Folklaw | Arsenic and old lace

The murderous use of poison has traditionally been regarded as a woman's weapon of choice. Poisoning crimes reached a peak during the 1840s (a time when life insurance companies were expanding and the economy was at its worst) but, in point of fact, the actual number of murders which had been perpetrated by female poisoners during the Victorian era was just over forty. Despite the sparse number, in the middle of the 19th century, the mysterious horror attached to poisoning and widespread fear of coniving women putting their unsuspecting husbands in mortal danger led to a statute for regulating the sale of arsenic.

On 30 April 1850, Mr Stanford MP rose to move for a select committee to inquire if any restrictions should be imposed by parliament on the sale of poisons. He observed that the number of murders perpetrated by poison (especially in districts where it was used for agricultural purposes) was so great that he was sure the house would agree with him in 'the necessity of putting a stop to it'. The resulting Arsenic Act of 1851 contained certain provisions for regulating and restricting the sale of that mineral. No person was allowed to sell any arsenic without entering into a book: the names of the parties concerned in the sale and purchase and other circumstances attending the transaction.

Sale of poisons

To those who were inclined to take away life, 'arsenic' and 'poison' were looked on as synonymous. By the late 1850s, it was fairly obvious to the Victorian legislature that arsenic was not the only poison. Equally destructive articles readily available at the time were: corrosive sublimate, oxalic acid, prussic acid, oil of vitriol (sulphuric acid), mercurial preparations, salts of lead and essential oil of bitter almonds. Parliament deemed the Arsenic Act successful as regards the sale of arsenic but the effect of the statute was to drive persons to the use of other poisons, which resulted in the stricter provisions of the Sale of Poisons Bill 1859.

But poison regulations did not bar resolved murderers like Dr Crippen. In the legal profession, Harold Greenwood was the first English solicitor accused of murder by arsenical poisoning

After much local speculation and gossip, Mabel's body was exhumed and the forensic examination revealed 16-32 milligrams of arsenic but no evidence of heart disease. Greenwood was arrested after the coroner's inquest and his trial began at Carmarthen Assizes on 2 November 1920. Though in poor health, Sir Edward Marshall Hall agreed to defend Greenwood boasting: 'The man's innocent, and I'll get him off '“ you see.'

In a theatrical manner, Hall opened his defence by citing from Othello and arguing that local gossip and malice were the true motives behind the case. He then showed that Mrs Greenwood's doctor had administered bismuth and morphine, which could have caused death. The doctor quickly changed his story, saying that in fact he had prescribed a weaker drug '“ opium. After milking this conflicting evidence, Hall then discredited the evidence of the parlour maid, who had been influenced by a police officer and changed her story on several occasions throughout the proceedings. Finally, the daughter gave evidence and said that she dined at the same table but suffered no ill effects from the repast. Greenwood was acquitted, changed his name to Pilkington and moved away from the area with his second wife.

Down in history

Herbert Rowse Armstrong was born in Newton Abbot, Devon in 1870 and despite a deprived childhood obtained a good education and a law degree from Cambridge University. He became a solicitor in 1895 and practised in Newton Abbot before moving to Liverpool. Armstrong married Miss Katherine Mary Friend, a friend from Newton Abbot, and although Katherine was a devoted wife and mother she treated the five-foot tall Armstrong with strictness and condescension. He was not allowed to drink and many who knew the couple felt sorry for him. Like Greenwood, Armstrong kept weedkiller and purchased the same in abundance.

After suffering some physical and mental health problems, Mrs Armstrong returned home from Barnwood Asylum on 22 January 1921. She died one month later on 22 February 1921. Her doctor certified the cause of death as heart disease and said that she had also suffered from acute gastritis. Armstrong would have probably got away with her murder but for the fact that he tried to kill his business rival with arsenic poison as well.

Dr Thomas Hincks, who had treated Mrs Armstrong, was struck by the similarities between the rival's illness and the illness suffered by Mrs Armstrong. After the police started their investigation, Mrs Armstrong's body was exhumed and traces of arsenic were found. Armstrong was subsequently charged with murder.

The trial lasted a mere 10 days and nobody believed Armstrong's story that his wife, suffering depression, took her own life by arsenic. He was found guilty of murder and sentenced to death by hanging. Herbert Rowse Armstrong went down in legal history as the only solicitor hanged for murder in this country, one of just two legal poisoners.