The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-01-15 00:00:00

CHESHIRE AIVJ) WALES.

ON Tuesday, upwards of one hundred and fifty childrel
ale('
connected with the Tranmere Ragged Schools were reg
with tea, bans, &c., at the Assembly ROoms.
DuEinrui SIIWIDE.—Thomas Weistall, an aged man, re'
siding in Price-street, Birkenhead, committed suicide on T,11;
day night, by jumping from off the roof of his house.

unfortiinete inan was affected in his mind.
NEW MAGISTRATES.—Richard Bryans, Esq., of Parlad'
near Birkenhead, and Samuel Cross Starkey, Esq., of Wren;
bury, qualified last week, at the Cheshire Quarter Sessions,
justices of the peace for the county of Chester.
e 4
FATAL ACCIDENT.—On Friday morning, a man naul
Robert Lonsdale, while working on a caisson at the nei
Graving Dock, at Birkenhead, overbalanced himself, an
falling to the ground, was instantly killed. 1
FATAL ACCIDENT FROM BURNING.—On Thursday, 3 to
named Ellen Dougherty, aged 14, who resided with her pare',,
in Camden-street, Birkenhead, expired in the hospital we
Hamilton-street, from the effects of injuries sustained on th
3rd ult., by her clothes accidentally taking fire.
CHESTER AND HOLYHEAD RAILWAY.—The traffic for the.
week ended January 6th, 1856, was as follows :—Passenger'
parcels, &c., £2,178 14s. id.; steam-boats, £249 „•„„
goods, £1,740 2s. 4d. ; total, including Carnarvon
£,4168 lls. 9d. Corresponding week last year :—Passengers'
parcels, &c., £1,694 9s. Bd. ; steam-boats, £233 Is. 10d. • god
£1,672 17s. 9d. ; total, including Cameroon traffic,' £3,
9s. 3d. Increase, £568 2s. 6d.
ltoß
BALL AT BIRKENHEAD.—The annual ball of the Haw e.
Quadrille Club was held on Wednesday, under the ialtang..,
ment of Mr. S. A.,Youlton, of the Magnetic Telegraph
piny of Liverpool. The band of Mr. Emidy was in atteo
ance, and the refreshments were supplied by Mr. Oake-5,1,
Lord-street. About one hundred persons were Peesele
Everthing passed off exceedingly well, and the company bra"
up, expressing themselves delighted with the admirable al
rangements made for their pleasure.
WOODSIDE FERRY.—The subscribers to the fund for ail'
tribution among the captains and crews of the ferry steamers
will be pleased tp learn that a sum reaching nearly £6O 11::
been collected, and that it was distributed amongst the al
(about forty) at the ferry, on Thursday, by Mr. J. H. flf,
assisted by Mr. J. M. Hannay, Mr. McGregor Laird
R. Godwin, and Mr. Reed, the manager—the men' receivll,
from 255. to 355. each, according to their rank and resla°llslf.
bility. The men expressed themselves grateful for so acceP
able a mark of approbation, and promised to endeavour to
merit a continuance of the good opinion of the public.
A WARNING TO CABMEN.—At the Birkenhead Policed.
court, on Thursday, Robert Trussle, a cabman, was suminerle,.
for being drunk and disorderly on Sunday night, for mall
an overcharge, and for using abusive language to Mr. J•
Wall. Mr. Wall engaged the defendant to drive him fro,''
Woodside Ferry to Grange-lane. On reaching their destin:
tion, the driver, who was drunk, demanded is. 4d. for his fare,'
the legal charge being only ls. Upon the complainant rd
fusing to pay the man the overcharge, he became abusive,ollo
would not allow Mr. Wall to proceed home. At length,,,i,
get rid of the drunken cabman, Mr. Wall had to give him
more than the proper fare. The defendant, who had been
previously fined, had his license revoked by the bench.
SHOOTING PIGEONS.—A farm labourer, named Bleb°
Duncan, was summoned before the Birkenhead magistrats'
on Thursday, for shooting four pigeons, the property of grt:
Richard Congreve, of Burton, near Neston, on the 2d instoll,
The defendant is in the employ of Mr. Wheelhouse, fanner;,
er
and on the day named he was seen by Mr. Congreve's galfed
keeper to fire twice at a number of pigeons which had alight
on a wheat field belonging to Mr. Wheeler. Subsequen •
the keeper found four of the birds killed amongst some tarnlF
tops in the field from which the defendant had fired. In 011
examination the keeper admitted that the pigeons were Ile,
confined to their dovecot, but could fly out and in win
hoo
hindrance. It was stated for the defence that the pigeei/
en UN
were a nuisance, and that Mr. Wheelhouse had frequ
complained of their depredations in his own fields. IP.,
bench decided that according to the act there must be a c,°";
viction, as no person had a right to shoot house pigeons.
defendant was then fined ss. and costs.

