Dr. William Palmer, Insurance Aficionado
Dr. William Palmer was a physician in the mid-1800s in England who was a little too fond of gambling. So fond, in fact, that he was willing to kill multiple relatives for the life insurance payouts he took out on them, sometimes without their knowledge. He is famous for Palmerās Act, the law that later prevented someone from taking out life insurance on someone unless they could show they would suffer a financial loss if that person died. Show Notes: Sources and resources: Wikipedia The Elements of Murder by John Emsley āPalmer the poisoner,ā Distillations Magazine, 3 October 2010, Science History Institute Museum and Library, https://www.sciencehistory.org/stories/magazine/palmer-the-poisoner/ āTale of the Rugeley poisoner described by Dickens as āgreatest villain that ever stood in Old Bailey,āā Staffordshire Live News, 9 April 2022, https://www.staffordshire-live.co.uk/news/history/tale-rugeley-poisoner-described-dickens-6908677 āA trip to Rugeley,ā 24 September 2017, https://helenbarrell.co.uk/a-trip-to-rugeley/ William Palmerās trial transcript: https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/record/t18560514-490 This podcast uses sound from Freesound.org: minor-key-music-box by user darkwaryurmc (http://freesound.org/s/318908/) licensed under CCBYNC 4.0 All statements in this podcast represent the opinions of the host and her guests. Cover art photos: photo, public domain.
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Dr. William Palmer was a physician in the mid-1800s in England who was a little too fond of gambling. So fond, in fact, that he was willing to kill multiple relatives for the life insurance payouts he took out on them, sometimes without their knowledge. He is famous for Palmerās Act, the law that later prevented someone from taking out life insurance on someone unless they could show they would suffer a financial loss if that person died. Show Notes: Sources and resources: Wikipedia The Element...