The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-05-15 00:00:00

and had six grai

which was known to e

attract

d the att

'a!tner -hd left, Newton went into
enquired what Palmer had purchased,

and song

)1 strychnine

that purchase had bean made by
would be for the jury to say whit importance they
would attach to the evidence of Newton. He should
now return to some circumstances previo s to the death
of Cook. On Sunday Palmer was with a person
named Jones, a medical man, in whose house, when at
home, Cook resided. On Sunday, the ISth, Palmer wrote
a letter to him stating that Cook had been taken ill
with diarrhoea, and wishing Jones to collie and see him.
Jones being a medical man might be the strongest proof of
the prisoner's innocence, but whether the prisoner had taken
such a step to disarm suspicion, it would be for the jury to
decide. On the arrival of Jones he made an examination
of Cook, in the presence of Palmer. On seeing Cook he
remarked that he apparently was not suffering the usual
effects of a billions attack. Dr. Bamford arrived, and
then a consultation took place with Dr. Jones, Dr. Bam-
ford, and Palmer. Palmer insisted that pills should be
taken, but Cook said that he would not take any more
physic that night. It was arranged that Cook should
have some pills, and Dr. Bamford made some at his
surgery, and gave them to Palmer. Oa receiving the
pills by the desire of Palmer, he, but not without some
surprise, as Palmer was a medical man, he .(Dr. Bam-
ford) wrote the directions how the pills were to be taken,
but Palmer did not arrive home until half an hour after
the time he should have done, and on his arrival there
he particularly directed the attention of Jones to the
fact.of the handwriting of Dr. Bamford, the prisoner
evidently wishing to have the pill-box identified. lie
remarked that the handwriting was particularly firm for
a person of the age of Dr. Bamford. Co dt eventually
took the pills, and Jones, as he was a friend of Cook's,
said he would sleep in the same room. After he had
been in bed but a short time Cook jumped up and said
" For God's sake send for the doctor, I am going to
be ill." Palmer was sent for from the opposite side
of the way, and his arrival was so quiet that it was
simply impossible for him to have dressed himself in
the time. On his arrival Cook prayed him to give the same
medicine as hsd before relieved him. Palmer said he
would, and he made up some pills which he said were
composed of smmonia. Cook swallowed the pills, and
immediately the stiffening of the body commenced, and
it was impossible to move Cook, although he implored them
to do so. On being told it was impossible, he then asked
to be turned over on his other side; this was done, and
shortly after Cook breathed his last. The medical evidence
he should call would prose that the death was ceased by
strychnine. The breath was hardly out of Cook's body,
when Palmer took steps for the burial. Two women were
sent for to lay out the body. When the women went in
the room they saw Palmer searching Cook's pockets, and
also turning over the bed. He also took some papers from
Cook, and it was supposed the betting book was amongst
those papers. That book had never been found. He
should be able to preve that the betting book was
in the possession of Cook a day or two before he
died. On the day following Cook's death a letter
was written by Palmer to Mr. Pratt, stating that Mr.
Cook was dead, and making arrangements about Cook's
horses, but particularly stating that he (Palmer) must have
Pole Star, and directing him to ahswer no money questions
about the affairs of Cook. A communication took place
between Palmer and the Messrs. Wetherby, but in conse-
quence of certain directions they refused to pay the moneys
of Cook to Palmer. Tio;-tly after, on the 24th of Nov.,
Palmer paid upwards of .ElOO to Pratt, although the priso-
ner a short time before was in embarrassed circumstances.
Two days afterwards Palmer wished Cheshire to write
Cook's signature to a certain document respecting a large
amount of bills which Palmer said had been in circulation
for Cook's benefit, but Cheshire declined to do so, as
Palmer said it was no matter. Mr. Stevens, and
the father-in-law of Cook arriving in a day or two after

r, Cook died

the death, was very much dissatisfied with the appearanc,
of the body. He enquired of Palmer whether he knew
anything of Cook's affairs. Palmer stated that bills wer
f £4,000, and that as he (Palmer) wa
the sum, he should look to Cook's est

