Janice Morgan

That same day, Palmer invited Newton, the pharmacy assistant who'd sold him strychnine, over for brandy. After serving the drink, he asked two important questions. One, how much strychnine does it take to kill a dog? And two, does strychnine stay in the body after death?

That same day, Palmer invited Newton, the pharmacy assistant who'd sold him strychnine, over for brandy. After serving the drink, he asked two important questions. One, how much strychnine does it take to kill a dog? And two, does strychnine stay in the body after death?

Newton replied that between half a grain and a grain would kill a dog, and no, it would not linger in the tissue or digestive system after death. According to Newton's later testimony, Palmer, quote, Then, Palmer dismissed Newton, quote, Meanwhile, authorities moved forward with the autopsy. Allegedly, a coroner wasn't present.

Newton replied that between half a grain and a grain would kill a dog, and no, it would not linger in the tissue or digestive system after death. According to Newton's later testimony, Palmer, quote, Then, Palmer dismissed Newton, quote, Meanwhile, authorities moved forward with the autopsy. Allegedly, a coroner wasn't present.

Instead, two local doctors performed the examination in a room full of observers. One of those observers was Dr. William Palmer himself. As the procedure got underway, the doctors stated their intention of trying to get samples of Cook's stomach contents. Those would be sent to the coroner for additional testing to see if there was any poison in Cook's system.

Instead, two local doctors performed the examination in a room full of observers. One of those observers was Dr. William Palmer himself. As the procedure got underway, the doctors stated their intention of trying to get samples of Cook's stomach contents. Those would be sent to the coroner for additional testing to see if there was any poison in Cook's system.

Unfortunately for all involved, Palmer had other plans. Shortly after the physicians extracted the majority of Cook's stomach contents and put them in a jar, Palmer took it out of the room for what he said was safekeeping. According to one version of events, after the procedure was over, the other doctors convinced Palmer to return the jar.

Unfortunately for all involved, Palmer had other plans. Shortly after the physicians extracted the majority of Cook's stomach contents and put them in a jar, Palmer took it out of the room for what he said was safekeeping. According to one version of events, after the procedure was over, the other doctors convinced Palmer to return the jar.

However, when he brought it back, the jar's seal had been cut open. What little contents remained from Cook's stomach were sent to the coroner for testing. Unfortunately, with such a small sample, they weren't able to tell if there was any poison in Cook's system when he died. Palmer thought he could breathe a sigh of relief, but his troubles weren't over.

However, when he brought it back, the jar's seal had been cut open. What little contents remained from Cook's stomach were sent to the coroner for testing. Unfortunately, with such a small sample, they weren't able to tell if there was any poison in Cook's system when he died. Palmer thought he could breathe a sigh of relief, but his troubles weren't over.

The local authorities began looking into his history, because this wasn't the first sudden or mysterious death around Dr. William Palmer. Other people close to him had died, leaving Palmer cash he gambled away. And in retrospect, many cases resembled strychnine poisoning. It couldn't all be coincidence, could it?

The local authorities began looking into his history, because this wasn't the first sudden or mysterious death around Dr. William Palmer. Other people close to him had died, leaving Palmer cash he gambled away. And in retrospect, many cases resembled strychnine poisoning. It couldn't all be coincidence, could it?

Let's go back to the beginning and see how those sudden deaths stack up against Palmer's known M.O., William Palmer didn't start off broken desperate. Quite the opposite. He experienced a pampered childhood in Rugeley, England. His father is said to have worked as a carpenter and used his expertise to build the family's large house.

Let's go back to the beginning and see how those sudden deaths stack up against Palmer's known M.O., William Palmer didn't start off broken desperate. Quite the opposite. He experienced a pampered childhood in Rugeley, England. His father is said to have worked as a carpenter and used his expertise to build the family's large house.

However, Joseph Palmer reportedly made a much greater fortune buying and selling large quantities of expensive wood. Neither Joseph nor Sarah Palmer hid the family's wealth from their many children. Instead, they taught them to appreciate it But Palmer took it further. He seemed to relish in the fact that he came from money. Nowhere was this more apparent than at school.

However, Joseph Palmer reportedly made a much greater fortune buying and selling large quantities of expensive wood. Neither Joseph nor Sarah Palmer hid the family's wealth from their many children. Instead, they taught them to appreciate it But Palmer took it further. He seemed to relish in the fact that he came from money. Nowhere was this more apparent than at school.

Palmer never focused, mostly because he didn't think he had to. He had the family fortune waiting. He didn't seem interested in making friends either. According to the Liverpool Mercury, Palmer's classmates recalled he had, quote, "'wretched moral conduct.'" However, Palmer's carefree childhood came to an end when tragedy struck the family in 1836. Palmer's father passed away.

Palmer never focused, mostly because he didn't think he had to. He had the family fortune waiting. He didn't seem interested in making friends either. According to the Liverpool Mercury, Palmer's classmates recalled he had, quote, "'wretched moral conduct.'" However, Palmer's carefree childhood came to an end when tragedy struck the family in 1836. Palmer's father passed away.

Even with the breadwinner gone, the family was still well taken care of. Joseph Palmer had squirreled away funds for years. By the time he passed, the family had amassed a great fortune. But Palmer's mother, Sarah, didn't want her children relying on their inheritance. She made it clear they would have careers. So when Palmer was a teen, he went to work for a local doctor.

Even with the breadwinner gone, the family was still well taken care of. Joseph Palmer had squirreled away funds for years. By the time he passed, the family had amassed a great fortune. But Palmer's mother, Sarah, didn't want her children relying on their inheritance. She made it clear they would have careers. So when Palmer was a teen, he went to work for a local doctor.