-------
AGRICULTURAL IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY.--4116
monthly meeting of this society was held on Tuesday, at tbee
Monks' Ferry Hotel; Mr. J. T. Danson, of Barnston,
chair. The secretary (Mr. N. B. Burnham), of Spital, re
sketch of the proceedings at the annual dinner held on Th„;
day, the 3rd instant, at which upwards of thirty mem,o'
attended. At this dinner a silver inkstand had been Ptf;
sented to the secretary, for his valuable services to the seve'
during a period of six years.—The chairman, after some, P.
liminary remarks, in which he expressed his-decided opinion
that no man could do justice either to himself or his lanai°
by holding land from year to year, submitted the fop: 0111
proposition for discussion :—" That a yearly tenancy of Ist"
as it reduces to the utmost possible point the interest of the
tenant in the future condition of the land, tends to discourogee,
good farming, and hence is detrimental to the landholder, t"
occupier, and the public."—Mr. Verelst held that the Pr°l3o,.
sition was so self-evident that he could not conceive 11,",..
person would be able to bring any argument against
Mills said he agreed in the proposition in the main, but
contended that there were large tracts of land, and ecclesia!
tical lands, of which leases could not be given.—Mr.
ela
Turner was of opinion that all farming lands ought to be
on lease. Leases inspired confidence, and no farmer svotl
lay out his capital unless he had a certainty that he could ho
his land.—Mr. W. Lockhart cordially agreed in the propoll
tion, urging that no great improvement could be effected 1;
land on a yearly tenancy.—Mr. J. Russell maintained OA,
land was in the hands of the proprietor for the benefit of the
public; the land of the country was public property in t
hands of individuals for the production of food for the comm,
nity at large, although that was a view he could not thu;
discuss. He then urged that a proper principle of lowitiff,
would not only be beneficial to the farmers, but would
rially increase the incomes of the landowners—After T";
chairman had answered some objections, the proposition
carried, Mr. Mills being the only dissentient. The burine'
then terminated.

THE " WELSH HEIRESS" AND Ho

HUSBAND.

