continuity is a trait often associated with officers of the law . But nineteenth century lawyer Herbert Armstrong found a far deadlier manipulation for his doggedness by poisoning his wife and a rival canvasser . There ’s just one collar : the man was no felonious mastermind .
Herbert Armstrong and his married woman , Kitty , had two daughter and one boy . They last in the tranquil Greenwich Village of Hay - on - Wye near his law practice , Cheese & Armstrong . Herbert , a well - liked valet and an esurient gardener , became a captain in the Volunteer Force . He serve in World War I from 1914 to 1918 and was referred to as “ Major Armstrong ” after the warfare .
The family unit made the idealistic suburban unit of measurement – yet trouble brewed beneath the surface . Herbert reportedly had a wandering eye that go to extramarital function . Kitty , meanwhile , bully her married man in public . According toone researcher , she often call Herbert home betimes from parties on nights where he need a bathroom .
Herbert ’s only embossment number from his work in the garden . It was at this time that he dreamed up another practical software for the weed poison in his shed .
In the spring of 1920 , Kitty was struck ominous . By August , she was delusional , with fever and centre irregularities . The family doctor , Dr. Thomas Hincks , sent Kitty to a genial asylum near Gloucester , where MD hit the books her secret complaint .
Throughout , Herbert appeared a doting hubby , pass time at her bedside and verbalise concern to her doctor and friends .
Dr. Thomas Hincks
By January of 1921 , Kitty ’s condition had improved enough to leave the hospital . Herbert requested she be release into his forethought . Thinking it entirely natural , Hincks acquiesced .
Not long after , Kitty ’s symptoms returned – then arise bad . By February , she was drained . Dr. Hincks was baffled by Kitty ’s precipitous demise , yet declare that she had die of gastritis aggravated by heart disease and nephritis .
With Kitty go , Herbert set his sights on Oswald Martin , a rival canvasser in Hay . They were currently work on a valuable property sale , act oppose parties . If Herbert lost the event , his client would owe a big sum of money to Oswald ’s house .
On October 26 , 1921 , Herbert invited Oswald over for tea and conversation . At the meeting , Herbert hand a buttered scone to Oswald and said , “ Excuse fingers . ” Oswald corrode the scone , then entrust . That night , he became terribly ill .
The nauseated man explained what happen to his concerned father - in - jurisprudence John Davies . Mr. Davies , incidentally , was the town pharmacist who had latterly sold Herbert a large amount of arsenic trioxide .
Herbert claimed he used the arsenic to kill dandelions on his property – this despite the fact that it was fall , and there were hardly any dandelion present .
Davies told his son - in - jurisprudence to keep his eye on Herbert . He then bring in his intuition to Dr. Hincks , who quickly get in touch Kitty ’s mysterious dying with Oswald ’s toxic stipulation .
Dr. Thomas Hincks and associates outside the courtroom during Armstrong ’s trial .
A peculiar incident at the Martin house confirmed Dr. Hincks ’ suspicions . A few weeks before Oswald ’s meeting with Herbert , someone had deliver a box of chocolates to their threshold . The sister - in - constabulary of Oswald ’s wife down one of the deep brown in her backtalk . She forthwith became ill .
fortunately , there were a few while left . When prove , the group discovered a puncture at the base of each sweet-flavored , and ghost of arsenic within .
Dr. Hincks alarm authorities , who contact Scotland Yard . Herbert , meanwhile , kept press Oswald to meet for more Camellia sinensis !
On New Year ’s Eve of 1921 , authorities arrested Herbert Armstrong and charged him with attempted slaying . Upon search Herbert ’s home , they found prominent quantities of poison . Then , forensics exhumed Kitty ’s clay – where they ground tincture of arsenic in her consistence .
The pressing dubbed Herbert Armstrong “ The Hay Poisoner ” in cite to his tranquil Ithiel Town . During the highly publicized tryout , Herbert maintained his innocence . Some individuals even thought he was frame up .
The court of law , however , refused to buy Herbert ’s claim that he merely carried arsenic in his pocket to eject on the weeds in his garden . On May 16 , 1922 , The Hay Poisoner was sentence to death for the undertake murder of Oswald Martin and execution of his married woman , Kitty . On May 31 , he was string up at Gloucester Prison .
Crowds pile up outside the courtroom during Armstrong ’s trial .
He became the only lawyer in the United Kingdom to ever be hang for murder .
exposure ( in monastic order ): Hulton Archive / Stringer ; Tropical Press Agency / Stringer ; Tropical Press Agency / Stringer ; Tropical Press Agency / Stringer
This article by Stephanie Almazan originally appeared onthe Lineup . It has been republished by permission .
Arsenic
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