278. The Victorians’ OTHER Serial Killer with Stephen Bates

When a respectable Victorian doctor became Britain’s most feared poisonerVictorian England believed murder belonged to the gutters. Then Dr William Palmer shattered that illusion.In this gripping episode of History Rage, award-winning journalist and author Stephen Bates exposes the dark truth behind the case of William Palmer — the Midlands doctor hanged in 1856 for poisoning his friend John Parsons Cook.Known as the “Rugeley Poisoner”, Palmer was a churchgoing professional, a gambler drowning in debt, and a man suspected of killing far more than the one murder for which he was convicted. His weapon? Newly available strychnine — a terrifying poison that left victims writhing in agony and Victorian society gripped by fear.What You’ll Discover in This EpisodeWhy Victorian Britain refused to believe a middle-class doctor could be a killerHow strychnine changed the landscape of 19th-century murderThe explosive Old Bailey trial that required a special Act of ParliamentThe role of celebrity pathologist Alfred Swaine TaylorHow press sensationalism helped create one of Britain’s first “serial killer” panicsThe disturbing class bias in Victorian (and modern) murder trialsStephen also explores parallels with later cases, including Herbert Rouse Armstrong, the subject of his book The Poisonous Solicitor, and reflects on how professional status has long influenced public perceptions of guilt.This is Victorian true crime at its most unsettling: insurance fraud, gambling debts, missing betting slips, botched inquests, and a public execution witnessed by 30,000 people.About Our Guest – Stephen BatesStephen Bates is an award-winning journalist and former political correspondent. He is the author of:The Poisoner: The Life and Crimes of Victorian England’s Most Notorious Doctorhttps://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781837730285The Poisonous Solicitorhttps://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781785789601The Poisoner was shortlisted for the prestigious Agatha Award for True Crime in the United States.🔗 Website: https://stephenbateswriter.comWhy This Case Still MattersPalmer’s trial raises urgent questions that still resonate:Do we judge murder differently depending on class?Are professionals given more benefit of the doubt?How much does media coverage shape public opinion before a verdict is reached?From Victorian strychnine to modern medical murderers, the uncomfortable truth remains: monsters don’t always look like monsters.Follow & Support History RageIf you enjoy fearless myth-busting history and passionate debate:🔥 Join the Rage on PatreonAd-free listening and livestream access for just £3 per month:👉 https://www.patreon.com/historyrage🍎 Prefer Apple? Subscribe directly via Apple Podcasts for ad-free episodes.📱 Follow History Rage:Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/historyrageInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyrageBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/historyrageFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/historyrage📩 Contact: [email protected] simplest way to support the show? Share the episode and bring someone else aboard the Rage Train.Victorian crime wasn’t just about back alleys and desperation. Sometimes it wore a respectable face, attended church — and carried a vial of poison.Listen now and stay angry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.