At the Chester Police-court, on Friday, Mr. Henry Le"
builder, familiarly known as Mr. Green, in consequence of bi'"
recent matrimonial escapade with• the reputed "
heiress," was summoned by the overseers of St. John's par-
b
for neglecting to maintain his wife. The " lady" was present
in court, whither she had been conveyed from the workhonoe
by Mr. Frith, the master, in a cab, followed by a large eer
course of men, women, and children. All the space allotted
to the spectators was occupied, and the greatest anxiety
exhibited to see her. She was attired most respectably, 31/
appeared quite unabashed by the eager gaze which she es'
cited. Mr. Lewis seemed painfully conscious of his 'north)"
ing position. It was proved on the part of the parish offi
coo
that the woman had applied for relief, and had received °
order to go into the workhouse, which she had done.----°!,
Mayor : I fancy the only reason why she went there Waa:
bring about an arrangement for her maintenance ?--211
Ball (who appeared for the defendant) : Exactly ; at preset)
negotiations—the details of which I cannot, of course, ststa
to the court—are in progress for setting aside the marriage'
and therefore for obvious reasons we cannot originate 14
proposal for an arrangement. But even supposing such Were
not the case, the woman left her husband of her own ace°r
at Ruthin, to which place she had gone with him and .;
man named Ryder. Nothing was heard of her until a were
afterwards, when it appears she was taken into tRo
keeping and to the house of Ryder, who has since beeof
driving .a roaring trade. There cannot be much need
pecuniary assistance when, having no more than £s,_
her possession when she left her husband on the 11th
to
December, she could afford to hire a cab to take her t,
the workhouse. The mayor said the marriage was a wahe
ter of public notoriety ; there could not, therefore,
,1",0
a question at the present moment as to the right of IP,
woman to be maintained by her husband. Mr. Ball said tliw
were quite willing, under the order of the court, to make 4
allowance sufficient to prevent her from calling upon t
parish. After some conversation as to the amount to
allowed, Mr. Ball said, it had been held that where a teS
allowed his mother 3s. 6d. per week, the amount was sumo
ent to prevent her applying to the parish. The Mayor :
not quite agree with you there. If a man is in affluent el`o
cumstances, he must allow sufficient to maintain his wit ,
lady ; if a man is of the labouring class, 3s. 6d. a week worn'
perhaps, be a handsome sum to allow her. But I cannot Pei;
mit you to put down the minimum sum as a sufficielia
allowance for Mrs. Lewis. He married this lady, 3130
he knows why he married her. Although she has beee,
exhibiting herself at an alehouse, I am told he was ther
Mr. Ball : I deny that. The Mayor : However, I think 'l'6
to
may make the matter short; what are you. in a positione
allow her ? Mr. Ball : I will leavelit in the hands oft
court ; lam bound to do so. The Mayor : Then what do Ye
say to 7s. a-week ? Mr. Ball : I respectfully submit that the
would be too much. I don't see how my client can afford ,Pit;
he has four children, and be cannot think of taking t'',3
woman into his house : besides, she left him of her o'a a
accord. The Mayor :He went to look at her estate, 31134
travelled with her into Wales. (Laughter.) How can .01
have the face to say that his wife deserted him—to come 03
that excuse here, and want to give her the minimum avi,
ro
for her maintenance. If you have any hope of setting 0,
thatm marriage r
sheiage
willaside,q
r e whyuire i nott
salt. Mr. Ball: I think 7s. a-week will keep her in fie!,
the
in potfaeltvoews eal ea
linen. The Mayor : It has been said, "Let a gentleman is-or
for a shilling a day, and he will not have the gout. (A laugh.:!
giwhveatthueil woman, okneleapn,
herfor
But a shilling a day will keep a man from starving, and at,
thing more. Mr. Ball : I propose that we give her 6s. a wee,t
The Mayor : I agree to that. Mr. Frith applied for the cos 7,
including cab hire, which were allowed. Mr. Ball objected ~
cab hire. The Mayor : I think the cab was necessary for the
security of the peace. Even although there was the cab, theta
0
was a great crowd ; without it, half the police force welibe
have been required to preserve the peace. I insist upon :03
cab hire being paid. Mrs. Lewis : I would rather live Wlco
him. The Mayor: I have nothing to say about that; I 113,9 e•
merely to administer the law as lam bound to do. Arraniviie
ments having been made for the payment of the money,
,Ite
parties left the court, followed, as on their entrance, 11 "
crowd.

- =
DIED.—On the 30th ult., at Civita Vecchia, Italy, aite--r
„s 0
illness of a few hours, aged 38, Commander Sir 01°—
,
Gibson Carmichael, Bart., R.N., of Castlecraig and Skirlia•
Ralph Laurenson, late sergeant of the local pensioner!te
Limerick, who had been afflicted with blindness for ova--
months, shot himself through the head a few days ago.
The trains on the South-Western Railway are to be iftlf.o;
nished with an air-pump and a gutta percha tube, exten°lo
the whole length, by which the guard can communicate
the engineer.
oi)
St. Petersburg advices of the Ist instant mention tl
American ship had arrived at Memel, and that hen3P
hemp-yarn were being sent off for her. The weather MIS
es
ceedingly mild.
THE MITTEN MURDEB.—John Simm, one of the men or'
custody at the county gaol at Morpetb, charged with the Ober
der of Dorothy Bewicke, at Waterloo, near Matfen, in Octc'ele
last, has made a lengthened statement to the governor of 0,
prison, implicating the other two men. Nothing is yet,. 0
cially known further than this as to the contents
a at meld.

TI

JANUARY 15, 1856.

775 r-E RUGELEY POISONING CASE.

