George Lamson

Murderer

1known / alleged victims

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Case Facts

Gender: male
Country: United Kingdom
Location: Wimbledon, London, England, United Kingdom
Date of birth: 1850
Age at first offence: 31
Characteristics: poisoner, drug addict
Victim profile: Percy Malcolm John ( his 18-year-old handicapped brother-in-law )
Method of murder: Poisoning (aconite)
Date(s) of murder: December 3, 1881
Years active: 1881
Date of arrest: 5 days after
Status: Executed
Executed by hanging on April 28, 1882

Case Summary

Background

George Lamson was an English physician who, after the Crimean War, suffered from an addiction to morphine.

George Henry Lamson was also described as being in need of funds. He selected as his victim his 18-year-old handicapped brother-in-law, Percy Malcolm John.

The offence

In December 1881, George Henry Lamson brought Percy Malcolm John into his domestic control of family estate funds. While visiting John, Lamson gave him tea and a Dundee raisin cake.

Lamson made a display of a new American invention: a gelatin capsule. He filled a capsule with sugar and asked John to take it. A few hours later, after Dr. Lamson left by return train for London, John began to suffer from severe stomach distress and soon died.

Lamson poisoned John by tampering with some of the raisins in the Dundee cake slice. He used the powerful alkaloidal poison aconite. The poison was not in the capsule.

Investigation

George Henry Lamson was eventually caught. He had tried to bribe the newspapers with inside knowledge of John's death.

Trial

George Henry Lamson was tried for criminal poisoning.

Sentencing

Lamson received the death penalty and was executed by hanging.

Outcome

George Henry Lamson was executed by hanging on April 28, 1882.

Aftermath

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