The Sun. — London, England, 1856-05-27 00:00:00

lof money, and the prisoner on similar bills amounting to 12,5001. Several of these bills had been renewed, and CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT. THE RIIGELEY POISONINGS. [The following appeared in part of our impression of yesterday.] The trial of William Palmer was resumed this morning the Central Criminal Court. Intense interest was felt this morning as to the result of the trial, it being known that Lord Campbell would commense the day's proceedings by summing up the evidence, and the probability of the jury returning a verdict almost immediately following its conclusion. At a very early hour the avenues to the Court were densely crowded by persons having the necessary coloured ticket of admission in their hands, and the Court was speedily filled after the opening of the doors. Every avail able space in the Court was occupied long before their Lordships took their seats on the bench. The congregation of persons in Newgate-street, probably owing to the fineness of the weather and the near approach of the termination of the trial, was greater than on any former day, and anxious inquiries were made by many of them of persons who left the Court, " How is it going with him ?" &c. Their lordships, Lord Chief Justice Campbell, Mr. Jus tice Cresswell, and Mr. Baron Alderson took their seats on the bench precisely at ten o'clock, accompanied by the Recorder, Deputy-Recorder, and several of the aldermen. The Earl of Derby and the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone were also on the bench. On their lordships taking their seats, the prisoner ap peared in the dock and walked to the bar dressed as on each former occasion, in black with black kid gloves on. He keeps up in appearance remarkably well considering the immense amount of anxiety he must feel, and the ex citement it must be to him from the protracted nature of the proceedings necessarily long from the circumstances connected with the case, and the importance of the result of the trial to the prisoner. He stood the whole of the day, and for the greater portion of it leaning on the bar with his right hand in front of his mouth, and paid the greatest attention to Lord Campbell's summing up— scarcely taking his eyes off his lordship during the whole of the time it occupied. Before Lord Campbell commenced the summing up Mr. Sergeant Shee applied to be allowed to put in an accept ance for 5001., drawn by Palmer and accepted by Copk, dated September, 1855, which was granted. His Lordship immediately after proceeded to charge the jury, but in a very low tone of voice, which, unfortunately, is now beceme a habit with him, and more particularly in proportion to the great importance of the case under con sideration. In many instances daring his summing up he was quite inaudible, and it was with difficulty he could be heard at all. He commenced by saying :—Gentlemen of the Jury,—We have at length arrived at that stage in this solemn inquiry when it is the duty of the judge who presides to explain to you the nature of the charge brought against the prisoner at the bar, and to direct your attention to the evidence upon which you are to return your verdict ; and I begin by conjuring you to banish from your minds all that you have heard relative to the charge before entering that box. Strong prejudice has, no doubt, prevailed in London and elsewhere against the prisoner at the bar, and particularly in the county of Stafford, where the offence for which he has to answer was alleged to have been committed, and which was so strong that the Court of Queen's Bench made an order, at the request of the prisoner's counsel, for the removal of the trial from that county to the Central Criminal Court, in accord ance with the terms of an act of Parliament especially passed to attain that object. I feel, however, that on this occasion the prisoner will have a fair and impartial trial ; and whilst I warn you against being improperly in fluenced by what you have heard elsewhere, I must also warn you against being improperly in fluenced against the prisoner by the evidence that has been laid before you implicating the prisoner in bill trans actions of a discreditable charaeter, and allowed to be introduced into the case to raise the probability of motive on the part of the person accused for the commission of the crime with which he stands charged. It affords me great satisfaction to know that the case has been fully laid before you. Everything has been clone that can he accomplished for the purpose of assisting you in coming to a right conclusion. The prosecution has been taken np by the Government of the country, so that justice might be effectually administered, and the Attorney-General, the first law officer of the Crown, has conducted the prosecu tion as a minister of justice. Again, I am much pleased to think that the prisoner appears to have ample means of preparing and conducting his defence. Evidence with re gard to the scientific part of the case has been very pro perly brought from all parts of the kingdom, and the pri soner has had the advantage of having his case conducted by one of the most distinguished advocates at the English bar, and I must Strongly recommend you to attend to everything that has been so eloquently, and im passively urged by him on the part of the prisoner, with the exception of his own private personal opinion of the innocence of the prisoner. That by no means ought to influence your minds in arriving at a just conclu sion, if you are to try the prisoner upon the evidence and not by the opinion of the learned counsel en gaged on either side. It- would have been better if the expression of such an opinion by the learned coun sel for the prisoner been had abstained from, and it would be a lamentable and unfortunate thing for the ends of justice if permitted. A. prisoner's plea of not guilty goes for nothing, and ought not to influence a jury, and if fol lowed out must, as I have already said, lead to disastrous consequences. An advocate might be mistaken as to the innocence or guilt of his client, and he ought to rest his arguments of innocence on the facts of the case as pre. seated in evidence, and not rely on a verdict of not guilty from an expression of his own opinion to that effect. I will now in a few words state to you the allegations on one side and on the other. On the part of the prosecution it is alleged that the deceased John Par sons Cook was first tampered with by antimony, and that he was afterwards killed by strychnia; that his symp toms were those of poisoning by strychnia, and that the prisoner having a motive for making away with him, took an opportunity of administering strychnia to him, and that the circumstances were so suspicious as to fall on him and no one else; that within a few days of the deceased's death, and when the supposed poison was administered to him, he actually purchased a quantity of strychnia, an d that the prisoner's conduit, previous to the death of John Parsons Cook !and subsequently, was not dictated from feeling's of humanity towards the deceased, bat for the purpose of being the better able to accomplish his purpose. On the other side it was contended, and you are to say whether or not it was so, that the prisoner's conduct before thedeceased's death was dictated purely by motives of hu manity towards him —that he had no interest, in the death of the deceased, but on the contrary, that he had the greatest interest in his lire. Further, it was said that Cook did not die by strychnia, but from natural disease, and that the symptoms preceding death were those of death from natural causes, and that no part of the evidence that has been given shows anything at all consistent with death from poisoning by strychnia. It is for you, however, to deeide whether the allegations on one side or the other are proved, and a most anxious task is imposed on you thereby, for if you fined the prisoner guilty he will have to expiate his crime on the scaffold. It is of the greatest importance, not only to him but also to society, that you should thoroughly investigate the charge, for if persons so acting are to escape with impunity, there would be no safety to life, and society, in its present state, would be hardly able to • exist. Unless you feel fully convinced that the proof of the prisoner's guilt is beyond all doubt, it is your bounden duty to acquit him, but in eases of this kind you cannot expect that witnesses should be called who saw the deadly ' poison administered by the poisoner openly to the world. Evidence has been called ne cessarily of a circumstantial character tending to the con clusion of the guilt of the prisoner; but before you return that verdict you must be satisfied Writ the evidence fully justifies you in arriving at that conc:usion. With respect to the prisoner's Motive, it is of great importance that you should consider whether there was a motive or not suffi ciently strong enough to wish him to get rid of the deceased, for in either C 390 it was of the greatest importance. A t the same time you must bear in mind that the experience of ourcriminal courts shows that acts of this kind have limm Perpetrated from very slight motives indeed, and to gain a small Pecuniary advantage. It appears to me that the question you will have to consider is this—whether the s y m ptoms Presented by Cook's death are consistent with death by strychnine for, if not, and you believe that death arose from natural causes, the prisoner is at once entitled to your • ' verdict, and oug h t to have it • but if the symptom s are consistent with ; P' -s lning by strychnine, then on have another important question toanswer y— whether the evidence which has been a d duced is sufficient to c onv i nce you that the poison was administered by the prisoner. In cases of this sort the e v id ence is naturally and generally confined to medical and moral evidence. The medical evidence being that of the scientific men , and the mor a l ev id enc e the circumstantial facts conneet,l with the case; and it is impossible to separate their because it is only by a comparison of the two that a verdict' ought to be returned. In this case you will look to the medical evidence, and say whether the deceased (lid di e by strychnia ; and to the moral evidence, and say whether the prisoner not only had the opportunity, but did actually avail himself of that opportunity, and administered the poison to the deceased. With these preliminary obser vations I will now proceed to read over the evidence which has been given , and I mist earnestly hope that yon will not be led away in the slightest degree by any observa tions that I might make, but that you will b e gu id e d en tirely by the evidence. 