Janice Morgan

The next day, Palmer went to another pharmacy, one belonging to a Mr. Hawking's. He started requesting his order, but stopped abruptly when Newton, the assistant from the other pharmacy, came in. Palmer and Newton didn't know each other well, but Palmer smoothly struck up a conversation and guided Newton out of the shop.

The next day, Palmer went to another pharmacy, one belonging to a Mr. Hawking's. He started requesting his order, but stopped abruptly when Newton, the assistant from the other pharmacy, came in. Palmer and Newton didn't know each other well, but Palmer smoothly struck up a conversation and guided Newton out of the shop.

Newton recalled Palmer asking him how long his boss, Mr. Salt, would be out of town. Within minutes, they were interrupted by a friend of Newton's passing by. Palmer took the opportunity to slip back into the shop, where he completed his order. Prussic acid, opium, and six more grains of strychnine. It appears Palmer didn't want Newton to see his purchases.

Newton recalled Palmer asking him how long his boss, Mr. Salt, would be out of town. Within minutes, they were interrupted by a friend of Newton's passing by. Palmer took the opportunity to slip back into the shop, where he completed his order. Prussic acid, opium, and six more grains of strychnine. It appears Palmer didn't want Newton to see his purchases.

That afternoon, he paid another visit to Cook. Then, in what was perhaps a bid to cover his tracks, Palmer called on a friend, Mr. Jones, to stay with Cook. Jones watched over Cook late into the night while his condition further deteriorated. Sometime that evening, it's believed Cook took the pills Palmer gave him, and Jones didn't intervene.

That afternoon, he paid another visit to Cook. Then, in what was perhaps a bid to cover his tracks, Palmer called on a friend, Mr. Jones, to stay with Cook. Jones watched over Cook late into the night while his condition further deteriorated. Sometime that evening, it's believed Cook took the pills Palmer gave him, and Jones didn't intervene.

He appeared to wholeheartedly believe in Dr. Palmer's medical opinion and let the sinister plot pass right under his nose. To be fair, beyond testing the pills on himself, Jones wouldn't have been able to see what they contained anyways. John Cook was completely at Dr. William Palmer's mercy. Just past midnight, Cook's muscles spasmed and he howled in pain. His heart beat wildly.

He appeared to wholeheartedly believe in Dr. Palmer's medical opinion and let the sinister plot pass right under his nose. To be fair, beyond testing the pills on himself, Jones wouldn't have been able to see what they contained anyways. John Cook was completely at Dr. William Palmer's mercy. Just past midnight, Cook's muscles spasmed and he howled in pain. His heart beat wildly.

Sweat coated his skin. Cook's back arched backward, slowly, painfully, and completely out of his control. He looked like he was in an Exorcist movie. Cook called out for Palmer in desperation, but his friend was nestled in his bed across the street. At 1 a.m. on Wednesday, November 21st, 1855, John Cook suddenly went still. Nothing could bring his pulse back.

Sweat coated his skin. Cook's back arched backward, slowly, painfully, and completely out of his control. He looked like he was in an Exorcist movie. Cook called out for Palmer in desperation, but his friend was nestled in his bed across the street. At 1 a.m. on Wednesday, November 21st, 1855, John Cook suddenly went still. Nothing could bring his pulse back.

Dr. William Palmer had taken his friend's life. On the morning of November 21st, 1855, Dr. William Palmer went to check on his so-called friend, John Cook. When Palmer entered Cook's room, he found Dr. Jones standing next to a body frozen in abode position. Cook was twisted like a contortionist, with his back arched and feet flexed.

Dr. William Palmer had taken his friend's life. On the morning of November 21st, 1855, Dr. William Palmer went to check on his so-called friend, John Cook. When Palmer entered Cook's room, he found Dr. Jones standing next to a body frozen in abode position. Cook was twisted like a contortionist, with his back arched and feet flexed.

Intense muscle spasms had caused Cook's body to stiffen, locked into a painful position as he died. When rigor mortis set in, he became stuck that way. The sight was horrifying. And it's a telltale sign of strychnine poisoning. Still, Palmer acted coy as Dr. Jones recounted how Cook died in the middle of the night. No one was accusing him of anything yet. Cook still needed an autopsy.

Intense muscle spasms had caused Cook's body to stiffen, locked into a painful position as he died. When rigor mortis set in, he became stuck that way. The sight was horrifying. And it's a telltale sign of strychnine poisoning. Still, Palmer acted coy as Dr. Jones recounted how Cook died in the middle of the night. No one was accusing him of anything yet. Cook still needed an autopsy.

So he contacted his old friend Dr. Bamford again. Dr. Bamford created a death certificate certifying that Cook died of apoplexy. That's the 19th century term for a cerebral hemorrhage or stroke. Not an unusual cause of death, but odd to put on the certificate since the muscle contortion evident in Cook's body was not a typical symptom of either.

So he contacted his old friend Dr. Bamford again. Dr. Bamford created a death certificate certifying that Cook died of apoplexy. That's the 19th century term for a cerebral hemorrhage or stroke. Not an unusual cause of death, but odd to put on the certificate since the muscle contortion evident in Cook's body was not a typical symptom of either.

It's not clear if Dr. Bamford observed Cook's arched body and conveniently ignored it, or Palmer managed to hide it from him. Either way, Palmer had a death certificate absolving him of any involvement in John Cook's death and a plan. Two days later, on November 23rd, Palmer met with Cook's stepfather, a Mr. Stevens. Hoping to receive even more money, Palmer claimed Cook owed him £4,000.

It's not clear if Dr. Bamford observed Cook's arched body and conveniently ignored it, or Palmer managed to hide it from him. Either way, Palmer had a death certificate absolving him of any involvement in John Cook's death and a plan. Two days later, on November 23rd, Palmer met with Cook's stepfather, a Mr. Stevens. Hoping to receive even more money, Palmer claimed Cook owed him £4,000.

Stevens hesitated. He knew Cook well and had never heard of any such debt. Upon further investigation, Stevens found his stepson's ledger to be missing and couldn't locate any trace of Cook's recent £3,000 track winnings. Stevens thought Cook's death was suspicious, and as it turns out, so did many Rugeley locals. Authorities launched an inquiry into Cook's death and planned an autopsy.

Stevens hesitated. He knew Cook well and had never heard of any such debt. Upon further investigation, Stevens found his stepson's ledger to be missing and couldn't locate any trace of Cook's recent £3,000 track winnings. Stevens thought Cook's death was suspicious, and as it turns out, so did many Rugeley locals. Authorities launched an inquiry into Cook's death and planned an autopsy.