In 1865, Thomas Blake was a successful Surgeon Apothecary, with a prosperous chemist’s business in Castle Street, Salisbury.

His odd title meant that, in mid -Victorian medical practice, he could be, officially, your G.P. and Boots the Chemist!

With him, in Castle Street, lived his second wife, Elizabeth, and his daughter Emily Sophia, an attractive and popular 19 year old.

A third member of the household was a “living-in” assistant, William Storer. He was 27 years old.

Storer and Emily became attached and eventually he asked her father’s permission to propose marriage to her. To the chagrin of both, Thomas refused.

Relations between the two men obviously became strained and eventually, after a successful year’s work together, Storer was dismissed as unsuitable, on various grounds. Emily was upset, understandably, but appeared to get over it!

Then – the tragedy! A month after Storer’s departure, the Blake’s were disturbed by Emily’s frantic screaming from her bedroom. They found her in agonised convulsions and in spite of Blake’s own medical skills and the presents of two of Salisbury’s leading doctors, Emily died two hours later.

It was established that she had been poisoned by overdosing on pills containing the deadly poison, strychnine. These had been made up for her by Storer shortly before he left and he was arrested and jailed, pending trial for manslaughter – and possibly murder! The use of strychnine in minute quantities was acceptable practice – but had Storer given her a clear warning about the danger of overdosing…?

As part of Salisbury History Festival, ‘History at Large’ will be presenting one of their popular mock trials at the historic Old Oak Court, Salisbury Guildhall on Friday 30th August at 7.30pm. Tickets for this intriguing mystery are now on sale from the Rocketship Bookshop, Bridge Street and the History Bookshop at Fisherton Mill.