![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/the-hay-poisoner-was-herbert-armstrong-wrongly-hanged/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/130691469_aarmstrong5gettyimages-592875104.jpg&description=Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Maj Herbert Armstrong, who always maintained his innocence, was sent to the gallows in 1922 Fresh doubt has been cast on a 100-year-old murder conviction that saw a solicitor sent to the gallows for poisoning his wife with arsenic. On 22 February 1921, Kitty Armstrong died at their home in Hay-on-Wye, Powys, from supposed gastritis, heart disease and inflammation of the kidneys. But just months later, her husband, Maj Herbert Armstrong, was accused of poisoning a rival solicitor, which led to his wife's body being exhumed and a murder trial that gripped the nation. In his new podcast, US journalist Joe Nocera and a host of experts conclude it was a miscarriage of justice. The case of "the dandelion poisoner", as Armstrong was referred to by the papers of the day, has all the ingredients of a classic Agatha Christie novel and has been intriguing armchair detectives for more than a century. Stephen Bates, author of The Poisonous Solicitor, describes Armstrong as a pompous little man with a waxed moustache and spectacles, proud of his station who insisted on being called by his military title, despite never being in active combat. Kitty, meanwhile, is described as a woman with a reputation for being highly strung, reserved and bossy. In February 1921, Kitty came down with a severe case of diarrhoea, she could not hold down food, or get up and down the stairs without assistance. She died early on 22 February. No-one suspected Armstrong had a hand in her death until eight months later, when he invited rival local solicitor Oswald Martin to his home, where they shared scones and tea. Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Rival local solicitor Oswald Martin and his wife arriving at the trial in 1922 After returning home Oswald became unwell. His father-in-law Fred Davies, a chemist, questioned if he had been poisoned. When he said he had dined with Armstrong, the chemist told him Armstrong had bought arsenic from him weeks befo){kind=link}
Fresh doubt has been cast on a 100-year-old murder conviction that saw a solicitor sent to the gallows for poisoning his wife with arsenic.
On 22 February 1921, Kitty Armstrong died at their home in Hay-on-Wye, Powys, from supposed gastritis, heart disease and inflammation of the kidneys.
But just months later, her husband, Maj Herbert Armstrong, was accused of poisoning a rival solicitor, which led to his wife’s body being exhumed and a murder trial that gripped the nation.
In his new podcast, US journalist Joe Nocera and a host of experts conclude it was a miscarriage of justice.
The case of “the dandelion poisoner”, as Armstrong was referred to by the papers of the day, has all the ingredients of a classic Agatha Christie novel and has been intriguing armchair detectives for more than a century.