Poisoning at the Priory

[AmericanSherlock]

Any thoughts on the death of Charles Bravo? Several possibilities in this poisoning death of an 1870's 30 year old barrister who seemed oddly indifferent to his fate. Yesult Bridges wrote about this case, although her theory is not widely held.

I recently read the online book by Antony Brown, after being introduced to his series with his iteration of the Wallace case.

http://www.coldcasejury.com/index.asp

It's the 1st one on the list, if you're interested.

I think the evidence suggests Mrs. Cox was the most likely suspect, rather than suicide or his wife , Florence. I do not think Florence covered up the crime or knew about it, but that would be a possibility as well.

[ColdCaseJury]

I think the evidence suggests Mrs. Cox was the most likely suspect, rather than suicide or his wife , Florence. I do not think Florence covered up the crime or knew about it, but that would be a possibility as well.

So, for you the verdict is definitely Murder, with Mrs Cox acting alone the most likely culprit?

I have one question that nagged at me while writing the book. Could Mrs Cox's behaviour be explained if Florence had poisoned her husband, Mrs Cox was told immediately after the fact, and then did everything she could to save Charles and protect Florence? (And made a few mistakes along the way).

Would appreciate your thoughts, as usual.

[AmericanSherlock]

So, for you the verdict is definitely Murder, with Mrs Cox acting alone the most likely culprit?

I have one question that nagged at me while writing the book. Could Mrs Cox's behaviour be explained if Florence had poisoned her husband, Mrs Cox was told immediately after the fact, and then did everything she could to save Charles and protect Florence? (And made a few mistakes along the way).

Would appreciate your thoughts, as usual.

That is a very interesting possibility. There could be ambiguity in whether Mrs. Cox's behavior was motivated out of a murderous loyalty and allegiance to Florence, or if it was like you suggest an effort to both protect what she felt was a sympathetically guilty Florence, and still save Bravo's life.

Do you think that if this theory was correct, it would be with or without Florence's knowledge?

Yes, my verdict was murder with Mrs. Cox acting alone.

[sdreid]

I think the evidence suggests Mrs. Cox was the most likely suspect, rather than suicide or his wife , Florence. I do not think Florence covered up the crime or knew about it, but that would be a possibility as well.

I agree as I said on that other thread. In addition to Mrs. Cox, Florence and a group of other suspects as well as suicide, there are also other possibilities. The Most Mysterious Murder series posited that it was an accident in that Bravo was poisoning his wife but probably only to quell her heavy drinking and accidentally drank the mixture himself when he thought he was taking a laxative. There is also a manslaughter theory in that Florence and/or Mrs. Cox were poisoning Charles but just to make him too sick to keep getting his wife pregnant but miscalculated and gave him an unintentional fatal dose.

[AmericanSherlock]

I agree as I said on that other thread. In addition to Mrs. Cox, Florence and a group of other suspects as well as suicide, there are also other possibilities. The Most Mysterious Murder series posited that it was an accident in that Bravo was poisoning his wife but probably only to quell her heavy drinking and accidentally drank the mixture himself when he thought he was taking a laxative. There is also a manslaughter theory in that Florence and/or Mrs. Cox were poisoning Charles but just to make him too sick to keep getting his wife pregnant but miscalculated and gave him an unintentional fatal dose.

Thanks, Stan. The accidental theory where it was Bravo who was the poisoner, but not with murderous intent, is interesting but I can't buy into it.

If I were going to go with another theory, I would go with Florence being guilty and Mrs. Cox helping cover it up.