TRE •
b Inquest upon the bodies of Walter and Anne Palmer,
r°tller and wife of William Palmer, surgeon, of Rugeley, was
opened at that place on Friday. Mr. John Smith, of Bir-
tain,h.
' 431, appeared for the accused. Mr. Deane, of London,
represented the insurance companies, and Mr. Gardener, of
sf,„
°rd, appeared for the crown.
Elie, 'Ph
tith f• Palmer servant of the accused, said she had lived
for ten years. Mrs. Palmer was taken ill at
184
t'h clack, on Wed
rnnesed day evening, the 20th September,
,when she retu from Liverpool. The deceased said
tght she had taken cold. She had some tea and cold
'Text morning she still complained of being ill, and
lent
NI net bed. Mr. Palmer took her up a cup of tea without
celilld a little dry toast. About noon she still complained
done 11,es s. During the Wednesday, she and Mr. Palmer
kieattended on the deceased. Witness did not attend her
tointn the latter part of her illness. The deceased never
lig.w.lned of any particular pain. Except when confined
Pas never ill. Mr. Palmer also waited on deceased. Wit-
Pet Was not in the room when Mrs. Palmer expired. Mr.
deat, slept in his wife's room until the Monday before her
tin Dr. Balfour sent a box of pills and a bottle of medi-
ew.hich she saw in Mr. Palmer's hand. Witness prepared
Igsage, and tea for deceased.
Iter"""ag.,_ Palmer, sister of the accused, said she accompanied
I%i:l'er-in-law (deceased) to Liverpool; on the Tuesday Mrs.
tonee'r fatigued herself very much there. She went to a
%Ira at St. George's-hall in a thin white dress. On their
teksendt° Rugeley, Mrs. Palmer complained of being cold, but
the ,to put her feet in warm water and take medicine ; on
felt 3,7‘are• rdaY she complained of cold in her chest, and said she
kinCi_ They had intended to stay a day longer in Liver-
holre"sa not the deceased felt unwell. Witness didn't mean,
tas ver, to say that deceased was ill. The accused's practice
the ",()011„aned almost to his own family. He was a-member of
haiL nege of Surgeons, and an associate of Apothecaries%
l'eeeased had a life interest in some property which
le With her life. Deceased was always in delicate health.
W. W. H. Tindall, of the Atlas Assurance Company, said,
e Bth February, 1854, Mr. Palmer (the accused) proposed
deelliilr_,4rance upon the life of his wife, which the company
hin,ea,„to accept. The applicant said he was interested in
the 'we s death to the extent of the sum which he requested
etce to guarantee to him.
Ye4ilda Bardswell said she had known the deceased for,
re She saw her on the Monday after her return from Li-
by when she was in bed ; she complained of cold caught
14u.e!il'ing thin clothes. Deceased said that in coming from
4pcf Tool she took something she thought had done her good,
h.,sts the follosxing morning attempted to get up, but was
,;401e, being. seized with sickness. Deceased added, that
411 Dr. Knight came, he gave her something which had
Selfe her gtooodse, e
witness, and but she soon got ill ated her to sitgain. She exponressedthe bed.
her-
tl. glad
ralraer who was in the room, then retired. Deceased
\\V old witness that it was the sickness which exhausted her.
Viess did not hear deceased say anything more (witness is
bread Deceased took gruel, tea, wine, water, grapes, and
iiiP She never complained of any pain excepting that aris-
siZ'rarn sickness. She was not purged much while witness
tler,slith her until the last. She frequently said she hoped
eoJlevrels would not trouble her again, or she should soon be
feft'• She said this the morning before her death, when she
Ishalne unpleasant sensation in her bowels. Witness told
r 1; Palmer that her bowels had not acted, but he said that
dadconsequence. He spoke words to the effect that that
better for her, as she took so little support. For three
d/ler bowels were not moved. On the morning of her
epth she was purged several times. After that she appeared
!seek and very low, and as soon as her bowels were moved
ho sickness abated. She did not live more than three or four
hears after that; and the purging continued up to the time of
!deatli. She died at about one o'clock in the day. She
beher throat felt sore from the vomiting, which strained
41:, throat. She complained at times of her mouth being
11„.7 ; she was not particularly thirsty. Mr. Bamford and