Dut to the amoun

;sponsible f

yens told him h

.uld not zot

not get it from the Court of Chancery

to for
it—if

tion then ensued as to the burial of Cook, and Palmer said
he could be huried at Rugeley, and he thought it would
he better to have him screwed down as soon as possible.
In this arrangement Mr. Stevens did not consent,
and on his asking if an undertaker could be found,
Palmer said he had already 'ordered a shell and a strong
oak coffin. Stevens expressed bis surprise, but afterwards
he gave directions that his son-in-law's betting-book
and papers should be given up to him. Palmer said it
could not be found, but Mr. Stevens said it must be found,
but Palmer again slid it would be of no use as the bets
were paid by the death of Cook. A short time before
Mr. Stevens left Rugeley he went to take a last look
at his unfortunate relative, but, instead of finding
the corpse in the state he expected, he found it
in such a state that he immediately determined to have a
post mortem examination, at which the prisoner seemed
annoyed. Palmer afterwards applied to Dr. Bam-
ford for his certificate as to the death of Cook, but
Dr. Bamford refused, stating that Cook was his patient.
Eventually Dr. Bambord gave the required • certificate,
which stated that Cook died of apoplexy. On the day
before the post mortem examination of Cook, Palmer sent
for Newton, and after some drinking Palmer asked Newton
how mueh strychnine would kill a. dog, and Newton
told him about, half a grain. Palmer saw several medical
persons before the post mortem examination took place,
and gave to each of them different accounts of the causes
of the death of Cook. The post mortem examination was
thea proceeded with, and the result was that, from all the
natward appearandes, death had been caused by strychnine.
The stomach and intestines were also perfectly healthy, and
at this part of the examination Palmer turned round to
Dr. Bramford and said, " They will not hang us yet."
Other pOrtions of the intestines were placed in a jar, and it
was removed by some party from its place, but on enquiring
far it Palmer said, "I have it," and on its being returned
two slits were found cut in the cover. When it was decided
to take the jar away, Palmer said to Dr. Bamford, " I don't
think we ought to let them take that jar away, as we don't
know what they might put in it." The prisoner was exceed-
ingly anxious that the jar should not leave Rugeley, and when
he discovered that a fly was engaged to convey the medical
men to Stafford, he told the post boy they had no right to
take the jar away. Palmer then said to the post-boy,
" don't you think you could upset the carriage and break
the jar." The man instantly refused to do anything calcu-
lated to effect such an object. Palmer tried to persuade him
to cause an accident to the conveyance, stating that he
would " make it all right with him" but the man refused,
and that man he proposed to call before the jury. The
examination took place in London, and the prisoner was
extremely anxious to learn the result of the examination.
The jury would be told that no strychnine, could be found
in the body, but it would -be for the jury to decide that
point. He had explained the effects of a small quantity of
strychnine upon the human frame; they would also have
the tests which had been applied for the discovery of
this poison laid before them, which would show
that when the same quantity of poison was administered
to animals those animals had expired with the same effect
as that produced on the human being. That poison had
been administered to the unfortunate man was evident, and
the question would be, how did it get there ? It was not
administered by any of the medical men who attended Cook,
and it would 1)..1 for the jury to decide, from the evidence
that would be placed before them, whether it was
administered by the prisoner. The prisoner would be defended
by one cf the most eminent men of the bar; and if the
evidence which he (the Attorney General) should place
before them would not convince the jury of the prisoner's
guilt ,then, in God's name, they would acquit him; but, on
the other hand, if it should be deemed conclusive, then they

