The peculiar case of the electric constable : a true tale of passion, poison and pursuit

John Tawell was a sincere Quaker but a sinning one. Convicted of forgery, he was transported to Sydney, where he opened Australia's first retail pharmacy and made a fortune. When he returned home to England after fifteen years, he thought he would be welcomed; instead he was shunned. Then on New Year's Day 1845 Tawell boarded the 7:42 pm train to London Paddington. Soon, men arrived chasing a suspected murderer – but the 7:42 had departed. The Great Western Railway was experimenting with a new-fangled device, the electric telegraph, so a message was sent: a 'KWAKER' man was on the run. The trail became a sensation, involving no apparent weapon, much innuendo, and a pious man desperate to save his reputation – and would usher in the modern communication age. Told with narrative verve and rich in historical research, this is a delicious true tale of murder and scientific revolution in Victorian England. John Tawell Was A Sincere English Quaker But A Sinning One. Convicted Of Forgery, He Was Transported To Sydney, Where He Opened Australia's First Retail Pharmacy And Made A Fortune. When He Returned Home After 15 Years, He Thought He Would Be Welcomed, A Reformed, Rich Entrepreneur; Instead He Was Shunned. Tawell Was Struggling Financially And Emotionally When On New Year's Day 1845 He Boarded The 7.42pm Train From Slough To Paddington. Soon, Policemen Rushed To The Station Looking For A Suspected Murderer -- But The 7:42 Had Departed. The Great Western Railway Was Experimenting With A New-fangled Instrument, The Telegraph, So A Message Was Relayed To London: A Kwaker Man Was On The Run. It Became The Sensational Murder Of The Day, Involving Poisoning, Religious Scandal, Sexual Innuendo, And Very Little Hard Evidence. Tawell Was Infamous, And His Trial Helped To Secure The Telegraph's Fame And Adoption -- A Watershed Event. Prologue -- Alarm -- Obsession -- Suspicion -- Fascination -- Agony -- Epilogue. Carol Baxter. Includes Bibliographical References (pages [359]-382) And Index.

Quaker John Tawell's trial became a sensation, involving poison and sexual scandal. It helped to secure the telegraph's fame — and usher in the modern communication age. A true tale of murder and scientific revolution, The Peculiar Case of the Electric Constable is historical crime writing at its best.

The electrifying story of a criminal Quaker, a poisoned mistress and the dawn of the information age