;e* Palmer prescribed for her. Witness gave her some mix-
e and two pills. Saw no one give her more. The night
took the pills deceased slept more comfortably. She
R,..some effervescing draughts prepared and administered
sal% Palmer, which seemed to refresh the deceased. She
ss always sick in a few minut.ts after taking food. Witness
the room with the deceased when she died. She
tivuared to go quite low and composed, and for some two
hthree hours before she begged witness not to trouble
erself to give her anything. Witness did not notice
s,g particular in her breathing. She appeared quite
4:llsible to the last. She had no convulsions nor spasms. It
ilet.two or three hours before her death that she told wit-
de,„not to trouble her. The last thing she took before her
Harmera was the juice of some grapes. No one else besides Mr.
li and witness gave her anything during the time wit-
CAS.,IYas there. He did not give her anything the day that
"led. He was with her very frequently—coming into the
very often. Mrs. George and Mr. Palmer came to see
boten her illness. Mrs. Rowley and witness laid out the
y There was nothing peculiar in the appearance of the
Was
The limbs were not stiff till she was cold. Mr. Palmer
:3 with her several times shortly before she died. Witness
CLed the wine and water, for she was afraid of giving it to
t,r too strong. Witness t toted everything but the efferves-
h:g draughts. While she was down stairs the accused might
4,,ve given something to the deceased. During her five con-
"elnenta accused appeared very attentive to his wife, but did
that take her anything. was always particular in seeing
the jellies and broth ewere made pleasinm to his wife's
palate,7 and was afraid that witness should give her strength-
ening food too early.
Olr. Bamford, (aged 82,) the surgeon referred to, said—
hen he was called in to the deceased he found her in bed, labouring under nausea, and so much debility, that sbe had
aeat difficulty in giving him an answer. She did not appear
have vomited then. Her bowels were in a very constipated
:Late, and did not appear to have been moved for twelve or
!etirteen hours. He prepared two pills for her to be taken
Itamediately, and an opening draught. He afterwards refused
14 prepare any more medicines until Dr. Knight had been
!lilted in, who prescribed two small pills. Witness prepared
sir or eight pills, but deceased only took one. They were
made of two and a half grains of the compounded extract of
reuse nth, half a grain of calomel, and a litle oil of carraway.
t. hande the pills to Mr. Palmer, and suggested an injec-
in- The last time he saw her (on the Tuesday) she was
4;11(113- sinking, and refused to take any sustenance. The
4"lPtoms of deceased were those of bilious cholera. Witness
114, still of opinion that that was the cause of death. Mr.
„eaner readily consented to Dr. Knight being called in, and
1t..1t for him instantly. The accused paid every attention to
his wife ; no man could be more attentive. He supported her
bed while giving her something that appeared to be barley-
iter, or something of that kiud. Witness declined to give
t °Pinion as to the general character af Palmer.
Dr. Knight, of Stafford, said, he saw her after receiving a des-
`l,Ption of her disease from her husband. She was too much
!pausted to describe her illness. Palmer said that she had had
distressing vomiting, griping, and purging, And that she had
t:l...tight the cholera at Liverpool, where it was then the pre-
,g disease. She did not vomit in his presence, but the
',e,tehing was distressing. Witness required to see the evaeu-
"‘ed !natter, and was told it had been thrown away. As far
as he could form a judgment upon the case, he thought it a
severe form of English cholera—summer cholera. He pre-
scribed two minims of diluted prussic acid for the purpose of
allayingk_ the retching. He called again, and she appeared
better. Palmer promised to send for him if she got worse.
Witness knew the deceased from a child, and was one of her
taarclians. In 1854 he attended Mrs. Palmer on account of a
Proposal that had been made to an insurance office. He found
her free from disease. From the testimony which was given
death washe nurse of the deceased, he should say that her
The
not occasioned by ca
poison which had been named.
'ae symptoms appeared like those of English cholera.

