Tale of the Rugeley poisoner described by Dickens as 'greatest villain that ever stood in Old Bailey'

William Palmer was born in Rugeley, Staffordshire on August 6, 1824. He was dismissed from his first job as an apprentice at a chemist at the age of 17. After studying medicine in London, he returned to Rugley and became a doctor. In 1855 he was convicted of murdering his friend John Cook and was executed in public by hanging the following year. Palmer also poisoned his brother, mother-in-law, and four of his children. He made money from the deaths of both his wife and brother and defrauded his mother. His interest in horse racing led him to borrow money for a gambling on horses.