'Ma verdict must be yours, and in Your hands must this case rest. I shall begin reading the evidence at that part of the case as opened by the At torney-General, respecting any motive the prisoner might have had to induce him or to wish for the getting rid of the deceased,and which, if it existed, must have arisen out of certain pecuniary transactions the nature of which has been laid before you. It appears that the prisoner bor rowed large sums of money upon bills of exchange which he drew, and which purported to be accepted by his mother, one of which was in the hands of a gentleman named Padwick. It was fer 20001„ 1,0:;01. had been paid, and there was 1 , 0 0)l. remai n i ng due on it. A soli citor of the name of Pratt hod also advanced large 8111323 there were two or three kr 2,0001.. each due on tho 25th of October, 1855, and the other on 27th October, 1855. One-half of 5001., and another of 1,0001. was over due, and held over from month to month. Besides these large sums advanced by Pratt to Palmer, he had con tracted very large debts with an attorney of Birmingham, and 10,0001. was due to him on them. The prisoner ex pected to pay the bills owing to Pratt by the proceeds of a policy of insurance effected on his brother Walter's life. The law of this country wisely forbids the insurance of a man's life by another person who has no interest in it ; but the law, unfortunately, does not prevent a man who insures his life from transferring'. to another person. The policy on Walter Palmer's life was assigned by him to the prisoner, and he having died, it was expected that the proceeds of that policy, which was for 13,0001., would be the means of enabling the prisoner to take up the accept ances held by Pratt ; but the insurance office refused to pay the amount on the policy, and hence arose the most pressing demands on the prisoner. Pratt urged imme diate payment, and unless that were complied with, in all human probability those forgeries which had been so long hid would be discovered and brought to light. His lordship then proceeded to read the evidence of Mr. Espin, Mr. Padwick's solicitor, relative to the bill for 2,0601. and the two letters written by Palmer in reference to it ; one dated the 12th November, which was on the Monday of the weak of .the Shrewsbury races, and the other dated the 25th, the Saturday after the death of Cook.' Mr. Espin, in his evidence, said—l produce a bill for 2,0001., which was placed in my hands by that gentleman to enforce payment from the prisoner's mother. The bill was due three months after date, but 1,0001. hid been paid off, and the bill was placed in my hands on the 12th of December to enforce the payment of the remainder. I received two letters from the prisoner; one contained a cheque for 1,0001., with a request that it might not, be presented till the 28th of November ; and the other related to a sum of money, 3501., about which there was some mistake about the remittance, and in which Palmer stated he would shortly be in London. I produce a cheque for 1,000/., inclosed in the above letter of the 12th, dated the 28th. I presented it on that day and payment was, refused. I also produce a cheque for 6001., dated Bth December, in prisoner's handwriting, pay able to Mr. Padwick or bearer, which was also dis honoured. It was forwarded in consequence of the cheque of 1,0001. having been dishonoured. 1,0001. still remains due on the 2,0001. bill. Execution was issued against the 'person. The prisoner was taken on the ea sa. This was strong evidence to show the state of the prisoner's circum stances at the time, and the pressure that was being put on him. We then come to the evidence of Mr. Pratt, which was most important for their con sideration. Mr. Thomas Pratt said—"l ate a solicitor, practising in King-street, Mayfair. lam acquainted with the 'prisoner. It commenced in Nov., 1853, when I ob tained a loan of 1,0001. for him. That was afterwards paid. In Oct., 11854, I was employed by him to make a claim on two policies, both on the death of Ann Palmer. I received 5,0001. from the Sun, and 3,0001. from the Nor wich Union s The money was applied in payment of three bills amounting to 3,500/. or 4,000/. ; 2,0001. of it was due on acceptances and loans obtained subse quently to the claims on the policies ; the remaining 1,5001. was not so applied. In April, 1355, ho. applied to me for a loan of 2,000!. I obtained it on an, accept ance drawn by himself and accepted by his mother. On 20th November I and my clients held eight bills that I had discounted for Palmer. I held four of them myself. There were two others then overdue. The bills are as follows: — June 5, 1851, for three months after date, drawn by Mr. Palmer, and accepted by Sarah Palmer, for 500/., and en dorsed by him ; Aug. 2, 1854, a similar bill for 1,0001., payable three months after date; July 22,1835, for 2,0001., three months after date ; July 24, 1855, for 2,0001., three months after the date, endorsed by Palmer to Thos. Pratt (both of these becoming due in November) ; Sept. 27, 1855, for 1,000/., for three months after date ; Sept. 29, 1855, for 2,0001., for three mouths after date; Oct. 2, 1855, for 2,000/., for three mouths, indorsed by Palmer to Thos. Pratt ; and one. Oct. 12, 1855, for 2,0001., for three months after date. The whole of the bills purported to be drawn by Mr. Palmer, and accepted by Sarah Palmer, payable to the order of Palmer, and indorsed by him. The whole amounted to' 12,500/. 6,000/. had been renewed, and would become due in January; two bills were only overdue on the 20th of Nov. for 2,000/. One bill for 1,0001. and another for 50C/. was held over from month to month, as was the interest. The interest charged for discounting the bills was about 60 per cent. In August, 1855, Walter Palmer died, and I made an application to the Prince of Wales office for 13,000 L, the amount of the policy. Sarah Palmer, as the acceptor of these bills, had frequently beeti written to at Psugeley, but no replies had been received." And there was every reason to believe that none of these letters reached Sarah Palmer, the mother, probably from some understanding between Palmer and the Rugeley postmaster, that they should not be delivered to her. His lordship then read the lengthened correspondence that had passed between Palmer and Pratt relative to these bills, and the non-payment of the amount on the policy of insurance on Walter Palmer's life by the Prince of Wales Insurance Company, all tending to show the pecuniary pressure the prisoner was labouring under at the time, which was near the period of Cook's death, and the probability there was of the forgeries on the mo ther being known if the prisoner was unable to meet them. At the conclusion of the reading of this correspondence, the learned judge proceeded to say, that having read the letters in which Cook was not concerned, he would now read some in which ho was. The letters concerning the raising of money for Cook, which letters were directed by Palmer to be sent to him at the post-office, Doncaster, were then read. In cross-examination the witness Pratt said Cook was represented by Palmer to him as a person of re spectability, and on writing to him at Luttersvorth re specting a bill for 5001., which had not been paid, Cook came up from Luttorworth and paid the amount himself. After referring to other parts of the evidence, ho now came to that of one of the witnesses, a butcher, residing at Rugeley, in which a conversation took place concerning the raising of a sum of 251. On the 9th of November the prisoner had only a balance of 9/. at his bankers; and it certainly did appear that having to meet a cheque for 1,0001., due on the 28th, and nothing to meet it with, he was in a very desperate state. On the 21st of November the Messrs. Weatherby received a letter from Palmer, en closing an order for 300/., and asking them to send him a cheque for the amount for Cook, who, he represented, was ill of bilious attack. On the 22d he again writes to Messrs. Weatherby, directing them to send cheques to Eerwacker and Pratt. On the 23d Mr. Weatherby wrote to Palmer, telling hinethat there were not funds enough to meet it with, and therefore they could not comply with the request of Palmer; therefore his cheque had been sent to Wea therby, and returned by him to Palmer. Mr. 