Arsenic and Mercy Quint

"Arsenic and Mercy Quint" is based upon true events in 1930's Cornwall, culminating in a sensational capital trial at the Bodmin Assizes. Seen through the eyes of reporter George Atkins, present throughout the investigation and the subsequent trial, the narrative covers what was then not only a cause c l bre but one of the most remarkable miscarriage of justice in British legal history. In Part One, in 1965 now retired George Atkins recounts the events to his wife, a retired London CID officer. Sometime in 1921 Mercy Quint and her ailing sister, Winnie, arrive in Cornwall. Apparently a doctor's widow, Mercy rents a small cottage and within a short time they take a lodger in the form of elderly "Gran" Roseveare. By 1925 the trio have moved to nearby Polinney where they rent a large house and are joined by Mercy's aunt Mary Ann, a retired cooking teacher. Mercy becomes friendly with a local farmer and his wife, Henry and Lucy Trahair, and there is local rumour and gossip that Mercy and Henry are a little more than friends. In 1926 "Gran" Roseveare dies unexpectedly, apparently from senile decay. Some months later Aunt Mary Ann also dies; although aged 76 and in good health, the doctor certifies a stroke and she is buried in the local churchyard having left her small estate to Mercy. Some time later Mercy accepts a "loan" from Henry, and shortly after Winnie becomes dangerously ill. A third sister, Dolly Birtles, comes down from Leeds to nurse Winnie who immediately takes a turn for the better, but within weeks of Dolly's return home, Winnie deteriorates and dies in July 1930, apparently of gastric catarrh, and no post mortem was carried out. In mid-October Mercy accompanied the Trahairs to Bude. They have tea in a cafe, part of which consists of three salmon sandwiches made by Mercy. On the journey home, Lucy Trahair is taken ill; she suffers agonising stomach pains and vomiting and food poisoning is suspected by the doctor. Mercy stays on at the farm to assist with the nursing. After a few days Lucy is a little better and has lunch with Mercy, her husband and her mother, and immediately relapses and dies in agony two days later. The post mortem and later tests reveal heavy dosage of arsenic and Henry and Mercy are immediately under suspicion. The police investigation which follows is incompetent, sister Winnie and Aunt Mary Ann are exhumed and Winnie's body is found to be riddled with arsenic. Mercy disappears, fakes suicide, changes her name several times and is eventually arrested in Torquay some weeks later. Penniless, Mercy is given free legal aid but within two weeks she has taken on the services of a prestigious solicitor from distant Grimsby and the most eminent and expensive barrister in the country is briefed to defend her. At the trial Henry is the principal witness for the Crown. The Judges stresses that only two people could have murdered Lucy: Mercy or Henry Trahair, and against the weight of all of the evidence Mercy is acquitted. Part Two, and George Atkins and his wife commence research for a book. Visiting Cornwall they find several people connected with the case and uncover hitherto unknown facts relative to what took place. The funding of Mercy's defence is a major factor, and as the answers slowly emerge the full horror of what took place becomes clear. Still alive, Mercy becomes aware that research is in hand. Although acquitted of the murder of Lucy Trahair she is still open to be charged with the murder of sister Winnie but - and as often happens with Mercy Quint - fate lends a hand. Often referred to as the 'Salmon Sandwich Case', the reconstruction of the events is beautifully drawn by this popular author whose meticulous research, combined with the carefully judged addition of some composite and invented characters and incidents, make this John Rigbey's best yet.