Janice Morgan

In the past decade, his gambling had snowballed. So it wasn't surprising that on November 13th, Palmer went to the races in Shrewsbury, England. There, he met up with his friend, John Cook. When it came to the track, Cook always seemed to leave with more money than he brought, unlike Palmer. It didn't help the situation that Cook had inherited a large sum, so he had money to spare.

In the past decade, his gambling had snowballed. So it wasn't surprising that on November 13th, Palmer went to the races in Shrewsbury, England. There, he met up with his friend, John Cook. When it came to the track, Cook always seemed to leave with more money than he brought, unlike Palmer. It didn't help the situation that Cook had inherited a large sum, so he had money to spare.

I'll add here, much of the information about this case comes from contemporary reporting back in the 1800s. And as you'll hear, the story took off in the media, which led to some sensationalizing. The pair arrived at the track early. They surveyed the conditions, looked at the riders and observed the horses. Palmer then went to the board listing all the races.

I'll add here, much of the information about this case comes from contemporary reporting back in the 1800s. And as you'll hear, the story took off in the media, which led to some sensationalizing. The pair arrived at the track early. They surveyed the conditions, looked at the riders and observed the horses. Palmer then went to the board listing all the races.

While scanning, Palmer had a moment of clarity. There was the afternoon race that would fix his fortunes. At the window, Palmer placed a bet worth a few hundred pounds on one of his own horses, named the Chicken. If the Chicken won, not only would he win his bet, he would also win the prize money of 3,000 pounds.

While scanning, Palmer had a moment of clarity. There was the afternoon race that would fix his fortunes. At the window, Palmer placed a bet worth a few hundred pounds on one of his own horses, named the Chicken. If the Chicken won, not only would he win his bet, he would also win the prize money of 3,000 pounds.

To make things interesting, Cook placed a bet on one of his own horses, named Polestar. That afternoon, the horses lined up at the starting gate. Then, in a flash, they were off. The chicken, Palmer's horse, positioned perfectly as the pack thundered around the first curve. The horse wasn't so near the front where they might burn out by the end or in the back where they'd get left behind.

To make things interesting, Cook placed a bet on one of his own horses, named Polestar. That afternoon, the horses lined up at the starting gate. Then, in a flash, they were off. The chicken, Palmer's horse, positioned perfectly as the pack thundered around the first curve. The horse wasn't so near the front where they might burn out by the end or in the back where they'd get left behind.

But by the end of the race, the horse Palmer bet his last hopes on was nowhere near the front of the pack. Instead, Cook's horse Polestar led the group across the line. Cook had just won thousands of pounds. Palmer likely twinged with jealousy. Cook had all the luck and he'd been left in the dust again. That evening, the pair retired to a local inn called The Raven.

But by the end of the race, the horse Palmer bet his last hopes on was nowhere near the front of the pack. Instead, Cook's horse Polestar led the group across the line. Cook had just won thousands of pounds. Palmer likely twinged with jealousy. Cook had all the luck and he'd been left in the dust again. That evening, the pair retired to a local inn called The Raven.

For Cook, it was a celebration. He bought the group a round of champagne. As the night wore on, the pair continued to drink. When Palmer couldn't stand it anymore, he left their table and retired to his room early. The next morning, Palmer headed back to home in Rugeley, a town 130 miles northwest of London. Unfortunately, more bad news awaited him there. A creditor had left a note.

For Cook, it was a celebration. He bought the group a round of champagne. As the night wore on, the pair continued to drink. When Palmer couldn't stand it anymore, he left their table and retired to his room early. The next morning, Palmer headed back to home in Rugeley, a town 130 miles northwest of London. Unfortunately, more bad news awaited him there. A creditor had left a note.

Palmer needed to pay a designated sum of money immediately, or they'd go after his mother, tell her he hadn't paid, and try to collect his debt from her. Which would have been embarrassing. Already at his lowest and feeling the waters rising, Palmer reached a breaking point. He grabbed his medicine bag and headed back toward Shrewsbury. That afternoon, Palmer reunited with Cook.

Palmer needed to pay a designated sum of money immediately, or they'd go after his mother, tell her he hadn't paid, and try to collect his debt from her. Which would have been embarrassing. Already at his lowest and feeling the waters rising, Palmer reached a breaking point. He grabbed his medicine bag and headed back toward Shrewsbury. That afternoon, Palmer reunited with Cook.

They attended a handful of other races before returning to the Raven. There, they ate dinner with a few acquaintances. Palmer excused himself for a moment. When he returned to the table, he had a round of brandy for everyone. According to some accounts, Palmer carefully handed Cook his glass before distributing the rest. Palmer toasted Cook's success, and the group drank.

They attended a handful of other races before returning to the Raven. There, they ate dinner with a few acquaintances. Palmer excused himself for a moment. When he returned to the table, he had a round of brandy for everyone. According to some accounts, Palmer carefully handed Cook his glass before distributing the rest. Palmer toasted Cook's success, and the group drank.

Cook coughed and said his brandy burned as it went down. Palmer looked at the table in amusement. He grabbed Cook's glass and slurped down the little bit of liquid left. Palmer laughed, saying he didn't taste a thing. The group brushed off the incident and continued eating late into the night. Eventually, Palmer excused himself and retired to his room.

Cook coughed and said his brandy burned as it went down. Palmer looked at the table in amusement. He grabbed Cook's glass and slurped down the little bit of liquid left. Palmer laughed, saying he didn't taste a thing. The group brushed off the incident and continued eating late into the night. Eventually, Palmer excused himself and retired to his room.

The rest stayed at the table, but the good nature of their celebration didn't last. A short while later, Cook fell ill. His stomach burned and he doubled over in pain. Back in his room, he vomited uncontrollably. His two friends looked over him as he closed his eyes and prayed for the pain to pass. Cook's friends likely wondered what ailed him. Was it contagious? Was it in the food they ate, too?

The rest stayed at the table, but the good nature of their celebration didn't last. A short while later, Cook fell ill. His stomach burned and he doubled over in pain. Back in his room, he vomited uncontrollably. His two friends looked over him as he closed his eyes and prayed for the pain to pass. Cook's friends likely wondered what ailed him. Was it contagious? Was it in the food they ate, too?