'Weatherby received a letter on the 24th from Palmer ordering them not to part with any money they had or might have be longing to John Parsons Cook. The cheque alluded to had not been produced. They also had the evidence of Butler to show that the prisoner, previous to the Shrews bury races, was short of money ; and if he (the prisoner) had no funds at his oontrol, how was it possible for him to have bought Polestar, whose value, after winning the Shrewsbury race, was estimated by the witness Butler at 700 guineas ? and the mare was afterwards sold at Tatter sall's for 750 guineas. A document had also been spoken of, to which the late postmaster Cheshire was asked to sign his name. Why was not that produced ? The wit ness Burgett stated that the whole of the papers of the prisoner were taken possession of, and on examination neither that paper nor the order that purported to be signed by Cook, and which the Messrs. Weatherby proved was returned to Palmer, could be found amongst those papers. These papers, after they had been examined by the soliei tor, had been sent to his brother, Mr. G. Palmer, yet they had not been discovered. Burgen stated that he had care fully searched for the papers, and he could not find either of them. These papers ought to have been produced. He would now proceed to the circumstances that took place at Shrewsbury, and the jury would have to draw their own conclusions. The first witness called was Fisher, who stated that he was a wine merchant, and knew Cook, and saw him at the last Shrewsbury races, when Polestar won. Cook seemed well on that day. On the evening of Wednesday he said he stopped at the Rainbow, where Palmer and Cook were stopping, and now com menced the tampering with Cook. Cook had some brandy and water, and he asked Palmer to have some, but he said he should not until he had drunk his. Cook did so, and immediately after he said there was something in it. The glass was handed to Reid and Fisher, and the latter said there was a strong scent. In ten minutes after taking this brandy Cook left the room and was taken ill ' • and Fisher deposed that on Cook coining to hi s room ho told him he had been sick, and that he received from him about 700/. to take care of. The next morning Palmer said to Fisher, "Cook says I have been nutting something in his brandy, but he was d— drunk." It was important to recollect the evidence on this point. Fisher had always been in the habit of settling Cook's debts, and he also said he saw oti the Shrewsbury race course Cook's betting-hook; and it was an extraordinary circumstance that, as a large sum of money had bean won by Cook, the betting-book could not be found. The learned judge then went through the other part of Fisher's evidence, and came to that given by Jones, He deposed to hearing the deceased make the re 'ark a b out the brandy and water. Gibson, the assistant 'e a Rurgeou in Rugeley, said he was sent for, and when he arrived he found Cook in a very bad condi ttihoen, evidence se e n f t hire some pills and a draueht • and evidence on that the witness tn e e f s s the Brooksease which t'enliaisthe' related Shrewsbury. This witness si!tedthat . she saw the prisoner with a glass in hand she also stated that sh e 8 sh a k ing the contents of it rohnd ; aZnation, that a great ineeenadirinohgsseiturehold it up to the light, l a n n a d ny sh o e f t st p a e t:: l , e Shrewsbury races were be ee tio r r:tr: ld w t a i s ta tt evidencee whieh ia taken ill. The next point to of Elizabeth Mills before the th e importance of may the more aesere gave in your presence. That y ou competent for the prisoner's counsel to require that the rately estimate depositions shall be read. What say you, brother Shea permissiOn, we desire i S r e e rg to ea h n a t v S e h t e l e i;m -Wr ie j "1 11 1 Lord Campbell—Then let them be read by all means. The Cl er k o f Arraigns then read the depositions of Eli zabeth Mills as taken before the coroner. Lord Campbell--You have now heard the deposition s those read, and you will decide for yourselves whether her state mentsis before the coroner are not substantially the acme as thois3 Which she made before you in the course of her er• amination. You will have to determine whether there is any material discrepancy between them. Her own explana - tion of her omission to state before the coroner that she was sick after partaking of the broth prepared for Cook is that she was not asked the question ; out that she was sick , the evidence of another witness goes distinctly to prove . He (the Lord Chief Justice) did not think there was the slightestground to supposethat this witness had been bribed to come forward to give her evidence. She also stated she had seen Mr. Gardner two or three times, but he was a highly respectable gentleman, and it could not be supposed that he would attempt in any way to prejudice the witness, or give her directions as to the evidence she was to give. 'The evidence of the witness Elizebeth Mills, as given be fore the coroner, was then read by Mr. Straight, the clerk of the court, which differed only from that given before this court by the omission to state upon that occasion that the broth had made her sick. The jury had hoard the ex plauatiou which she had given, and it was for them to determine whether they thought her evidence was not to be believed in consequence of that omission, particularly as they found her evidence corroborated by the statemeets of her fellow-servants. His lordship then went through the evidence of Lydia Barnes and Sarah B ond, contending that they entirely bore out the truth of what she said. Having gone through this part of the evidence the court adjourned. On the re-assembling of the Court, his lordship pro ceeded with the evidence of Mr. Jones, the surgeon, of Lutterworth, upon that portion relating to the consulta tion about the medicine which Cook was to take, and the proposal that Dr. Bamford should prescribe for the de ceased, and also that relating to the missing betting-book. His lordship havin g gone through his notes of that evi dence directed the evidence given by Dr. Jones, as given by him before the coroner, to be read, and said that he did not think there was anything differ ing from what he had stated in this court which could lead them to think ho was not the witness of sincerity and truth. His lordship then went into the evidence of New ton, the assistant to Dr. Salt, and said the jury would have to consider the demeanour of the prisoner when he was purchasing the strychnine amongst other drugs, at Hawkins' shop, and his conduct upon seeing Newton. They then came to the interview, upon the 25tli of Nov., with Newton, about the amount of strychnine to kill a dog, and the effect it would have upon the stomach. NEW ton's evidence before the coroner was then put in and read, and his lordship said it was for them to consider whether, from that conversation which he made, they were to think ho had wilfully told a wicked lie. He was not shown to have any to the prisoner ; and he did not see that he could have any motive for making the additional state ment which he had done. He then went through the evidence of Roberts, the assistant to Hawkins. The cross examination had not attempted to deny that evidence. This brought the prisoner into the possession of the strychnia, which they would couple with the circum stances and symptoms of Cook's death. The learned counsel had not favoured them with any explanation or opinion or given anything as to what had become of the' strychnia, or what had been done with it, and if they came to the conclusion that the death of Cook was caused by tetanus from strychnia ho should be shrink ingfrom his duty, in the high posi'ion which he held, if he did not tell them that was a very strong fact established by the prosecution which had not been in any way an swered. His lordship then went through the evidence of Mr. Stevens, whose conduct he (his lordship) thought was per fectly justifiable, and did not merit that violent attack which the learned Sergeant had made upon him. He had strong suspicions, and the deceased was his stepson, and he hid perfect grounds for acting in the manner in which he did. His lordship then went through the statement of the woman who laid the body out, and that of Dr. Harland, and his interview with the prisoner previouly to the post mortem examination, and the post mortem examination was put in and read. It was signed by Dr. Harland, Dr. Bamford, and Mr. Devonshire. Re verting to the evidence of the pushing at the post mortem examination, and the jar being removed and found near where Palmer was, mil then found with , ; the bladder cut this, of itself, was not much, but when it was taken into consideration with prisoner's remarks and sttbsdquent conduct, it seemed to indicate an intention upon the part of the prisoner to upset the jar and destroy its contents. After reviewing the evidence relating to the post mortem examination, and after going through the evi dence of Boycott and the post boy, his lordship drew the attention of the jury most especially to the offer of 101. to upset the post chaise, and said it was for them to consider in a case of circumstantial evidence the conduct of the accused, and whether it was consistent with innocence or guilt, and it was for them to consider whether Mr. Ste vens had so provoked Paltrier that they could take the view which the learned counsel did of the matter, that Palmer only meant to upset Mr. Stevens, and not to destroy the contents of the jar. The jar was men tioned at that interview, and it would be for them to say whether such conduct was innocent of the design to de stroy the jar and its contents, and so destroy the chance of their being evidence against him. He then came to his conduct with Cheshire, the postmaster, in getting him to be a party to the assignment of Cook's property; that was evidence of fraud and forgery, but ought net to preju dice the case. Ho then came to the prisoner's getting hold of the letter containing the report of Dr. Taylor to Mr. Gardner, and, referring to prisoner's conduct and that of the coroner, said he disapproved in the strongest man ner of the coroner in taking presents from the prisoner. As far as the letter to the coroner was concerned, he asked them to consider it most carefully. The prisoner might be innocent, but they must consider, if that accorded with innocence, it was • tampering with the coroner, and, to his mine, suggesting to the coroner the ver dict which should be arrived at. The letter was, to state to the coroner, that there had not been any poison found, and that the verdict would be a natural death. With regard to the book found at the prisoner's house, he begged the jury not to attach any importance whatever to it, as it was used by the prisoner in his studies. The Lord Chief Justice then called the at tention of the jury to the evidence of the witness Bates, and particularly to that portion of it in which the prisoner had sent him with a letter to Mr. Ward, the coroner, and at the same time told him not to let any one see him de liver it. He then proceeded to refer to the medical testi mony, and he said the jury would have upon that testi mony to form a judgment upon the scientific evidence, how far the disease of which Mr. Cook died was natural, or whether it was the result of poison. Mr. Curling, the surgeon to the London Hospital, was the first witness, and he described the symptoms of the two diseases known as traumatic and idiopathic tetanus, and expressed his opinion that the symptoms exhibited by the deceased were not consistent with either the traumatic or idiopathic form of the disease. The next witness was Dr. Todd, and his evidence was to the same effect. [Dr. Bamford' deposi tions before the coroner were then road bylfr.Straight, the deputy-clerk of Arraigns.] His lordship then called the attention of the jary to the viva voce examination of Dr. Bamford, and to the fact of his having stated that Cook contradicted the statement made by the prisoner as to hi, having drunk too much champagne at the dinner at Pal mer's, and to this being the cause of his illness, and that he stated he had only drunk two glasses. Ho also ' called their attention to the fact of the ptisoner havine ' taken the medicine from Dr Bamford's surgery on the Tuesday night. This was most important evidence. The prisoner saw the pills made up, and had them in hie possession, and most certainly had the opportunity of changing them. 