[WillowTheWhisp]

Originally Posted by Tealeaf

Turing did not leave a suicide note; although the cause of death was an apple contaminated with arsenic, the motive behind his death remains a mystery and one theory is that he was dealt with by the security forces because like a lot of gays he was a major security risk (think Burgess, Maclean, Blunt). He had also been convicted of a crime 2 years previously.

Wasn't the "crime" he was convicted of that of being homosexual and having a personal relationship with another man? The irony of that is that it would not be a crime today nor should it be. If he had been heterosexual and had a relationship with a woman would he have been regarded in the same way as a security risk? Yet many a man has been led to reveal secrets to an attractive young lady.

Apart from citing his sexuality as a security risk there was also reference to the fact that he had foreign connections (a friendship with a Norwegian gentleman I believe).

He was found to have died from cyanide poisoning and a half-eaten apple was found by his side. His mother believed that his death was an accident and that he had cyanide on his fingers and without realising it picked up the apple and began to eat it. He didn't even manage to eat the whole of the apple. There was certainly no suicide note mentioned and no reason given for why he should have committed suicide although he was bitter at the loss of his security clearance for no good reason and had said as much to one close friend. Bitterness is a long way from being suicidal and it's a bit of a slur on the man's character to assume as much when the truth remains a mystery.

There will always be speculation that he was "bumped off" and I wouldn't discount the as a mre likely possibility. The cyanide could have been added to the apple by the murderers to make it look accidental.

His contribution to the war should indeed be acknowledged and I for one admire anyone who can think out such intricate things.