George Henry Lamson
Encyclopedia
George Henry Lamson was an American
doctor and murderer.
In his early career he had been a volunteer surgeon in Romania and Serbia, and decorated for his work. He returned to England and practised in Bournemouth
. He became addicted to morphia and his financial situation grew desperate.
In 1881 he visited his 18-year-old brother-in-law Percy John, a hemiplegic
, at his boarding school and gave him a slice of Dundee cake
. He also gave him a capsule from a batch that were later tested and found to contain the poison aconitine
, as recorded in the case history at Old Bailey Online.
Lamson was tried in March 1882 with Montagu Williams
acting for his defence: he was found guilty of murdering Percy in order to secure a share of the family inheritance. He had poisoned his victim with aconitine
in the cake, a substance which Lamson had learnt about from Professor Robert Christison
in university. Christison had taught that aconitine was undetectable but forensic science had improved since Lamson's student days.
Lamson's execution was delayed when word came that his family and friends in the United States requested time to send proof of insanity in the Doctor's family and in his own life. The evidence was sent but was not sufficient to reduce the sentence.
Lamson was hanged by William Marwood
at Wandsworth Prison on 28 April 1882.
There is some suspicion that Lamson also murdered another brother-in-law named Herbert John in 1879. However Lamson denied this, and no real proof has ever been produced.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
doctor and murderer.
In his early career he had been a volunteer surgeon in Romania and Serbia, and decorated for his work. He returned to England and practised in Bournemouth
Bournemouth
Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
. He became addicted to morphia and his financial situation grew desperate.
In 1881 he visited his 18-year-old brother-in-law Percy John, a hemiplegic
Hemiplegia
Hemiplegia /he.mə.pliː.dʒiə/ is total paralysis of the arm, leg, and trunk on the same side of the body. Hemiplegia is more severe than hemiparesis, wherein one half of the body has less marked weakness....
, at his boarding school and gave him a slice of Dundee cake
Dundee Cake
Dundee Cake is a famous traditional Scottish fruit cake with a rich flavour.The cake is often made with currants, sultanas and almonds; sometimes, fruit peel may be added to it. The cake originated in nineteenth century Scotland, and was originally made as a mass produced cake by the marmalade...
. He also gave him a capsule from a batch that were later tested and found to contain the poison aconitine
Aconitine
Aconitine is a highly poisonous alkaloid derived from various aconite species.-Uses:...
, as recorded in the case history at Old Bailey Online.
Lamson was tried in March 1882 with Montagu Williams
Montagu Williams
Montagu Stephen Williams Q.C. was an English teacher, army officer, actor, playwright, barrister and magistrate....
acting for his defence: he was found guilty of murdering Percy in order to secure a share of the family inheritance. He had poisoned his victim with aconitine
Aconitine
Aconitine is a highly poisonous alkaloid derived from various aconite species.-Uses:...
in the cake, a substance which Lamson had learnt about from Professor Robert Christison
Robert Christison
Sir Robert Christison, 1st Baronet FRSE FRCSE FRCPE was a Scottish toxicologist and physician who served as president of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh , as president of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh , and as president of the British Medical Association .Christison was...
in university. Christison had taught that aconitine was undetectable but forensic science had improved since Lamson's student days.
Lamson's execution was delayed when word came that his family and friends in the United States requested time to send proof of insanity in the Doctor's family and in his own life. The evidence was sent but was not sufficient to reduce the sentence.
Lamson was hanged by William Marwood
William Marwood
William Marwood was a hangman for the British government. He developed the technique of hanging known as the "long drop".-Early life:Marwood was originally a cobbler, of Church Lane, Horncastle, Lincolnshire, England.-Executioner:...
at Wandsworth Prison on 28 April 1882.
There is some suspicion that Lamson also murdered another brother-in-law named Herbert John in 1879. However Lamson denied this, and no real proof has ever been produced.