'Whether he did so or not was for their consideration. As to this gentleman hating signed a certificate that the death was from apoplexy, it did not appsar that there was may bad faith on his part, and it seemed to bo agreed on • all heti& that he was mistaken in ascribing the death to apoplexy. Dr. Todd stated distinctly on his cross-exa mination that the symptoms exhibited by Mr. Cook cer tainly did not resemble those of either traumatic or idiopathic tetanus, but they did correspond iu every respect with those of tetanus from the poison of strychnine. The next witness was one whose high charac ter for scientific knowledge rendered his opinion of very ereat importa.rce in the inquiry—he meant - Sir Benjamin Brodie. That gentleman concurred with the other medical witnesses as to the symptoms in Mr. Cook's case being those of tetanus from strychnine, and not from any natu ral cause, and the earliest period he ever heard. of death arising from natural tetanus was Li hours, and ho ex pressed an opinion that it Was very probable that in that case some of the earlier symptoms had been overlooked. They had here the solemn evidence of this distinguished witness that he knew of no natural disease that would ac coint for the symptoms exhibited by the deceased in this case, and the jury, if they gave effect to this testimony, would then have to consider to what other cause the death might fairly be assigned. Dr. Daniel, the next witnesQ, entirely concurred in the 'opinion expressed by Sir B. Brodie, and he also expressed an opinion that C mk's symp toms were not such as would arise ether from tetanus or l r a e s f ot ei ba e em .l he t ac o i l e u p ri answer .S e o l s l y y and t l o l a li e e g L x z e t , e s e , t ' a i . °int:de made nthe: gentleman f w o a f s t t h l! that he had never heard of syphilis, either in its primary or secondary symptoms, producing tetanus. The next witness was Dr. Cot bett, the physician of the Glasgow In -Brmary, and Ins evidence went to show the symptoms that were exhibited in the case of Agnes Sonnet, and which lae.s one of undoubted poisoning by strychnine, and the jury would judge whether or not they were similar to those spoken to in the case of Mr. Cook. The next portion of the evidence referred to the Rowsey case, where the lady named Sergeants in Smythe was accidentally poisoned by strychnine administered by mistake in her medicine. A similar case at Leeds was then brought forward. That was also ate undoubted case of death from strychnia, and the jury would have to consider in this case also whether the symptoms spoken to did or did net resemble those of Mr. Cook. The next witness, Dr. Morley, was [the medical gentleman who had attended upon the pa tient in this case, and he most particularly c•e• scribed the symptoms, and he also, stated that the tests that were made use of after the post mortem examination produced the colours which denoted the pre sence of strychnia. 'With regard to the presence of strych nia, being discovered, this gentleman expressed an opinion that where the minimum dose to destroy life was admini stered, it was probable that it might not be discovered in the body of the person or animal killed by poison. The question as to the decomposition of strychnia in the blood appeared to be a vexed one among the most eminent texi cologists, and the principal point for their consideration was whether it was proved to their satisfaction that in any case where the death was clearly the result of strychnia that no trace of the poison was afterwards discovered. His lordship next called the attention of the jury to the evi dence given by Dr. Taylor. Settle portion of the evidence given by this gentleman was most important. It was re lied upon for the prisoner that there was no strychnia found in the body of the deceased upon the analysis by Dr. Tay lor and Dr. Rees, bet according to the evidence of these gentlemen in two cases at least where death wasundoubt edly the result of strychnia, they could net by all the skill they possessed, discover the presence of strychnia in the body of the animal after death. Whatever might have been the value of the different theories that had been pro pounded upon the subject, it was perfectly clear upon the evidence that in two cases at least where poison had been I administered to the animal, and death wear the result, strychnia was not discovered in the bodies after death. His lordship then called the attention of the jury to the fact of the discovery of antimony in the liver, spleen, and blood of the deceased, and to the evidence of Dr. Taylor that this antimony had in all probability been administered very shortly before the death of the deceased, and also to his opinion that if it was administered in any consider able quantity at one time it might have the effect of causing a constricting sensation in the throat similar to that de scribed by Cook on the night of his illness at Shrewsiat - y. His lordship then called the attention of the jury to the letter written by Dr. Taylor to Mr. Gardner, the solicitor at, Rngeley, and which it will be remembered was opened by thepostmaster Cheshire, and the contents communicated to the prisoner, and he reminded the jury that at this time neither Dr. Taylor nor Dr. Rees were acquainted with the symptoms that had been exhibited by the deceased, but they wore clearly of opinion that antimony existed iu the body ; anti, according to their testimony, antimony in con • United doses would be very likely to cause deat'l. With regard to the letter written by Dr. Taylor to the Lancet, he thought it would have been better if that letter had not bull written ; bat it was for the jn:y to say whether the wr iting of that letter in any way detracted from the credit 1 that was due to his testimony. Also with-regard to the latter, or article, in the Illustrated Paper, he was of opi nion that it would be better if it had not been written, but the jury would judge if it affected his credit. It ap peared that Dr. Taylor consented to the publication of a portion of the article, but he struck out everything that related to tho Rugeley cases. He should not comment on the evidence of Dr. Taylor, because its importance was ap parent—he proved the existence of antimony in the body of the deceased, and also that no strychnine was discovered after death in the bodies of certain animals that had un doubtedly been killed by that poison. Dr. Ree; was the next witness. He confirmed the evidence of Dr. Taylor, and proved distinctly that in two out of five cases when the animals were destroyed by strychnia, no poison could afterwards be discovered. Upon this gentleman there was not even the imputation of having sent an indirect letter to the Lancet, or having any indirect interview whatever with the editor of a newspaper, and that gentleman spoke most distinctly to the important facts to which he had referred. The jury would judge, from all the facts, whether anti mony was not administered at Shrewsbury, and again at Rugeley, and although antimony was not the cause of the death, yet it was evidently a most important incident of the charge against the prisoner, and of the evidence by which it was sought to be supported. Professor Brand also confirmed the evidence as to the discovery of antimony. The next witness was Professor Christison, a man of the greatest eminence and skill in his profession, and he cor roborated, in all the material points, the other medical tes timony. With regard to the point of the interval that elapsed between the administration of the poison and its effects becoming apparent, there was the important evi dence that if the poison had been mixed up with any resinous or insoluble material, its action would be very much retarded, and the symptoms would not come on so quickly, and Professor Christison also stated his opinion that there was no actual disease to which the symptoms exhibited by Mr. Cook could be referred. His lordship then directed the attention of the jury to the evidence of Dr. Jackson, and thus concluded the evidence for the pro secution. The Ccurt was then, it being 8 o'clock, adjourned until 10 to-morrow morning, when the Lord Chief Justic3 will resume his summing up with the evidence for the defence. PALMER, LAST NIGHT. Extraordinary as it may appear, after the summing up of Lord Campbell, so clearly against him, and wish a full con viction of its terrible importance and effect, the spirit of ham Palmer remains unaffected and his courage as undauuted as before. He shows no wincing or faltering in his bearing, and met his brother George and his solicitor, Mr. John Smith, of Bir mingham (not Jeremiah Smith, of Rugeley) with the same firmness and unblenclied look. To his brother, who was vie'• bly affected and shed tears on seeing him, William Palmer spoke cheeringly and said, " Don't take on, George ! There is a God above us that will stand between me and harm. I am innocent of the crime imputed to me. Let that be a con solation to you, my mother, and my boy. Act upon my word ; I have never deceived you yet ; and, however guilty I have; been i;s other things, to destroy life has never entered my head.''' He then tapped his brother on the.shonlder and wont on —" May yOu sleep as sound as I do. I have had a good tea, with half a pound of steak. May you have as good a night's rest as I shall. Tell my mother and my boy that Newton and Mills are false, and that I fear the grave as littl e as my b e d . " With that he shook hands with both. He then entered into a desultory conversation, inquiring how his boy was, s tying—" Tell Willy his father' has had many troubles, but the least of all has been the