The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-02-14


there was Judge l. s. Howe in Galesburg.
Ills. lie was playing croquet with some
ladies one day when two gentlemen recog-
nized him as the long lost Boswell lie
admitted il and suddenly went south. leav-
ing his trunk as security for a loan of 5000.
1t was plain that Mrs Boswell was in the
scheme, AS it was proved that she had Wis
tied Judge Howe" in Galesburg and had
passed there as his neice. She was arrested,
tried and convicted and sentenced 10 pris-
on. Boswell was captured in Michigan in
July, 1874, and escaped punishment on the
technicality that a man and wife could not
conspire
Here is case that completely outdoes
Meyer If he is guilty Of what he is charged
with; William Palmer lived in Hugely. a
little town on the line OF the Northwestern
railway, England In 1886 he was a fine
looking man, 81 years old He married the
beautiful daughter Of Colonel Brooks Of
the East India service. The girls mother
had received from the colonel life lease of
his estate. Palmer was fast liver lie
loved horse racing and had private labor
atory where he made various chemical ex-
perments When snort of funds one day,
he appealed 10 Mrs. Brooks. She went to
live with her daughter at once. She died
suddenly four days after she reached the
Hugely home by her death Palmer's wife
became owner Of the Brook estate, but un-
der his control lie now lived faster life
than ever. -Four Of his children. like Mrs.
Brooks, died suddenly, with intervals Of
one or two years between the death of each.
There remained one. At the mothers death
the estate would pass TO that little one.
Palmer had his wife's life insured for
$685. 600. a sporting friend Of palmers,
named Bladen, called upon him soon after
ward to collect "A debt Of $500. lie fell
sick al palmer's house and died palmer's
family physician" said the cause was cere-
bral fever. a year afterward Mrs. Palmer
took sick and died. The family physician"
made out the death certificate. and soon
afterward the London life companies paid
the s15,O 600 Palmer then had his brother
Walters life insured for Sc. 900. The broth
er was a hard drinlcr Palmer, the chem
zeal experimental, gave him gin 10 drink,
and he died shortly. lie then applied for
the insurance; but, strange To say. when
the companies refused to settle he never
renewed the application. But Palmer WAS
such good mani No neighbor suspected
he would do a wrong act.
In November, 1855, John Parsons Cooks
horse won at the Shrewsbury races $1,000,
beating palmer's. The latter had bet heav-
lily, and his losses We're great Besides be
had forged notes 10 the extent of $4,000,
and exposure threatened him. Cook was
worth 10000, and Palmer had obtained
Cooks signature 10 many notes. lie got
Cook to visit his OPalmer's Hugely house
that month (November). Palmer gave Cook
something TO drink and gave him some
pills. lie died two days afterward. The
family physician said the cause was apo
plexy. The post norton revealed evidences
Of poison. Palmer WAS tried for murder
and found guilty and was hanged. The
body OF Mrs. Palmer had been by this time
10 months in the grave IL was cNhumed.
II was found that she had died from the ef
fects OF anthony, which was detected in
all parts Of the body. The body of the broth
or Walter was eNhume,l. 10 was found that
prussic acid had killed him.
palmcr's high social position and the
medical certificates had prevented the life
insurance companies from suspecting any
wrongdong. just before the revelations
as 10 Cook = death Palmer had tried 10 in
sure the life Of his groom, George Bates, for
sl25, 900. Palmer, in his application. de
scribed Bates as gentleman Of independ-
ent means lie had also at the same time
tried 10 have the life Of the postmaster Of
Hugely insured for $1,000 The denouc-
ment in the Cook case consequently saved
their lives.