ren'
is, as

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40,
4d.;
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3,0

—The
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r.VO

SATURDAY.

The adjourned inquest on the body of Mrs. Palmer was re.
Iptined, and Professor Taylor, of Guy's Hospital, was examined.
~.pte said he received six jars on the 24th December. Three
" them were labelled " Ann Palmer." I locked them up
"atil the 26th, keeping the key in my possession, and then, in
Ziiiunction with Dr. es, I proceeded to examine them. We
fist examined the stomach contained in jar No. 1. The coats
c'!ve firm and well preserved, considering that fifteen months
as elapsed since death. On the stomach, on its greater end
7.,I;(1 outside, there was a yellowish-coloured streak, which,
When examined with a magnifying glass, presented the ap-
earance of mineral matter. It was such an appearance as I
have never seen within twenty-five years, except when there
was mineral poison in the stomach. We opened the stomach,
1:al found neither liquid nor solid contents, but a thin pasty-
,,,°°king substance, of a brownish colour, spread over the lining
"4eMbrane. The full quantity of this amounted to about half
teaspoonful. The lining membrane presented slight patches
If redness. Its surface was examined by a magnifying glass.
,4,t was quite free from putrefaction, ulceration, or any organic
'cease. The small intestines were next examined. They were
eitiPty, but covered on the inside, in parts with a thin brownish
o.bstance. The large intestines were then examined. There
gas a foetid manna. The inner surface of the rectum, or lower
bowels, was coloured with a deep orange red-coloured sub-
stance. removing this, and examining the lower bowels,
there was no appearance of disease. The intestines, compara-
tively speaking, were well preserved, like the stomach. One
cf the kidneys, which was enclosed in one of the jars, was cut
Zpeu and found to be perfectly healthy. We then examined
jar No. 3, containing the liver, lungs, heart, and spleen.
; They had undergone some change from putrefaction, but were
41 a healthy condition. The gall bladder was especially
;Unlined, and it contained about the usual quantity of gall
;°lllld in the dead, That bile was thickened, owing to the long
:nterment, to the consistency of a house paste. The cavities of
the heart were empty : all the valves were free from putrefac-
ni, firm and healthy. The lungs and spleen were softened,
"wing to putrefaction, but perfectly free from disease, as far
we could judge. We then proceeded to make an analysis of
the different parts. The first we took was the brown paste
utter found on the surface of the stomach. In these contents,
about half a teaspoonful, we found a rather large proportion
°I a preparation of antimony. We also found a minute
proportion of arsenic ; but as arsenic was not found
deposited in any of the viscera, and is occasionally an
1111 Purity in ordinary tartar emetic, we consider that
!Arsenic in this case was owing to such impurity, and not to
Its having been administered. Other poisons were sought
for, but there were none. The second analysis was directed
t 0
the coats of the stomach, and they yielded antimony.
ithirdly, the large and small intestines were examined, and
:and to contain antimony in all parts. Fourthly, the orange-
deposit found on the surface of the rectum, was removed
raid separately examined. Antimony was found in this in
„ Rer proportions than in any other part. The orange-red
,aolour of this material was found to be owing to a portion of
~4tilxiony which had become converted sulphuret, as a result
Putrefaction in the dead body. The coats of the rectum
WereZs also examined, and yielded antimony. The bile was
''liarately examined, and also yielded antimony in large pro-
-1
i nearly as large as that found in the rectum. The
spleen, kidneys, the substance of the heart, and of the
bi'ag's, all yielded antimony. The blood drained from the jar
thwhich these viscera were contained was then analyzed, and
417,8 Yielded antimony. A portion of the lining of the shell
Part of the shroud were separately examined, and it
Waled no trace of antimony or any mineral substance. All
11'r tests used were themselves tested before the analysis was
tiade and found to be perfectly pure. In this investig,a-
-o°4 fifteen different analysis were made of the bodies,
icupyin,g us from the 26th to the 31st of December, and the
ve tnelusions at which we arrived from the result of our in-
tlrtigation were these : first, that all parts of the body of
at: deceased examined by us contained antimony. In the
fo Mach and intestines the antimony was partly in a soluble
h
while in the liver, heart, kidneys spleen, and lungs it
secondly
been deposited as the result of absorption during life.
recclatilY, the largest quantity of antimony was found in the
tewta.ra and its contents, next in the stomach and its con-
,. then ins then bile taken from the gall bladder, and the