accusation of murder against him." He then said, " Good night ! God bless you! May your mind be as easy as wine is now. Don't feel low. Jerry Smith's evidence was very bad. It has left the case just where it was, and leaves Newto n 's ev id ence on l y open to the suspicion that attended it before Jerry came." He then exchanged a few words ,of parting as he bade his brother and solicitor good bye, to all appa,rance himself the least concerned of the party. METROPOLITAIV BOARD OF WORKS. A special meeting was held yesterday in the Council chamber, "to consider further the report of the engineer of the board on the sewage interception and main drain age of the districts south of the Thames, and Mr. Carp tnael's motion for approving and adopting the report of the committee of the whole board thereon." The CHAIRMAN said that before they proceeded to take up the question of the' day he wished to address a few observations to the board on a very important matter, viz., finances. They were about to discuss the propriety of carrying out the plan recommended by the eng*.neer for the southern district, and they had already received the plans for the northern district, therefore it became a question of the first importance as to the most conve nient and economical mode of raising money for carry ing out these plane. (Hear, hear.) It was a question i nvolving some little degree of difficulty, and he was now prepared to make a short statement to the board with the object of getting the question referred to the finance committee for its report. It would appear that for the drainage of the - northern and southern districts they would require an expenditure of 2,500,0001., and taking the debts of the commission in round numbers at 500,0001., the board would have to provide for sewage purposes a sum of not less than 3,000,000/. This sum would probably have to be raised within three years, and therefore the best means of raising the money and of going into the market were matters vitally affecting the ratepayers. He thought that the board would arrive at the conclusion that the borrowing powers of the board under the act would, if carried out, greatly prejudice the ratepayers. Under the act they ware em powered to borrow money, and to charge the rates, but the board were unable to charge these rates ex. cept by way of mortgage. The amount of competi tion to be expected from the district boards in the market—inasmuch as they would themselves be com pelled to b.)rrow—would give rise to difficulties which, 3.3 they axone, Would, he apprehended, raise the rate per cent. ; therefore, it appeared very desirable to be enabled to raise money on some more equitable prin. epic. The president then directed the attention of the boar I to the manner in which money was raised by bonds in Paris, and said that he thought that some ar rangement might be made by which the board could issue such bonds by registration, which latter plan would save the parties from the risk of fire and theft, and would affect the security probably one-half per, cent. If the board took the rated property over which they had juris diction they would probably be under the mark it they set it down at 12,000,0001. ; And if the amount of 3,000,0001. were spread out equally over fifty years— and he believed ho expressed the sentiments of the board when he said that they thought the cost of the very co lossal works they were about to construct should be spread over a period of fifty years—it would involve an annual payment of 130,6501., requiring a rate of 3.1. in the pound, which would produce about 150,0001. per annum. By the terms "equally over fifty year's," .he meant such a yearly payment of interest and prin.. cipal that they would have an equal annual payment at the end of the period of one-fiftieth. (Hear, hear.) In reply to a question from Mr. D'lffanger the PRE SIDENT stated that •he bad based the above calculations on an interest of 4 per cent., and that his statement had no reference to the actual working expenses, but bore solely upon the question of main drainage. Probably the result of referring these financial matters to the com mittee would be to bring forth a report recommending the application to Parliament for further borrowing powers. but he would not anticipate. lir. Deputy HARRISON then gave notice of motion, "that it be referred to the committee of finance to con eider and report to this board in what way the amount requ'red for the construction of the sewage interception works can be most economically raised, and report thereon to this board." A letter was received from the department of the Chief Commissioner of Works, stating that Mr. E. Burstall, R.N., had hsen appointed, on behalf of the Chief Cam missioner, "to test the accuracy of the tidal observations taken in 1851, and that that officer would be prepared to give Lis attention to the subject on Monday fortnight, the 9th of June next." The discussion of the plan of South London drainage was then resumed. Major Lyon brought forward an amendment in favour of the preparation of a plan of drainage with an outfall seven miles east of Woolwich. Mr. Leslie seconded the amendment. After consider able discussion the motion in favour of adopting the en gineer's plan as it stands was put to the vote ani carried by 22 to 8 votes. A deputation was appointed to wait upin the Cbief Commissioner of Works, in order to ask for his sanction to the scheme, in accordance with the provisions of the act. The court then adjourned. Sporting Intelligence. TATTERSALL'S.-MONDAY. Business on the Monday before the Derby was never so dull. The room, too, was not unusually crowded, and sc .rcely any " demonßtration" of importance was made. The favourite remained firm ; 7 to 2 was taken free!), about him, b u t th e hi g h es t o dds obtai na bl e at the close were 3to 1. At first 500 to 100 was taken about Faz zo!etto, but subsequently 11 to 2, ti to 1, and 13 to 2 were betted against him. Cannobie was decidedly second favourite; early in the afternoon 1,000 to 200 was b)oked about him ; his closing price, however, was 0 to 1, taken and offered. 7 to 1 wal taken freely about Vanderruulin, and those odds were with difficulty obtainable at the close. Fly-by-Night, who had been well supported in the City during the morning, was backed at prices ranging between 15 to 1 and 20 to 1. The investments on him were, in the aggregate, to a tolerably large sum. 1,000 to GO, and ultimately 20 to 1, were laid against Ellingtl D . Bird-in-Hand received some spirited support at 25 to 1. Puck was in brisk demand, and was rapidly advanced from 50 to 1 to 40 to 1 • the latter odds were taken about him to several hundred pounds. The other quo. tations show no important change, and do not require comment. CLOSING PRICES. THE DERBY. 3to 1 agst Wentworth (taken and offered) to 1 a,gst Cannobie (taken and offered) 13 to 2 agst Fazzoletto (taken) 7to 1 agst Vandermnlin (taken freely) 9 to 1 agst Artillery (taken and offered) 100 to 6 agst Fly by-Night (20 to 1 also laid) 21 to 1 aget Ellington (taken) 23 to 1 agst Yellow Jack 25 to 1 agst Bird-in• Hand (taken). 30 to 1 agst itogerthorpe (taken) 3 33 to 1 agst Mr. Verdant Green (taken and off.) 40 to 1 agst Puck (taken freely) 40 to 1 agst Bay Hylton (taken) 40 to 1 agst Newington (taken) 50 to l agst Astrologus (taken) 50 to 1 agst Cotswold (taken) 1000 to 15 agst Coroner 1000 to 15 agst Leamington 4 to 1 aget Scot's lot (offered) THE OAKS. 2 to 1 agst Mincepie (taken and offered) 4to 1 agst Mermaid (taken) 7 to 1 agst Kidipy g e (taken) 27, 1856; IRELAND. THE TIPPER, illY BANK—TIE DIVIDEND. DUBLIN, May 26,—Tile Freeman's Journal con tains au important announcement on the affairs of the Tipperary Bank ; namely, that the assets have already been made available for striking a dividend of 2s. in the pound, payable on and after the 17th of June ; and that simultaneously with the divi dend, the official assignee proposes to make a call on all the contributories of 401. per share, or four times the amount of the nominally paid up capital The number of shares subject to this call is 5,439, from which, however, must be deducted a great many for insolveucies, and not a little besides for debts due to shareholders, which they will be en titled to set off against the call; 'so that the amount which the call will produce cannot possibly be esti mated ; and the Freeman adds, with much proba bility, that heavy as this demand upon the share holders is, it is quite clear that it is only a first instalment. To this comfortahle intelligence the Freeman adds the subjoined particulars : The following is the amount of claims as near as can be estimated :—Deposit receipts admitted, 195,0001. ; current accounts. 49,0001.; Bank of Ireland. Bank of Scot land, and unpaid letters of credit, 23,0001 ; English drafts overdue, 105,000/. ; acceptance due 29th May, 17,0001. ; deposit, receipts, 41,5001. ; total,, 430,5001. On the other side of the account there are—Cash in bank, Government stock, and bills remaining due, 25,0001. ; bills overdue at date of official manager's appointment (a large proportion bad), 56,000/. ; bills since overdue, 12,0001. ; overd rawn accounts, incuding John Sadleir's, 350,0001. The official manager states in his affidavit that he does not believe that 5,0001. in addition to the sum already realised can be got within three months, and it is of the greatest importance that an immediate call should be made to prevent shareholder.; from being exposed to the ruinous consequences of hostile proceed ing% POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—Iay 26. THAMES.- -CHARGE OF PlRACY.