The truth behind Turing's death?
Today, 23/06/12, is the birthday of Alan Turing the famous mathematician, war time code breaker and leader in early computer science. Who was said to have commit suicide after the poor treatment he received after being revealed as a homosexual.
But that has been bough into question today after prof. jack Copeland questioned the evidence of the 1954 inquest into Turing's death. Copeland feel in today's terms the evidence would not be sufficient to conclude that it was a suicide. it's well know that Turing die of cyanide poisoning, his housekeeper found him perished in his bed with a half eaten apple by his bedside, he was aged just 41.
It is said Turing was haunted by the story of the poisonous apple from snow white and the seven dwarfs,and resorted to the same means to kill himself because of the suffering and ill treatment he faced because he was gay. However Copeland thinks this can not be necessarily true as Turing had an apple every night and it was very unlike him not to finish it, so it somewhat rules out that it was deliberate, the police never even tested the apple of cyanide traces. Copeland also stressed the point that if the case where modern day then the authority's would of looked for premeditation of suicide of which there is none, in fact Turing was said to be in a very cheerful mood.
Turing also left a note of things he must do at his practice before he "killed himself", why would a man who intended to kill themselves leave a note of tasks they know they will never have the opportunity to do?
Many people have disregarded Copeland's evidence, saying that it was well know how Turing was an unpredictable man, his mood could greatly vary from one day to the next. They also state how Turing had very little reason to live, he faced losing his job a Manchester university where he had access to one of the world only computers and the possibility of a jail sentence so he turned to the only alternative of being "chemically castrated" with was said to make gay men straight.
Copeland replies with yet more evidence of a man not on the verge of suicide but despite his hardships was in a rather good mood, regularly joking about events in his life that many today would find shocking. After being found to of been having a relationship with a mister Kjell Turing had written "for sheer incident, it rivaled the Arnold [gross-indecency] story" and on the day of his try was stated as saying, "The day of the trial was by no means disagreeable.Whilst in custody with the other criminals, I had a very agreeable sense of irresponsibility, rather like being back at school." Turing's neighbour had described how he had thrown "such a jolly [tea] party" for her and her son four days before he died.
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Copeland feels that Turing did not in fact kill himself but rather died for an accident. Turing used cyanide for many of his experience which took place in what he referred to as "the nightmare room" Turning was well know for being somewhat careless, he had severely electrocuted himself by accident in the past. Copeland feels perhaps Turing put his apple down in a puddle of cyanide by mistake or even more likely would be that Turing died for cyanide inhalation rather then ingestion, which would explain why the cyanide was found spread through out his body's organs which is common which in cyanide inhalation cases.
Copeland concluded by mentioning how he did not want to rule anything out, even the possibility of foal play. Copeland added "The exact circumstances of Turing's death will probably always be unclear."
I agree with Copeland in that turnings death will always be mysterious, I think maybe however we should concentrate less on his death and rather more on his life, for he truly was a man ahead of his time, not just scientifically but also socially. Turning to me, will always be someone I hold in high regard, no matter how he died.
Leave a comment below telling us what you think.
