Comments on Dr William Palmer, the Rugeley Poisoner

What do you think about Staffordshire's most infamous villain?

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Dr. William Palmer Re: William Palmer. The house facing the Shrew. where he lived with his wife became a video store and I was told a ghost story about the store and also The Shrew. where he is said to haunt one of the bedrooms. These stories are in my booklets of ghost stories of Staffordshire. Carol Arnall Rugeley

William Palmer featured on Crime Classics There is an old radio show called "Crime Classics" where each week a villain was profiled. 'The Hangman and William Palmer' is the show about Palmer. Actually I never heard about him until I heard the story and then started search the web. Its in the public domain now so it someone wants it please email me and I'll send you a copy or you can visit numerous OTR (Olde Time Radio) website Orman C Beckles II Boston, Ma

William Palmer The Rugely Poisoner Palmers brother George married the daughter of Abraham Augustus Flint Attorney / Coroner /High Bailiff Staffordshire living at The Heath Uttoxetor A.A. Flint was one of my family... Having spent some years researching my forebares I have the history of Flints including A.A Flint from 1600 - 1900..I have actually got the history up to the present day..but only divulge information up to 1900... Flint Wirksworth

William Palmer You mention in your excellent web site/broadsheets re Surgeon William Palmer that his story was made into a ballad and that broadsheets (1p dreadfuls) were printed about his misdeeds. Could anyone tell me where I can find a list of ballads and broadsheets as I am endeavouring to do some research into villains of the mid-19thC and would find these invaluable? With thanks - Dave Crow

Dr. William Palmer The 'William Palmer: Trial by Media' exhibition was launched at the Ancient High House in Stafford on Saturday 12th June 2004 by the Mayor of Stafford, Cllr. Frank Finlay. This important exhibition was on for 7 weeks and admission is free including the 'Palmer Trial Re-enactment' at the Shire Hall on 22nd and 23rd July 04 (7pm for 7.30pm). There are also a programme of Palmer illustrated talks and guided walks. Mark Hartwell Stafford

Palmer the Rugeley Poisener My great grandfather, Daniel Coates, was the rope maker. He had a rope yard behind his house at 12 Friars Terrace Stafford. I remember as a child the steps down to the cellar had a thin rope (hangmans?) as a bannister. According to family legend he sold poeces of rope at half a crown a time - not a guinea. B C Lloyd Stafford

Dr William Palmer The BBC did an excellent piece on Palmer. It was broadcast a few years back and appeared on Public Broadcasting Service in the U.S. Ken Buckley Bangor, Maine. USA

Palmer the poisoner at the shrew Try looking at the Shrew pub in Rugeley. he also killed many people here and lived opposite Acacia Bass Rugeley

link There is now a web link for William Palmer - it's www.staffspasttrack/exhibit/palmer Flashley

william palmer you may be interested to know that the famous author Robert Graves (who wrote "I Claudius", "Goodbye to All That" etc) also wrote a defence of Palmer, as he believed the good doctor to be... INNOCENT! This all rests on Graves' belief that Palmer's wife committed suicide to "help" her husband through his financial difficulties. Yep... seems unlikely i know! Still, he quotes a lot of sources from the time. The book is "They Hanged My saintly Billy" and you can get it from the Staffordshire Library service bryan bell featherstone

On your web page, Palmer - prince of poisoners, and a Staffordshire lad; your sentence “The historic Surgery Bar in Stafford is famous as the site of some of his murders.” is factually incorrect. There is no evidence whatsoever that Palmer committed any murders at the Surgery site (the Noah’s Ark as it was known in Palmer’s time). The Surgery was owned by the father of Palmer’s wife, Colonel Brookes a retired Indian Army Officer. Palmer’s wife Annie was the illegitimate daughter of Brookes and because the gentleman did not word his will carefully enough the Chancery Court gave the property to another relative after the Colonels’ death. Mr. D. I. Lewis Gnosall

rugeley's dr palmer To whom it may concern, Might I suggest an additional Dr. William Palmer web link? www.williampalmer.co.uk is a web site that brings together all the resources from the "Rugeley Poisoner" story. It includes links to all the sites from the story that can still be seen to this day. Best wishes Dave Lewis