— William Lewis, a seaman, and described as a native of Chatham, aged 26 years, was brought before Mr. Yardley, charged with feloniously conspiring to murder the captain and officers of the ship Stebonheath, and to piratically run away with the said ship on the high seas within the jurisdic tion of the Admiralty of England. The prisoner, a tall, dark, and resolute-looking fellow, was brought up from Gravesend on Saturday evening by Inspector R. White and Inspector Spain, of the Thames Police, and they produced and laid on the table of the court the following articles :—A bottle of laudanum, a keg containing very strong brandy, two bowie knives in sheaths, two six-barrel Colt's revolvers, loaded with powder and balls ; two single-barrelled pistols, loaded in a similar manner ; a flask of gunpowder, a bag of bul lets, five small boxes cont a i n i ng p ercuss i on - caps, a heavy and dangerous weapon called a life-preserver, three shot moulds, one large bonnie knife, a watch in a case, a purse containing a sovereign, two half-sovereigns, two half crowns, a shilling, and two sixpences, a leathtr belt, a canvas bag, a piece of wood cut from a ramrod, and a small bottle of scents. The watch in the case is a very handsome Geneva silver watch, and not such a one as a common sailor would be likely to purchase. Capt. J. Sergeant said he was the commander of the ship Stebonheatb, of London, which arrived in the Lon don Decks on Sunday morning. The prisoner was a sea man, and he shipped him in Melbourne. His crow con sisted of 36 in all, and the passengers were 22 in num ber. The Stebonheath had on board as part of her cargo 61,000 ounces of gold, value 244,000/. The prisoner conducted himself badly the day after he came on board, and claimed as his own a chest belonging to an other man, and in his (the captain's) presence. The man came on board the next day, and the prisoner was compelled to give up the chest. Ile left the port of Melbourne on the 17th of Feb., and five days afterwards was informed by a man named Whittington that the pri soner had proposed to murder the officers, put the pas sengers in confinement, and run away with the ship. He caused the prisoner to be immediately arrested and put into irons, and went forward' and took the firearms, powder, and shot, the kegof brandy, the bottle of lauda num, and other things out of the forecastle. Mi. Yartiley— e You mean the arms and other things on the table of the Court ? Capt. Sergeant —Yes, sir. The prisoner was kept in irons all the voyage, and occasionally unwed to walk the quarter-deck. Mr. Yardley—Are the statements made to you by Whittington and Balitho inserted in the official log book ? Capt. Sergeant—They are, sir. The witness then read a small Portion , of the entry, when Mr. Yardley stopped him and said he had best have an account of the transaction from the seamen to whom the alleged proposal to murder the officers and then run away with the ship was made. Thomas Wnittington, a seaman, d e p o s e d as follows— I joined the ship Stebonheath at Melbourne, The pri soner came on board the ship the same day. The day after we left Melbourne I was on the topgallant fore casCe on the look-out. The prisoner came up to me and said, " What a fine prize this ship would be fur the Russians to fall in with." I knew there was plenty of gold on board, for I helped to bring it into the ship. I laughed when the prisoner made the remark. The pri• Boner then made soma remark about the crew being cooked if the Russians took the ship, unless they fell in with a British man-of- war, and then they should be pre ced into the service. rho prisoner said he had a keg of brandy, and asked me to drink. I did drink, and the brandy was so strong that it nearly took my breath away, and I said, " This. is brandy." The prisoner said, " Yes, that is th e r i g ht sort," and then began to talk about killing the officers and seizing the ship, an& said it might be done easily. The prisoner also said, "I'll sign a contract with my heart's blood if you will stick by me." The prisoner then said, " Row would you like to fall in with a share of the gold ?", I said we should not be strong enough to take her. The prisoner said he would be the master of the cabin in five minutes, that he would do it alone, but that it was too much for one, and three would be better. He then asked me who had pistols in the forecastle. I told him I did not know, and he said we must bring them up and find out who had them, and get them all up. He then said, "You were at the Ballarat riots, and you ought not to be afraid of a pistol." I said I was no more afraid of a pistol than he was. I then leant against the side of the vessel, and the prisoner said "Don't be studying about it." When I told him I was no more afraid of a pistol than he was, he said he knew that, and that was the reason he put it to me. The prisoner told me to turn into my bunk and consider of it, as the affair must come off in the middle watch. When eight bells struck I turned into my hammock. Nothing more was said that watch. After that in the dog-watch, from six to eight, at the beginning of it, I was leaning against a water cask on deck, and the prisoner said, " What do you think of it ?" I told the prisoner he wouknot be able to manage the affair, and he had better leave it alone. - He asked me if there was any one else would join in the plot to murder the facers and seize the ship, and I told him I did not know. Ha said"he would try Jonathan, meaning Hugh Kent; and that I had no pluck, and that he bad plenty of it. He had shots flying about him while in the Peruvian service, like music." Flom eight to twelve on th e Tuesday forenoon I noticed Walter Bolitho leaning over the prisoner's bunk and in earnest conversation with him, and he was showing him something. The prisoner came again to me on the Thursday, while it was his watch on deck, and talked about the proposed mutiny to seize the ship again, and said, "Have you made up your mind ?" I said, "No, you had better leave it alone. I shall give it up." He said again I ha] no pluck. I told him it would not go any further. Oa the Friday users lug I revealed all the prisoner bad said to the chief mate. I had previously spoken to Walter B In answer to questions by Mr. Yardley, the witness said he never had any intention to join the prisoner, but he humoured him to get all he could out of him, with the determination to reveal the hlirible plot on the first opportunity. The prisoner, when he first touched upon the matter, said, " Here is a keg of brandy, and here is a bottle of stuff (laudanum), and I will give all the craw a dose, and quiet them if they won't join us." The pri soner also proposed that witness should stand at one gangway with his six-barrel revolver, and shoot every one that came from below on deck, while he (prisoner) stood at another gan g way and shot all that came up. Mr. Yardley—Did the prisoner know you had a re , volver? Whittington—Yes, sir. He said he could soon settle the captain and chief mate, and he had two revolvers and a single-barn Led pint 1, and he would then have 11 shots to spare ; and as to the passengers, after he ha settled the captain and mate quietly, he would soon do for them, as he was a dead shot. Tue prisoner also said he would shoot any passenger who interfered. The prisaner; on being asked if he had any questions to put to the witness, said—He has sworn all falsehoods. He and William Bolitho were the first to speak to me about it, to murder the officers and scuttle the ship. Mr. Yardley—l will hear your defence another time. The Prisoner bad just come from the diggings when I joined the Stehonneath. Walter Bolitho, a seaman, who also joined the Stebon heath in Melbourne, said on Feb. 18th he was looking out on the forecastle ends, and the prisoner came up and asked him if he was ever on the coast of Callao, and said he (the prisoner) was in the Peruvian erviee while the Peruvians were at war with the Chi ians. The wit ness then in a low tone related a variety of adventures which the prisoner mentioned to him, the firing upon a town, running away with a schooner, shooting senti nels, imprisonments, escapes, fights, and stealing gold. Mr.'Yardley desired the witness to state what he knew of the plot to seize the ship and kill the officers. The witness said the prisoner came to me and said, "This ship will be a fine prize for the Russians. be -- if we go home to be pressed into men of-war. There are three tons and a half of gold in this ship." The prisoner then said, "How would you like your share of the gold ?" I said " I should like it very well, but that will never come to pass." The prisoner said, "You only stick by rue. I have everything ready fur it, and I will tell you how it is to be done." At this stage of the investigation Mr. Yardley fmicl it was mearly five o'clock, and there was a good deal of business to be disposed of. The case could not be com pleted that day, but ultimately must be sent before a jury. He asked if the mats of the ship were in at tendance ? Inspector White—No, sir ; they aro busy getting the gold out of the ship, and cannot attend this day. Mr. Yardley—Very well. I cannot go further into the ea•e to•day. The prisoner is reinarido. Tire prisoner endeavoured to win over a man named Hugh Kelt t) his' horrible designs, as well as Whitting ton and ILlitho. The prisoner, who came on board, prepared to carry out his nefarious plot, told the men r that altar the officers were murdered and the crew I "doped" with lag lanum. he sleeild thrieN a'l the pas ! ser,2,,rB ~ v t.ri) ~i te the exc. pti-n .