smallest quantity was found in the lungs. Thirdly, the pre-
sence of antimony in the rectum or lower bowels proved that
the discharges of the bowels of the deceased contained anti-
mony up to the time of her death, that she was passing anti-
mony by purging when she died. We came to that con•
elusion before, of course, we had heard the evidence of yes-
terday, and the presence of this mineral is sufficient to ac-
count for the vomiting or diarrhoea, or both, from which the
deceased is said to have suffered. Fourthly, the conclusion
is from the discovery of antimony in the stomach, we infer
that a preparation of antimony must have been taken by the
deceased within a few hours before her death. Fifthly, from
the discovery of antimony in the intestines, especially the
rectum, or lower bowel, we infer that the antimonial copper,
if not taken by the deceased, was not the result of a series
of accidents, and improperly administered to her either
Iby ignorance or design. Sixthly, it is our opinion that
' the antimony found by us in the body of the deceased was
not the result of one dose, but of several doses, taken at
intervals, some days before her death, and till a few hours
before her death. Seventhly, that the antimonial preparation
taken by the deceased is what is commonly called tartar
emetic, and this may or may not have acted as poison, accord-
ing to circumstances. It may or may notive been the cause
of deceased's death. In the event of the absence of any natu-
ral cause for the deceased's death, it may have accelerated
death by producing great depression and exhaustion of the
bowels of life. Eighthly, on examination of the stomach,
bowels, and other organs of the deceased, we could not detect
any changes as the result of natural disease. There was no-
thing to account for that, on the other hand there was nothing
in those appearances inconsistent with the death of the de-
ceased from tartar emetic. Ido not think that tartar emetic
could have been given the deceased by Mr. Bamford in mistake
for tartar of potash; because, if so, more severe symptoms
would have shown themselves than I have heard described.
I must add to that, that in my opinion, she was suffering
from tartar emetic before Mr. Bamford first saw her on
the Sunday. Tartar emetic, when administered in small
quantities, in wine, or other liquid, would not be percep-
tible to the taste. The smallest dose of tartar emetic I have
ever known taken at one time is ten grains. A person would
stand a better chance of recovery from rejecting a large dose
of poison taken at once than he would when taken iu small
quantities. The killing of a person by antimony depends
more upon the manner of administering it than by the
quantity given. Antimony may be taken in small quantities
with safety, but I do not believe that any person could live
with the amount of antimony in the system that we found in
the deceased's body. It was saturated with antimony. When
I found antimony in all parts of the deceased's body, the only
Iconclusion I could form was that it was the cause of the
retching and severe vomiting which has been deposed to. The
liver of the deceased was 42 oz., and we found 2 oz. of anti-
mony in it, which was more than one-twentieth of the whole,
and we therefore considered that the body was saturated with
it. I have made a note of the medical evidence yesterday as
to the condition of the deceased within eight days of her
death, and from the discovery of antimony in all parts of her
body, it is my opinion that she died from tartar emetic,
and from no other cause. The long orange-red streak
on the coat of the stomach satisfies me that it was caused
by antimony having been administered for some time in
small doses. The witness was cross-examined at some
length with a view of showing that the evidence he had
now given was irreconcilable with Professor's Taylor's own
work on poisons, in which it is stated that poisoning by anti-
' mony is accompanied by violent pains. He stated that there
' was no analogy between the circumstances of poisoning by
antimony referred to in his book, and the circumstances re-
vealed by the appearance of the deceased Mrs. Palmer's body.
The opinion given in his btSok referred to antimony adminis-
tered in large doses, whilst in the case of the deceased the
appearance of the body showed that antimony had been ad-
ministered for some time in small doses, and become absorbed

