in the autopsy.

Most unconvinced was John Cook's stepfather, Mr. Stevens. Stevens became a mosquito in the authorities' ear, pushing them to investigate William Palmer and even questioning locals himself. The more Stevens heard, the more it sounded like William Palmer was to blame, and a serial killer at that. Just to be clear, serial killer wasn't a common term yet.

Most unconvinced was John Cook's stepfather, Mr. Stevens. Stevens became a mosquito in the authorities' ear, pushing them to investigate William Palmer and even questioning locals himself. The more Stevens heard, the more it sounded like William Palmer was to blame, and a serial killer at that. Just to be clear, serial killer wasn't a common term yet.

It would still be over 30 years before Jack the Ripper would terrorize London, and even longer before an FBI investigator coined the term. But Mr. Stevens, the authorities, and insurance companies did suspect William Palmer of multiple murders over a long period of time with the same motive.

It would still be over 30 years before Jack the Ripper would terrorize London, and even longer before an FBI investigator coined the term. But Mr. Stevens, the authorities, and insurance companies did suspect William Palmer of multiple murders over a long period of time with the same motive.

Within a week of John Cook's autopsy, the authorities exhumed the bodies of William Palmer's wife and his brother. The results of Ann Palmer's autopsy were limited. Her body had been buried for over a year, and much of her remains had decomposed. On top of that, strychnine doesn't stay in the human body long. It has a half-life of about 10 hours, so finding the poison was a long shot.

Within a week of John Cook's autopsy, the authorities exhumed the bodies of William Palmer's wife and his brother. The results of Ann Palmer's autopsy were limited. Her body had been buried for over a year, and much of her remains had decomposed. On top of that, strychnine doesn't stay in the human body long. It has a half-life of about 10 hours, so finding the poison was a long shot.

Walter's corpse wasn't in much better shape for autopsy purposes. When examiners finally punched a hole into the thick, lead-lined casket, the room filled with the smell of death. His body was bloated and falling apart. Little information was gathered about Walter Palmer's cause of death, much to the delight of William Palmer, who still held out hope for his rejected insurance policy payout.

Walter's corpse wasn't in much better shape for autopsy purposes. When examiners finally punched a hole into the thick, lead-lined casket, the room filled with the smell of death. His body was bloated and falling apart. Little information was gathered about Walter Palmer's cause of death, much to the delight of William Palmer, who still held out hope for his rejected insurance policy payout.

But the lack of evidence didn't mean he was in the clear. Investigators took a leaf out of Mr. Stevens' book and went around rudely asking questions about Palmer. In the process, they too ran into many residents who had suspicions about the local doctor. One of them was Mr. Newton, the local pharmacy assistant. He recounted that he'd sold Palmer strychnine just before Cook died.

But the lack of evidence didn't mean he was in the clear. Investigators took a leaf out of Mr. Stevens' book and went around rudely asking questions about Palmer. In the process, they too ran into many residents who had suspicions about the local doctor. One of them was Mr. Newton, the local pharmacy assistant. He recounted that he'd sold Palmer strychnine just before Cook died.