•f to e y.. i,.g wol:ien, and then sail fur the coast of Peru, where they could take the gold out of the ship, scuttle her, and send her to the bottom of the sea, with all the females on board. Diabolical as this may appear there is no doubt the prisoner would have carried out his in tentions if Whittington, Kent, and Bolitho had not proved faithful to their officers, and revealed the plot. The passengers rewarded the three sea men for their faithful conduct and inte.eritv as will appear by the following itv,ereetin - g doeu,nent, which Captain Sergeant kindly placed at the disposal of the reporter : "TO MESSRS. THOMAS WHITTINOTON, WALTER BOLITHO, AND HUGH KENT. "Ship Stebonheath, May 20, 1356. " We, the passengers of the ship Stebonheath, from Melbourne to London, have very great pleasare in expres• sing to you our best feelings of respect and gratitude for the noble spirit you evinced in coming forward so boldly and unravelling :a plot of mutiny under the following circumstances : On the 23,1 Feb. last you voluntarily came forward and gave information that one of the sailers, tempted by the great quantity of gold on board, had been trying to induce you to mutiny, take the ship, and murder all the passengers, and for a certain portion of us in ad dition a fate worse than death was contemplated. We feel the more pleasure in so doing, as it occurred when the circumstances attending the plot were of such a nature as to afford considerable hopes of its being carried out, and we congratulate you on the honest English independence which marked your behaviour, and on the principles that prompted you to the course you pursued.. The subscribed sum we have handed to the captain at your disposal, and we beg your acceptance of it, hoping that your conduct may always be characterised by the same degree of fidelity and disinterestedness which has called forth this mark of our good-will and esteem, so as to entitle you to the dis tinguished appellation of title-hearted, faithful British sailers. That this, our spontaneous and willing testimony to your merit, may prove beneficial to your future pro spects in life, is the earnest prayer and sincere wish of us the undersigned : J. A. Hay Mr. and Mrs M'lntosh and family Mr. and Mrs. M`Donald John Hart John F. G. Sykes John B. Sherring William John Greig £2O £ll5 "It was resolved unanimously by the subscribers that the above sum should be divided in the following manner, viz. : Thomas Whittington William Eolith() Hugh Kent £5O 50 15 £ll5 "WILLIAM JOHN GIIEIG, Hon. Secretary SHOCKING CASE. About five weeks ago the father and mother of a child named Ellen Barratt, residing at Apsley Guise, a village near Woburn, Beds, were committed for trial on the coroner's warrant, charged with causing the death of the child by neglect, starvation, and brutality. On Friday, in consequence of additional evidence obtained, Eliza beth Barratt, aged 29, deceased's eldest sister, was charged at the Woburn petty sessions with being acces sery to the death. The witnesses for the prosecutioa were the prisoner's sister, Charlotte Barratt, Julia Bar ratt, and Susannah Barratt. The last-named loiled about 14 years old, but was stated to be 22. The others, though aged respectively 14 and 12, did not appear more than 7. Their evidence disclosed a continuous and almost incredible series of cruelties practised by the pri soner and her parents on deceased and her sisters, who had been kept at work 14 hours a day lacernaking, with gruel, bread, and dripping, and some garden stuff, for their food when their work was finished ; but if not done they were sent to bed. without supper, and had to get up early next morning, standing naked at their work, in the cold, until they had finished it. Their breakfast was coffee "grouts" and a piece of bread two inches square. Toe prisoner had held them while the mother put sheep and cow dung in their mouths, and the children were also made to sit with t'reir bare flesh on thistles and nettles placed in their chairs. Numerous other cruelties were inflicted upon them. Deceased was kept two or three days without food. She died on Sunday, the 30th March, having been kept at work constantly up to five o'clock. on the previous evening. She had nothing to eat all day, and was sent supperlesa to bed, her mother beating her all the way up-stairs with her stays, because she asked for something to eat. She made a noise in the night, and was again beaten by her mother, and told to lie still. She then attempted to sing a hymn, and her last words were, "Lord Jesus ! let me do my work next week." Mr. Williams, a surgeon, said that deceased's body was remarkably small and undeveloped, the face idiotic, shrivelled, and monkey-like ; the stomach, which con tained about an ounce of gruel, could hardly be distin guiShed from the colithtuation of the small intestines. He attributed its small size to constant disuse. Deceased was twelve years old, but the stomach was not bigger tban that of a chid at five. Her death was attributable to over work, hard treatment, and insufficient food. Sum:mail Barra:t, when in the workhouse, nearly doubled her weight in two months. The prisoner, who denied all the statement made by her si,ters, was com• matted for trial. UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE. OXFORD, MAY 26. MATHEIfATICAL CLASS LIST.—The following class list in the school of mathematics was awarded this afternoon, viz. ;—Ciass 1. Horatiis Davey, University College ; Thomas Littleton Wheeler, Worcester College. Class 2. James Bowden, University College ; Thos. Thomas, .Jesus College. Class 3. John Gauntlett, Worcester College ; Samuel Harnerton, University College ; Abra ham Jackson, Worcester College. Class 4. R. Holcomb, Brasenose College ; John Monkhouse, Queen's College ; William Newnham, Balliol College; Albert Smith, Lin coln College ; William Smith, Pembroke College ; Robt. H. M. Warrand, Trinity College. Robert Walker, Wm. Spottiswoode, Francis Ashpitel, examiners. EARL STANHOPE'S PRIZE.—The priza of the annual value of 201., founded by the Right Hon. Earl Stanhope in June last, with a view to the full development and the continued growth and welfare of the Fchool of law and modern history, was, for the first time awarded on Saturday to Mr. Robt. Win. Henderson, Lodge's exhi bitioner, of University College, for the best essay on " The character of Lord Clarendon, first as a statesman, and secondly as an historian." {ADvERTisE3IENTI —Holloway's Pills Famous for Liver Complaints.—Captain Wedderburne, of her Ma - ,j,sty's 53d Regiment, states, in a letter to Professor Holloway, that he has great pleasure in bearing testi mony to the efficacy of his pills, having tried them dur ilia- a long residence in tropical climates. Being a great sufferer from liver complaints, he always found the greaeAt relief from Iloilo way's pills, the only efficient medicine he ever used; therefore he should lse happy at all times to satisfy say one as to the good effects they have invariably had on him.— Sold by all medicine ven dors throughout the world ; at Professor Holloway's establishments, 244, Strand, London, and 80, Maiden lane, New York ; by A. Stampa, Constantinople ; A. Guidicy, Smyrna ; and E. Muir, Malta. [ADVERTISEMENT.] —We have read wit's much pleasure Du Barry's report on the cure of Indigestion (Dyspepsia), Flatu lency, Constipation, Nervous, Bilious, and Liver Complaints, Cough, Asthma, Consumption, and Debility, without medi cine, by Du Barry's Food. The following aro a few extracts which appear to merit the attention of many:—Cure No. 47,121.—" Miss Elizabeth Jacobs, of Nazing Vicarage, Wal tham-cross, Herts ; a cure of extreme nervousness, indiges tion, gatherings, low spirits, and nervous fancies." Cure No. 45,314.—" Miss Elizabeth Yeoman, Gateacre, near Liverpool; a cure of teu years' dyspepsia and all the horrors of nervous irritability. Cure 51,415.—Oystermouth, Swansea, 24th August, 1853.—Bilious headaches of frequent occurrence, which my wife had been subject to for many years, have been removed by Du Barry's salutary Itevalenta Arabica Food.— E. J. BUTLER. Cure 51,416. Gower, near Swansea, August 21, 1853. Thirty years' dreadful suffering. from rheumatism has been removed by.Du Barry's delicious Reva lenta Arabica Food, in five weeks' time.—WILLIAM Gwrx.— Supported by testimonials from the celebrated Professors of Chemistry Dr. Andrew Ure ; Dr. Shorland ; Dr. Harvey ; Dr. Campbell ; Dr. Gattiker ; Dr. Wurzer; Dr. Ingram; Lord Stuart de Decies; the Dowager Countess of Castle stuart ; Countess of Uffington ; Major-Gen. Thomas King; and many other respectable persons, whose health has been restored by it, after all other means of cure had failed. In canisters, slbs., lls.; Lilbs., 225.; super-refined, Ilb., 6s. ; 21bs., 11s. ; Sibs., 225.; 101bs., 335. The 101bs. and 121bs. carriage free, on receipt of post-office order. Barry du Barry and Co., 77. Regent-street, Loadon; Fortnum, Mason, and Co., Purveyors to her Majesty, Piccadilly; also at 60, Gracechurch-street ; 33J and 451, Strand; 4, Cheapside,; 63, Ccrnhill ; 49, Bishops,gate-street ; 55, Char ing-eross ; 54, Upper Baker-street ; 63 and 150, Oxford street. [ADVERTISEMENT.]- EPSOII R ACES. —SIGHT AND HEARING,— SPECTACLES, POWERFUL TELESCOPES, OPERA, RACE AND PERSPECTIVE GLASSES. —blesers. S, and B. Solomous, opticians, 39, Ally ' marle-street, Piccadilly. Observe—opposite the York Hotel. By ker Majesty's Royal Letters Patent for valuable and extraordinary improvements in the most powerful and brilliant Telescopes, Camp, Racecourse, Opera, and Per. spective Glasses, to know the distances of objects viewed through them—of great importance to the army, navy, and others. These telescopes possess such extraordinary powers that some three and a-half inches, with an extra eye. piece, will show distinctly Jupiter's moons, Saturn's ring, and the double stars with the sam e t e l escope can be seen a person's countenance three miles and a half distant, and au object from 16 to 20 miles. They are of larger and all sizes, with increasing powers accordingly ; w hil e t heir vary ins; from 4 to 6 inches enable us to discover more than the above, and the Georgian, with his 6 satellites, ,?ze.—The Royal Exhibition, 1851.—Valuable, newly-invented, very small, powerful waistcoat-pocket glass,the size of a walnut, by which person can be seen and known L S miles distant ; they answer ever y purpose on the race-course, and at the opera houses, country scenery, and ships aro clearly seen at 8 to 10 miles. They are invaluable for shooting, deer-stalking, yachting, to sportsmen, gentlemen, gamekeepers, and 'tourists. Opera, race-course, camp, and perspective glasses, with svonderfu' power. Newly - constructed Spectacle Lenses of the great est transparent power. The valuable advantage derived from this invention is, that vision becoming impaired is preserved and strengthened, and very aged persons are enabled to employ their sight at the most minute occu pation-- can see with these lenses of a much less magnify. ing power—and they do not require the frequent change. to the dangerous effects of further powerful assistance. Deafness —Now Discovery.—The Organic Vibrator, an ex. traordi nary powerful, small, newly-invented instrument for deafness, entirely different from all others, to surpass any thing of the kind that has been, or probably ever san be, produced. Being o f th e same co l ou r as the skin, i s not per. copt;ble ; it enables (leaf persons to hear distinctly at church and at public assemblies; the unpleasant sensation of singing noises in the ears is entirely removed; and it affords all the assistance that possibly could be desired.