Alfred William Warder

Background

Alfred William Warder was a doctor. He was 43 years old.

Mrs. Warder was murdered by her husband, a doctor who administered to her over a period of a month quantities of the poison aconite, also known as wolf's bane.

Mrs. Warder’s brother was a local surgeon. As Mrs. Warder’s condition deteriorated, he suspected that Alfred William Warder was not dispensing her the correct medicines to remedy her mysterious illness.

Alfred William Warder had married twice before. Each of his wives had died in unnatural circumstances.

The offence

Mrs. Warder was poisoned with aconite over a period of a month.

The case involved an irregularity around the death and the circumstances of poisoning.

Investigation

After Mrs. Warder died, another doctor considered the circumstances to be so irregular that he refused to sign the death certificate.

A coroner’s inquest was therefore constituted and was held at the Rockingham pub in Sillwood Street.

Arrest

Alfred William Warder went off to London and later returned discreetly. He then booked himself into the Bedford Hotel.

Trial

No trial is described. A coroner’s inquest was held.

Sentencing

No sentencing is described.

Outcome

Alfred William Warder committed suicide by drinking prussic acid to avoid arrest on July 12, 1866.

Staff found his naked body in bed the following morning.

Aftermath

The coroner’s inquest had been constituted because another doctor refused to sign the death certificate over the irregular circumstances.

Other details

The motive is stated as “PC-domestic” and the date is indicated as the 19th century.

The method of poisoning was described as a “Bluebeard” poisoner of wives.

SEX: M RACE: W TYPE: T MOTIVE: PC-domestic DATE(S): 19th century MO: “Bluebeard” poisoner of wives DISPOSITION: Suicide by poison to avoid arrest