Trial of William Palmer. Title page of 'The Times' report of the 1856 murder trial of British physician William Palmer (1824-1856). His friend John Parsons Cook was staying at the Talbot Arms public house in Palmer's home town of Rugeley, Staffordshire, UK. Cook died in the early hours of 20 November 1855, in agony and convulsing. The jury heard that Palmer had purchased strychnine, was heavily in debt, and had been collecting money on Cook's behalf won on horse races. The jury at the Central Criminal Court (the Old Bailey) convicted him of the murder of Cook. Palmer was sentenced to death and hanged at Stafford prison on 14 June 1856.