in the blood.
Dr. Rees, Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, Fel-
low of the Royal Society, and also Professor of Materia Me-
dica at Guy's Hospital, who was associated with Professor
Taylor in making the analysis, confirmed the evidence of the
last-named gentleman in every respect.
Dr. Knight, of Stafford, was recalled, and said —My opinion
as to t 4.: cause of the death of Mrs. Anne Palmer has been
considerably modified and altered since I have heard the evi-
dence of Professors Taylor and Rees, and I am inclined to
think that I must ba mistaken in the opinion which I gave
yesterday under the circumstances stated to me by Mr. Palmer
on my visit to*the deceased, Mrs. Palmer, and am now disposed
to think that the true cause of death has been assigned by Pro-
fessors Taylor and Rees. Having heard those opinions, I now
believe that when I saw Mrs. Palmer she was suffering from
poison by antimony. Mr. Palmer did not tell me what medi-
cine, if any, he had prescribed before Dr. Bamford was called
in. After hearing the statements of Professors Taylor and
Rees, and the description given yesterday by Dr. Monckton
of the condition of the body aftdr death, there is nothing in-
consistent with Mrs. Palmer having died from vomiting from
natural causes ; yet I don't believe that she did. From the
appearance of the viscera, as given by Dr. Monckton, my
opinion is, that vomiting was not the cause of death. I found
Mrs. Palmer in so exhausted a state that I could not get from
her a statement as to her feelings.
Mr. Benjamin Miller, surgeon, of Barton-under-Needwood,
said, that in January and February, 1854, he examined Mrs.
Palmer, on a proposal made by her husband to insure her life
for £5OOO in the Scottish Equitable insurance Company.
Subsequently, he examined her in the months of January and
February, 1854, on proposals made on her life by Mr. Palmer,
in the Liverpool Life, the Rock, and the Atlas offices. He
found her healthy, and not suffering from any organic disease.
He gave a, second certificate as to Mrs. Palmer's state of
health, in the case of the Scottish Equitable, at the request of
Mr. Palmer, who asked him to give the certificate without
again examining Mrs. Palmer, as he had so recently examined
her, and she might feel alarmed. From the symptoms
spoken to by the medical men in attendance • upon the
deceased, the post mortem examination, and the analysis,
I am of opinion that the cause of death arose from the repeated
administration of small doses of antimony.
Mr. Henry T. Lomax, surgeon, of Stafford, stated that, on
the Bth of January, 1854, he examined Mrs. Palmer on a pro-
posal by her husband to insure her life for £3OO, and on the
19th of January he made another examination on a further
proposal of Mr. Palmer to insure his wife's life for £3,000. In
both cases he certified that Mrs. Palmer was a good life for
insurance.
Mr. Wakley, manager of the New Equitable Life Assurance
Company, said—On the 13th of January, 1854, I received from
the last witness the certificate of a proposal for £3OO on the
life of Mrs. Palmer, by her husband. On the 19th it was
accepted. On the 26th of Junuary, 1854, a further proposal
for £3,000 on the life of Mrs. Palmer was received by the
office and accepted the same day, but afterwards, on further
investigation, it was declined, in consequence of some informa-
tion received from one of the other offices, and because we
heard that proposals had been made by Mr. Palmer on the
life of his wife at other offices, and declined.
Mr. John Goddard, actuary to the Rock Life Insurance
Company, deposed to a proposal being made to their office on
the 26th of January, 1854, by W. Palmer, for the assurance
of his wife's life for £5,000, for six years. After the proposal
was made, the directory wished to know the interest which
Mr. Palmer had in his wife's life, the amount for which he was
going to insure in other offices, the amount he was about to
borrow, and why the proposal was made for six years only.
The proposal was ultimately declined.
Mr. T. M. Sawbridge, manager of the National Provincial
Branch Bank, at Rugeley, and also agent at Rugeley to the
Scottish Equitable Insurance Company, deposed to a policy
being effected in January, 1854, for £5,000, by W. Palmer, on
the life of his wife, Mrs. Anne Palmer, and also to the amount
of the policy being paid to Palmer, in March, 1855, after Mrs.
Palmer's death.
Mr. A. B. Butterfield, a clerk in the Sun Life Insurance
Company, produced a proposal made by W. Palmer, on the life
of his wife, for £5,000, dated the 10th of February, 1854. The
amount of the' policy was paid to Mr. W. Pratt, of Mayfair,
after Mrs. Palmer's death, in accordance with a written order
by W. Palmer.
Mr. J. E. Koch, secretary to the Scottish Amicable In-
surance Company, said that a proposal was made to that office
on the 3rd of January, 1851, by W. Palmer, on the life of his
wife, for £3,000. The proposal, after inquiry, was declined.
Dr. Monckton produced a bottle which he received from
Mr. Bagen, the superintendent of police, at Rugeley, in Wm.
Palmer's house, the day on which Palmer was removed from
Rugeley to Stafford, on the 17th December. The contents of
the bottle were composed of tartarized antimony. He had
satisfied himself by tasting it that it was tartarized antimony.
It was better known to the public as tartar emetic.
The jury,;after an!absence of twenty minutes, returned with
a verdict of " Wilful murder against the prisoner." The Co-
roner having prepared a warrant for the committal of the
prisoner for trial under this charge, the jury adjourned till
yesterday (Monday), when the inquest on the body of
IWalter Palmer was to be proceeded with.