-39, Albemarle street, Piccadilly. Observe—opposite the York ilotel. Corntry 11/TarT,rotc: CEIELAISFORD-MAY 23. An average supply of wheat to-day, but an unwillingness to purchase unless at lower rates, and prices are is to 2s lower. Spring corn firm at last week's prices. Wheat, white, old, per s. s. qr. 49 75 I Oats, new 48 73 Peas, red, old 47 II new 46 66 Barley 30 3ii Chevalier 33 42 f Bean Grinding 2B ;i6 Malt 71 75 Chevalier 73 77 8. 0. Per qr ....22 28 , Partridge 38 40 White 40 4 1 Boiling 4l 48 Dun 3S 34 Ls, Tick 35 37 Harrow. ticks 37 3 9 Mazagan 34 36 Ditto, n o w 33 31 COLCHESTER- MAY 24. --- A small supply of wheat, which met a good demand, at rather over last week's prices. Barley nominal. Beans and peas rather dearer. Prices to-day were as follow :—Wbeat, white, 683 to 76s ; rod, 64s to 68s; barley, 38s to 42s ; oats, 22s to 26s ; beam, Alazagan, 36s to 38s ; middle and small, 40s to 44s ; peso , white, 403 to 42s ; grey, 40s to 425. Official Statement of the Quantities of Corn, &c., receive l in the port of London, from the following ports, froul the 18th to the 24th May, both inclusive. Colchester ~ Harwich Leigh Maldon I; 1 z • W ' . ' r ' Z 1 1 0 , 650) 25 , 1 - -- 2731 1103) - KIRKCALDY-MAY 21. --- 280 578 We had fair supplies of wheat and oats, but only a few samples of barley. Sales were ready for all sorts, at the full rates of last week. Wheat. Barley. Oats. Beans. I First 7ls Od 42s 01 G 30s Od Os Od Second I Third sBs Od 35s Od I 25s Od I Os Ud COAL MAR Prim of Coal per ton at U.—MAY 2G. the close of the market. i Wallsend, &o. e. d. Bate's West Hartley 15 3 Huddle W. Hartley l5 6 Byass's West Hartley l5 Davison's West Hartley 16 C Howard's West Hartley s. °'• Haswell 18 0 Hetton lB 0 Hetton Lyons Main l6 0 Lambton 17 6 Pensher 15 6 Russell's Hetton 17 0 Stewart's. 18 0 Hartlepool Eleugh Hall l6 6 iCelloe • l7 0 South Hartlepool l7 0 Whitworth l6 0 Evenwootl 15 6 1 I Sold Netherton - 16 Longridge's Wst Hartley 15 Tanfield Moor l3 Tanfield Moor Butes 13 9 West Pelton l5 0 West Riding Hartley l5 0 Wallsend, N,.. _ Eden Riddell l5 6 Ships at market... if SEABORNE MAILS. (N signifies that the mails are sent from the General Post Of° , v the night—and M by the morning--despatch.) ')ay Wt.', =tin ', . Crow •• ost Via" COUNTRIZit. in General Post- Port due is Office, London.* Dispntche... Enizland* --••••••• Every Friday .... \Liverpool . !may 28 t im ak e er r i f e e p e( ( b b y y it u ri n t it p e a d o V I I; packet) ..........N •••• •• .- • • Liverpool ... •n AeriAa (by U. Sta:e , packet) ..........1C •• .• • • • Southampton &ustralia (via South; ampton) ..........N1 ••••• • • • • Southampton Ditto (via Marseilles) •• • •-• •••• • • Dover .. . Ditto (via Cape of Good Hope) ............N -•• Uncertsl o 13d of the month .: 'Plymouth .. 4. 4.ftlea tri ( l 7 i e a ti , t . C . . 0 . a . ..t . ) .. : 1 ,2. , 4,9, 24, et 30 of lf!•lDover .. A.1exandria..........31 4th & 20th of mon.'southamptor.: sgealtigaiiamnas :7.11: 7,. .....t, , i, i i lth ily o . f .. tb .. e . i . u . o . n . t . i . lSouthomptch: ~i l .. ....... i... „ , y, 9th of the month ..;Southameto.; June 16. !Dover .... ;Th i n i• • 9th of the mouth .. ISouthitin;=ton Buenos Ayres ----N. June 16 Cape tu Good Hope ..N Various port ,u„,,et.is Cape of Good Hope —N. Caw , de Verde —— N 9th of the month Southampton/ Ceylon (see India) Ceylon Chnnuel Isles .........N . Af on ,Wed..tkrrl3. ..............N S o uthampton!Tu.Th.gat Chili.. -.............A11id & 17 th of month 'Southampto. China •• • • !Once a month.... I May 26 , Constantinople ......N . 6 . 18 , 1 8,28,&28 ot miDover .... —; Constantinople /ith 1k 20th of mon:Southampton! Cont. of Europe M & N I Twieu daily .... • • 'Dover .., _ 'T wice Egypt (sae India) I I Franco ........ M & N Twice daily • • • • • • Dover .... ,Twicodalli Gibraltar .......... M 4, 7,17,20,27 i f In. Sow h impton Greece (see India) Greytown .. ........ i‘i 2nd & 17th of mon.,Southampton Hamburgh .. ........N ;Tuesday & Frlday;London .....! aavannah ..........mi2nd of the month I Southamptor, June I Holland .. •• ...... ~ M I Daily • . , De i l y 11.7 t 1 ( +the mo Honduras ...... .... IV , • ; nth. Southamptoo 16thomi. India (viaSonthampt.)ml4th 4G 20th of mon. Plymouth .. 4 & go 111 India (via Marseilles)Al ; 9th& 26th of mo nth ! Dover ...... , lonian Is'es (see Indla)l7, 17, & 27 of mon ;D0ver...... Ireland ........ m s y N ;Twice daily .... • .illoi; head ~. 'T•viloedalli Liab5n.............. 50 , 9 , 11 , It 27 of in•Bouthampton lit u a 26 ~,I doira ............ml9th of the month !Southampton L , ieira ............ N ;1341 a month .... Liverpool ...; Malta (see India) 1 irrtlta .......• • .....,N 2 , 1Q - &28 of mon. Dover ......... 4, % 1 3 me. Mauritius (see India) ' Mauritius .......... 2s II ith of the month! Mexico .......... m r2nd of the month.- diontliampten June I ,apie5..............1,;5th1ath25th0rm0n.M0ver ...... !goer Granada ...... No ; 21 & 17th of mouth Southampton I New Zea1anc1..........!8y private skip .. Various port. u,„ certain Papal States ........r,!sthl2th2sthohnon. Dover ...... I e,. Peninsula ... . ._ ..m Ithath27thofmon.,Elouthampton, il a 7 ti l ...... Z .!: ;.: .., 2d & 27th of mon.'6outhamptonl P,:ret Natal ..........N, 89 private shlp.• .IVarloas ports -,,„ ~_ '. Sicily ~............Nlsthlbth2sthomon,lDover ......I''''" r z " Tascany ._ . _ .. _. .I,!sthltith2sthofmon. Dover ..... Venezuela 7 . . 7 .. :. :. iv 2 d& 17th ofmouth Southampton' 111 aliimo Van Dicmon's lAnd (see l astralia) •• .• It• 00 • ' we„ „ffil e, , .. ....;i i , lid& 17th 01 Montl 'Southampton/ ,'gouthampton! When any of these dates fall on a Sunday, the malls rt. e de siuttched on the following day, with the exception of the tdia a •loatheinpton), and the Malta, both of which will be deep it; had a a p7oeeding day." LOCAL SHARE MARKETS. LIVERPOOL, MAY 26. STOOK EXCHANGE.—The market has been very brisk to-day, and prices are a shade higher than Saturday. London and North Western, 102 24• 2 Lancashire and Yorkshire, 161. F. shares, 718 — North Eastern and Berwick, 20I—South Eastern 214- - Dublin and Belf as t, 1t I— Luxembourg constituted, 8 d• —Ditto, Pref., 5 pe r cen t . B on d s, 34—Buffalo and Lake Huron,l,4 p.—Dutch Rhenish, l p.—Manchester, Shef field, and Lincolnshire, 294. MANCHESTER, MAY 26. STOCK EXCHANGE.—This market bas been doing a poor business to-day, but prices were rather higher Midlands, 78—Leeds, 914—Eastern Counties, 10i—Lon' don stock, 102/—Sheffields, BIRMINGHAM, MAY 26. STOCIC EXCHANGE.—There has been a brisk busines; to-day, and prices were a fraction higher. Midland, VE — Birmingham Old Canals 921—Oxford ,Canals, 1021'; London and North Western, 1011 —Manchester am' Shofaelds, 29i 30. CRYSTAL PALACE.—One Shilling Day, May 26.—A.d - missions ot, payment, 4,880; do. by season tickets, 465; total visitors, 5,348. A SINGULAR GATHEIINIL—The centenary of the Octagon Chapel, at Norwich, which has just been ee,le brated, presented fei`ure% of a peculiar character. rfbe chief point of interest was the assemblage from all ;fli rts of the empire and from France of the living repreee:nts tives ( f the families of the Taylors and Martineaus. Of these two families alone no less than 56 members were present. The history of the founding of the Octs4re. Chapel, the home of the Presbyterian congregation HI Norwich, has been written by the late Mr .John Taylor, and continued by the Gresham Professor of Music, ble son. The Norwich congregation may be said to h eve become of more importance after the election of Dr. J• Taylor, whose ministry at Norwich commenced in 1 0 ,733. The Octagon Chapel was commenced in 1754, the :first stone being laid by Dr. Taylor, and was opened May 12, 1756, by that minister. Various noted men have IS •ow time to time filled the position of Dr. Taylor, am ong them Mr. Robt, Alderson, who quitted it for the• I aw, and became Recorder of Norwich, of whom the pre, s ent Sir Edward Alderson, one of the Barons of the .E 1" chequer, was the eldest and most distinguished son.. Dr. Enfield was another of the ministers —among w r: hose nepils were Chief Juste Denman and the pre sent Bishop of Durham. BIRTHS. 01 A SON. • In Grosvenor-street, te Countess of Abion. On the 26th inst., at h 8, Chester- s treet, ngd Mrs. MINI ) Pleydell Bouverio. At Charlotte-terrace, Clapham -park, Mrs. Wm. Sol ord. OP A DAUGHTER. On the 25th inst., the wife of John Knowles, Esq., Moorgate-street. On the 25th inst., at Surbiton-hill, the wife of Rowley Richardson, Esq. MARRIED. On the 24th inst., at St. James's, Paddington, Count Hyppolite Victo r Al exan d er von B o th mer, to Minnie, the third daughter o f J o h n Y oung , Esq., of ifi g hbarr park. - On the 22d inst., at Marylabo ne Ch urch, Frederic k Stallibrass, Esq., o Thorp Hall, Southchurch, Essex, to Mary Anne, second daughter of the late Mr. IL prier, of Laindon, Essex. DIED. On the 26th inst., at 14, Fitzroy-square, Richard Barker, Esq., aged 65. On the 23th inst., at Thistle-grove, West Brompton, Mr. Aley, of 2, Queen's-buildings, Knightsbridge, aged 62. On the 24th inst., at Flarrow.on-the-Hill, Wm,Frager, Esq., of Skipness, aged 69 On the 24th inst., at Newark, George Hodgkineou, solicitor, aged 69. On the 21st inst., at Hyde, Isle of Wight, Thos. Wor thington, Esq., of Sharston-ball, Cheshire, aged 54. On the 24th inst., at Forest-hill, Syd en h am, Ek e , the wife of John Iliff a , Esq., of 2, Bedford-r ow , Lon :on. On the 20th i ns t., W m. J. Tasker, son of the late Win. Tasker, of 7, Idol-lane, aged 36. On the 22d inst., in London, Sir William Edward Rouse Boughton, Bart., aged 6S LONDON: Printed and Published by MURDO YOUNG of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sus Office, No. 112 Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, te the cousit7.°f Aliddlesex i , Tuesday, May 26, 1i66. P. _ whl WA COS Jun DA' Mai 33,< at 8 Stall a fii ILL form ?ate ahoy meat entit facia Char only) and 1 healt . 2,4, bight . by 8111111 cas tl TRA. (eXce After Table songs Melo( •1111 d 11. Eiler tiona Ti kt7R( ?be RTAT] TURI buildb T' eo rnm The atmiia The 'tinter The the Pa The ehelos WA] mi cort hatted, 90 .000 28,0 00 Pita The itOy A their '. te x t , COIJA 110 Yal at ito, J, J, , i _tn t he p i Vdtho Th.„, pa at ch =ever, At O f 4.2 than Quart Po and Nit _ e Aou ma Loy Meted Ai Ind r lta t i e tio u LO4 Ater / P. t 0 .8 T• 4 $• T, b. T ~.....