The Life and Career of Dr. William Palmer of Rugeley

THE BAD BOY OF RUGELEYIn 1856 Dr. William Palmer made history when he was hanged for poisoning his best friend. It was not only the first trial involving strychnine but the first that was moved because of the extensive publicity it received in the new penny newspapers that were exploding in popularity.In 1925 George Fletcher published his lifetimes research on the case. Drawing on his familys ties to the area he visited Staffordshire repeatedly over several decades. He interviewed many of the people connected with the case and collected their stories and observations. His biography of Palmer was the first to feature new information about him his murders and the controversies surrounding his trial.This new edition of The Life and Career of Dr. Palmer of Rugeley brings Fletchers biography back into print with the original illustrations and photographs. It has been carefully annotated to flesh out the story and explain the social and cultural references unfamiliar to todays readers.Fletchers biography is part of The Rugeley Poisoner trilogy that includes two books published in 1856: The Illustrated Life and Career of William Palmer and The Illustrated Times Trial of William Palmer. With these three books true-crime fans can experience early Victorian Britain where money was king reputations ruled and where evil lurked in the heart of a benign doctor.