Man poisoned wife to get her back

**Aslan** · August 8th, 2009, 06:29 AM

And in other news he's an idiot

A husband was likened to Hamlet yesterday after attempting to poison his estranged wife in a perverse effort to win her back.

William Dowling, 69, spooned the mercury globules into her floral china cup with the aim of making her dependent on him and rekindling their marriage.

He hoped his wife would become so ill that he could volunteer to look after her, Preston Crown Court heard.

Article is long, rest here

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle6784286.ece

**Unamused Cat** · August 9th, 2009, 12:13 AM

Nothing says "I love you" like mercury poisoning, which causes:

1. Psychological disturbances
Angry fits, short term memory loss, low self esteem, inability to sleep, loss of self-control, sleepiness. Loss of an ability to learn new things, doing things by rote.

2. Oral Cavity problems
Inflammation of the mouth, loss of bone around teeth, ulcerated gums and other areas in the mouth, loose teeth, darkening of gums, taste of metal, bleeding of gums.

3. Digestive tract problems
Cramps, inflamed colon, GI problems, Diarrhea and other digestive problems.

4. Cardiovascular problems
Weak pulse, blood pressure changes, chest pain, or feeling of pressure in the chest area.

5. Respiratory problems
Weakness and problems with breathing, Emphysema, Coughing persistently.

6 Neurological Problems
Headaches, vertigo, tinnitus, shaking in various areas of the body (eye lids, feet etc)

source

**Misskittychaos** · August 9th, 2009, 12:59 AM

Hmm and here I thought people should consider marriage counseling before calling it done...but poisoning, now that's an option...what a nut!

**CorruptedMistress** · August 29th, 2009, 12:08 AM

Victim, Maureen Dowling

William Dowling

As well as the jail term, which was suspended for two years, the judge also imposed an 18-month supervision order.

The judge added: "That was not only a wicked way of treating your wife it was also potentially fatal. Fortunately your plan was discovered before any serious harm had been caused."

The court heard despite her ill health, the level of mercury found in Mrs Dowling's body was no higher than the average person.

Judge Brown suspended Dowling's sentence after acknowledging his early guilty plea, his previous good character and the fact he was "well respected" and had shown "genuine remorse".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/e...re/8226473.stm

**polis** · August 29th, 2009, 04:56 AM

hmm where did he get the mecury? spent time breaking cheap thermometers probably.

**malq** · September 1st, 2009, 09:56 PM

Originally Posted by polis

hmm where did he get the mecury? spent time breaking cheap thermometers probably.

You can buy mercury.
It is not cheap but sold by the flask it is still used in many old fashioned switches, level controllers and old school automation.

here is something cool.
http://boingboing.net/2009/04/06/can...-floating.html

**malq** · September 1st, 2009, 10:05 PM

What I really meant to say above was....
have you ever heard the expression mad as a hatter?

That came from the England haberdashers in the Dark Ages. They cured the hats felt with mercury to make it soft. Eventually the nervous system would be affected from absorption and the hatter would act peculiar. then LSD was invented and Alice in Wonderland. The rest is history. Ahh the world is a beautiful place.

**Just my luck sucks** · September 1st, 2009, 11:17 PM

My Grandfather kept a large flask of Mercury when I was a kid--he got it from gold miners. We would play with balls of it for hours at a time. It was a blast.

When he passed away and we had to pack up his house, I searched everywhere for that heavy flask to show my kids. Never did find it, I'm guessing Grandpa got rid of it some years after my childhood when he found out it was poisonous.