John Pierre Vaquier

When John Pierre Vaquier was in France, he met a woman. This woman was married, but the two enjoyed a passionate affair. After their holiday romance the woman, Mrs Jones, went back to the Blue Anchor Hotel, which she ran with her husband. Vaquier later also went to the hotel and booked in, telling his secret girlfriend’s husband, Alfred Jones, that he was in the country on business, and would like to stay for a while.
Each time Jones asked for payment for staying at the hotel, Vaquier claimed he was waiting for a business deal cheque. Jones thought nothing of it and carried on. Each morning Alfred Jones would drink a glass of health salts. But on the morning of 29th May, his health salts tasted strangely bitter. A few hours later he died.

The death came as a shock, so police had the body analysed immediately. It was found that the body contained strychnine. Mrs Jones and Vaquier were both questioned, and later a photograph appeared in the newspaper. A local chemist came forward, telling police that he remembered the man as a customer who had purchased strychnine.

Vaquier was arrested, but pleaded innocent. However he was found guilty, and sentenced to death. He was hanged, dying at the age of 45.