Janice Morgan

At this point, Cook's symptoms weren't specific enough to diagnose. But to Cook himself, the answer seemed obvious. In between bouts of vomiting, he wheezed out his suspicion. Palmer poisoned him. His friends exchanged questioning glances, but didn't think much of it. To them, these were the words of a man in distress and not to be taken seriously. Cook finally fell asleep early the next morning.

At this point, Cook's symptoms weren't specific enough to diagnose. But to Cook himself, the answer seemed obvious. In between bouts of vomiting, he wheezed out his suspicion. Palmer poisoned him. His friends exchanged questioning glances, but didn't think much of it. To them, these were the words of a man in distress and not to be taken seriously. Cook finally fell asleep early the next morning.

When he woke up, he still felt unwell, but for the most part, his symptoms had subsided. That morning, while Cook lay in his bed, Palmer went back to the track. He wanted one final shot at getting out of debt. But that day, he left the races empty-handed yet again. When Palmer returned to Cook's room at the Raven, he found his friend sitting up in bed looking slightly better.

When he woke up, he still felt unwell, but for the most part, his symptoms had subsided. That morning, while Cook lay in his bed, Palmer went back to the track. He wanted one final shot at getting out of debt. But that day, he left the races empty-handed yet again. When Palmer returned to Cook's room at the Raven, he found his friend sitting up in bed looking slightly better.

So the pair headed home. When they got to Rugeley, Cook booked a room at the Talbot Arms Inn. He'd stayed there before. Cook still felt lousy, so he went to lay down. On Sunday morning, Palmer contacted his friend Dr. Bamford and asked for two sedative pills. He pocketed the drugs and headed back to the inn where he ordered soup for Cook.

So the pair headed home. When they got to Rugeley, Cook booked a room at the Talbot Arms Inn. He'd stayed there before. Cook still felt lousy, so he went to lay down. On Sunday morning, Palmer contacted his friend Dr. Bamford and asked for two sedative pills. He pocketed the drugs and headed back to the inn where he ordered soup for Cook.

Cook happily accepted the food, but minutes later vomited again. The pain in his gut returned and he lay in bed clutching his stomach. The chambermaid, Elizabeth Mills, took the half-eaten bowl back down into the kitchen. Curious, Mills took a sip, but didn't taste anything odd. However, a moment later, she fell ill. Mild nausea came over her, and she too needed to lay down.

Cook happily accepted the food, but minutes later vomited again. The pain in his gut returned and he lay in bed clutching his stomach. The chambermaid, Elizabeth Mills, took the half-eaten bowl back down into the kitchen. Curious, Mills took a sip, but didn't taste anything odd. However, a moment later, she fell ill. Mild nausea came over her, and she too needed to lay down.

Meanwhile, Cook spent the rest of the day in bed. He experienced fever, aches, and more vomiting. All day, Palmer watched over Cook. He didn't want any intervention. Early the next morning, Palmer headed to London with John Cook's accounting ledger. Palmer was about to be several thousand pounds richer. He walked down the cobblestone streets of London before entering into a small pub.

Meanwhile, Cook spent the rest of the day in bed. He experienced fever, aches, and more vomiting. All day, Palmer watched over Cook. He didn't want any intervention. Early the next morning, Palmer headed to London with John Cook's accounting ledger. Palmer was about to be several thousand pounds richer. He walked down the cobblestone streets of London before entering into a small pub.

The doctor met with one of Cook's associates and collected almost 2,000 pounds on Cook's behalf. With the cash in hand, Palmer quickly left the city and headed home. There, Palmer paid off his most urgent 800-pound debt. He was still at least 10,000 pounds in the hole, but it was a start. With access to Cook's financial accounts, Palmer hoped to make an even larger dent.

The doctor met with one of Cook's associates and collected almost 2,000 pounds on Cook's behalf. With the cash in hand, Palmer quickly left the city and headed home. There, Palmer paid off his most urgent 800-pound debt. He was still at least 10,000 pounds in the hole, but it was a start. With access to Cook's financial accounts, Palmer hoped to make an even larger dent.

So it was crucial Cook didn't get his ledger back. That day, Palmer paid a visit to Mr. Salt's surgery, a sort of pharmacy. He spoke to Salt's assistant, Mr. Newton, and purchased three, quote, grains of strychnine on credit. Better known as rat poison today, strychnine used to be prescribed as a stimulant to treat heart or digestive problems.

So it was crucial Cook didn't get his ledger back. That day, Palmer paid a visit to Mr. Salt's surgery, a sort of pharmacy. He spoke to Salt's assistant, Mr. Newton, and purchased three, quote, grains of strychnine on credit. Better known as rat poison today, strychnine used to be prescribed as a stimulant to treat heart or digestive problems.

In small doses, strychnine causes muscle contractions. And in the Victorian era, it wasn't uncommon. According to Smithsonian Magazine, strychnine was even used as a performance enhancer in the 1904 Olympic marathon. It was also used the way it is today, in larger doses to kill vermin. So Newton didn't find anything odd about Dr. Palmer's request.

In small doses, strychnine causes muscle contractions. And in the Victorian era, it wasn't uncommon. According to Smithsonian Magazine, strychnine was even used as a performance enhancer in the 1904 Olympic marathon. It was also used the way it is today, in larger doses to kill vermin. So Newton didn't find anything odd about Dr. Palmer's request.

With Cook's ledger and the strychnine pills in his possession, Palmer headed back to Talbot Arms to check on Cook. For 28, he looked awful. When no one else was in the room, Palmer allegedly handed Cook the strychnine pills, claiming they were sedatives given to him by Dr. Bamford. Cook gazed up at his friend, who was there for him now in his lowest moment.

With Cook's ledger and the strychnine pills in his possession, Palmer headed back to Talbot Arms to check on Cook. For 28, he looked awful. When no one else was in the room, Palmer allegedly handed Cook the strychnine pills, claiming they were sedatives given to him by Dr. Bamford. Cook gazed up at his friend, who was there for him now in his lowest moment.

Palmer smiled down at Cook, assuring him it wasn't a problem. As a doctor, he felt strongly he should be there to help others. He bid Cook farewell and returned to his home across the street. But while Palmer had a pleasant evening, Cook did not. He tossed and turned, unable to get comfortable because of the pain. Still, Cook survived the night.

Palmer smiled down at Cook, assuring him it wasn't a problem. As a doctor, he felt strongly he should be there to help others. He bid Cook farewell and returned to his home across the street. But while Palmer had a pleasant evening, Cook did not. He tossed and turned, unable to get comfortable because of the pain. Still, Cook survived the night.