Now a government office building, 206 Dundas was once the private offices of notorious serial killer, Dr. Thomas Neill Cream. A few months after his arrival in London, Ontario, rumours began to circulate that Dr. Cream performed profitable sideline abortions. Then, on May 3, 1879, a pregnant Kate Gardener's body was discovered in an outhouse behind Dr. Cream's office. Beside her chemically disfigured face lay an empty bottle of chloroform.

Summoned by an inquest, Dr. Cream claimed Kate had visited his office frequently, begging for an abortion, but he refused to perform the illegal surgery, ultimately turning suspicion towards others. Although no suspects were named, the verdict remained murder by a "person or persons unknown." The citizens of London, however, were sure of Dr. Cream's guilt and as a result his practice dwindled. Seeing no other options, Dr. Thomas Neill Cream left for Chicago where his killing spree continued

To learn more about the crimes of Dr. Thomas Neill Cream, Read Below!

Thomas Neill Cream earned his medical degree from McGill University, in Montreal, Canada. He furthered his studies at St.Thomas's Hospital in London, England. Holding high esteem as a medical practitioner, Cream never felt the need to conceal his identity in public, despite his dramatic and conspicuous appearance. He really fit the profile of a Victorian serial killer. With crossed eyes covered by round gold rimmed glasses and black top hat coupled with an upturned moustache, Thomas Cream was anything but ordinary.

In Lambeth, Cream was constantly in the public eye. He consorted with prostitutes, and spent evening dancing, drinking, and doing drugs in high class music halls and theatres. His public appearance drew attention to himself eventually earning him the name the cock-eyed Lothario.

Thomas Neill Cream's victims were almost always prostitutes, or women seeking an abortion. He killed his victim's using pills laced with strychnine, claiming the pills would prevent pregnancy. Because he was a physician, his victims often felt they could trust him, and therefore would ingest the pills. Cream often tried to divert attention away from himself by writing letters and blackmailing others he accused of committing the murders. These letters would play an important role in his capture.

Strychnine poisoning causes uncontrollable body contractions. These contractions cause a restriction of oxygen flow to the lungs, resulting in a slow and painful death by anoxia.

During his stay in London, England, Cream had befriended a former New York City detective John Haynes. He had been closely following the murders that were now a massive story in the newspapers. However, Haynes became suspicious of Cream because he knew so much detail about the murders.

This suspicion increased when Cream mentioned the murder of Lou Harvey, a victim Haynes had never read about in the papers. Haynes contacted Scotland Yard and an investigation opened with Thomas Cream as the main suspect. Evidence of blackmail letters, prostitutes accounts of a man fitting Cream's description, and forged paperwork led to Cream's arrest on June 3, 1892.

During his trial, Lou Harvey, the prostitute Cream claimed to be one of the poisoners victims, was a prime witness and detailed when Cream attempted to murder her. With this testimony and other evidence against him, he was found guilty for the murder of 4 women and sentenced to death by hanging.

On November 16, 1892, Thomas Neill Cream was hanged. According to legend, as he was being hanged, he uttered the words "I am Jack…" Cream was unable to finish his sentence before the platform of the gallows dropped.

Many people tried to link Cream to the murders of Jack the Ripper. However, this was proven incorrect, as Cream was in prison in Illinois when the Jack the Ripper murders occurred between 1888-1891.

When reflecting on London, Ontario's past, the cities rich history of bustling industry come to mind. But London was once a city that housed an international serial killer. Although most of his murders occurred in Lambeth, Thomas Neill Cream's serial killing began in the city of London over 150 years ago. Rarely do we consider that someone who committed such heinous crimes could have lived somewhere so close home.

Sources:

Ivey Family London Room, London Public Library, London, Ontario, Canada.

McLaren Angus. A Prescription for Murder: The Victorian Serial Killings of Dr. Thomas Neill Cream. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1995.