Shufflebottom and J. Jones – for crimes unrecorded. Among the most infamous names included is that of Dr William Palmer – better known as the “Rugeley Poisoner” – who was hanged at Stafford in 1856 for the murder of his friend John Cook. Auctioneer, Dave Eglington, says: “For fans of local history of collectors of the macabre, this really is a fascinating item. The entries may be brief but they showcase that capital punishment was a very real threat not only for murder but for some crimes that, by today’s standards, seem relatively minor. It also brings alive the horrific spectacle of public execution – as the County Town, Stafford regularly held public executions – initially on the flat roof of ‘The Lodge’ of Stafford Gaol and later in front of the Gaol, with large crowds being drawn for the ‘entertainment’.