Executions Archives - Dr Richard Talbot

exe 3 The Execution of Dr William Palmer.

£3.00

The final essay records in graphic details the activities of Dr. Palmer known later as the Rugeley murderer, a prolific murderer whose case has been well documented in the press, in books and TV series and the last recorded in a run of thee in this series of executions at Stafford is that of Dr William Palmer of Rugeley, one of the most prolific mass murderers of his time attracting national notoriety
Palmer first started to work as a dentist but changed to that of a Doctor. The major issue was that he was a prolific gambler and would do anything to clear his debts. and forged his mother’s signature to pay off creditors and took out an insurance policy on his wife, his brother Walter and a friend George Bate.
Throughout his trial, even up to his time at the gallows with the prison Chaplin he would not admit to murder. A great story and certainly one worth reading.

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exe 2 The Abbots Bromley Murder 1857

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ByRichard Talbot

What was known as the Abbot’s Bromley Murder commenced in May 1857 at the Coach and Horses Inn, situated in the village of Bromley Hurst, a short walk from Abbots Bromley. At the bar stood William Charlesworth, a farmer aged sixty-seven who had been to market to sell cattle and had money on his person. Two young men were also in the bar, George Jackson aged twenty and Charles Brown aged twenty-one. At around midnight Charlesworth left with a friend but were followed by Jackson and Brown who were overheard before they left that they were going to have some fun with him. Charlesworth and his friend soon went their separate ways. Charlesworth had not walked far before he was knocked face down by Jackson. Brown then turned the body over and searching his pockets found a purse containing a large amount of money.
In this case the press reports seem to focus on the serious state of mind of Jackson as he awaits his coming ordeal in goal at Stafford. The writer spends some time in explaining the state of mind of Jackson, the involvement of the prison Chaplin and the final visit of his family.
As customary on these occasions the streets were flooded with visitors, many from miles away and were excited at the thought until Jackson was led to the high platform and the noose placed over his head. Despite the involvement of the prison Chaplin to console Jackson and then the final visit of his family to say goodbye was traumatic and he could not be consoled.
As customary on these occasions the streets were flooded with visitors, many from miles away and were excited at the thought until Jackson was led to the high platform and the noose placed over his head.

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exe 1 The horror of three executions at Stafford.

ByRichard Talbot

Executions used to be held in public, normally outside the goal gates and here hundreds of people from many parts of Staffordshire would arrive in Stafford to watch such an event and determined to get a good view. Why, perhaps psychologists can explain why you would wish to watch the last breaths taken by a fellow human being creates so much pleasure.

I guess that reading such an article regarding three executions one following the other remains a fascination to people like it did in times past. This one from 1834 refers to a good-looking lad of sixteen, Charles Shaw who was charged with the wilful murder of John Oldcroft, aged 16. For a lad of that age to have committed such a murder for the price of one shilling firstly illustrates the circumstances of poverty which his family lived. The other executions are recorded in full in the article available.

But who knows of his home life, for at 16 he may have been the breadwinner if his mother was a widow and he is perhaps the only one capable of earning anything at all just to survive and not being admitted to the workhouse. All three present a truly sad picture of the early years of the 19^th century.