lIIINIUMOM

would, as a duty they owed to society, return a ve!"""
guilty. ta ha
an
The Attorney• General then resumed his seat,
Court adjonrned for a short time.
after the
The learned judges again took their seats, ; welt,
adjournment, exactly at twenty minutes to ,three o des
when the examination of witnesseswas procce
with. Mr. r"
Ishmael Fisher was called and examined by re.
James, QC —He said he was a wine merchant, the
sided at 4, Victoria-street, Holborn. Fe knevie $O5
deceased John Parsons Cook about two years.
reu the
at Shrewsbury races in 1855, and remembevibtob
Shrewsbury Handicap on Tuesday, November 1(' coolf•
was won by Pole Star, a mare, belongings t° COI!
Witness stoped at the Raven Hotel, SErewburPeopieD
and Palmer were stopping at the Raven, an, InesclaP
the adjoining room. On the night of rne(-It,
between eleven and twelve o'clock at.,. -Lioa' Isle"
went into that room, and found Mr. Cook, d grog'
and Mr. Myatt, a friend of Palmer's. Each 011°,,' bore
belore him, Cook asked Palmer to have seut have
brandy and water, and Palmer replied, Shall i!O4 n,
Cook `gass
any more until you have drunk yours."
I will drink mine," and thereupon he took tiP t:';:rhere's
and drank it off. Within a minute Cook said' ~
Palmet
something in it ; it burns my throat dreadfullywhat, sos
got up and took the glass, and sipped ih
left in it, and said, " There's nothing in it- 00
times Mr. Read, a wine merchant, had entered thetber het
Palmer handed him the ass and asked biro whse •61
thought there was anything. in' it. Both of 001 31 the,
the quantity of liquid in the glass was so sio3ll,.t,,h.arte
could not, tell by the taste. He remarked that there
it.
a rather strong smell from the glass. Cook retir d
the room, and soon afterwards returned and- cailer, 73
ness out. Cook told him that he had been vele- thccg:
asked witness to take his money. He said etWee
Palmer had "done him." Cook 'gave with
actes-
X7OO and £BOO to take care of. It was all in bank
045
Cook went with witness to his sitting room, ands scle r;°111:
seized with sickness. He then retired to his 0vf,„.0 wore"
whither Mr, Jones and witness followed him. lie bibs°rh
so ill, that witness thought it right to send for Alr. Which
a surgeon. After he had taken. some medleilled, 03
oser oot
Mr. Gibson sent him, he became more comp
the following morning, about ten o'clock, P3,llnhead
into witnesses sitting-room. He said that Cos°ool;thhittlrlici,
stating that he (Palmer) had been putting
his brandy he added that he never played stle"o
nt
with people. Cook was not affected by litionr--°,,ting
way approaching to drunkenness. On' the folio d ar
he saw him on the Shrewsbury Race Course, at,Tl sod
peared very ill. Cook used a small betting b°,;°';' L'
the 17th witness paid Air. Pratt £2OO for Mr•
not
knew that Cook won considerably at Shrecvsk,itl'i'dd
that
Cross-examined Cross-examined by Mr. Sergeant Shee : or
know that Palmer and Cook were ever Plntliers' oPertr.
they had any horses which were their .1,4 q .tras1:01ell
After the race which Pole Star won easily, COCO' wittly
elated. He did not hear of many persons connalare tba'
the races having been taken ill at persons
be

ill
time, ass s.
Mr. Thomas Jones said he was a law sla""--eafor'
Carey-street, He was at Shrewsbury. races lastcio,, nigh!'
and lodged at the Raven. He got there on Me,,a,,,s fisll,„es.:
Cook supped there with him, Mr. Herring, Inilat u7ss
and Mr. Gravatt. He appeared 'suite well en. 14 `fitne'''
Tuesday, and Wednesday. On ifeci, sdaY Meted th ill';
went to the Raven with Fisher, and ...ses2.k inliVVherl ilie
into his room. Other persons were thee., alll• "Tait'
party broke up, he went to Cook's ire as ...
pmplained of a burning in his throat, and "„,`";;Cel'ig
ing. Some pills and a draught were brought,
easoetofi
refused to take the pills, and witness went to th it bier
and got some more liquid medicine. He broughhtno aft,aer
and gave it to him, and in about a quartemorn an "-slate"'
that he took the pills. On the followinging '
saw him again, when he looked pale. .
_street!
George Read said he kept a house in I/leave/0 fal
Holborn, which was frequented by sporting nlen'esalt gas
at Shrewsbury races last November, and saw Cot
eves
Palmer there. On the Wednesda night, belwees; ilevri
and twelve o'clock, he went into the room of t„,""hrarvh'
where Cook and Palmer were, and had setecl, he
and water. Almost immediately after au .Chere
,s ess,.. sa.
observed that Mr. Cook was in pain, and he Old ei. tbel/:
something in the brandy and water. sale„,eoo, 90
whether they thought there was anything ill Palmerthe r., 'vlbe°
witness said, Cook What is the use of handing US the Pi6",,et 66r
ibis empty. eamgapitny.untilthelefoftllotwheingroommo,rnainndg.vrilitn:scsoradpil;fiecl e''
being very ill. so'
Mr W. Skaife Gibson, assistant to Mr. Ileatbee,teite OS
geon, of Shrewsbury—on the 14th November las' csolit:
was sent for to the Raven Hotel, where he saW Aft.hollb,i
He complained of pains in his stomach, and said he
tongue Or
he had been poisoned. Witness looked at his ita shit
found that it was perfectly clean. He recsnlille.aietvit''
awemaaremtic,
rhubarbclear aansdtataeaalosmwehlepnilhlae, took it: water,and Cook said he could make himself sicked ie
which was brought. The water retnri 000.°
iatn WorditinneasrsyP
By Sergeant Shee • He ;ssnea• ~ss
treated Cook as p„,,e'-hr i 0 "
had been ' .
drinking, and was a little excited. ills - 3 2
stimulated with brandy and water. ,relbs-
Elizabeth
Mills said she was chambermaid at tithe ""csoP'
Arms, Rugeley, in November last. She lam?! fir, C°
tetl,
bre:011)4:001ot.
who died there. He arrived there between nine° --1,310;
o'clock on the evening of Thursday, November l''' f bete
and he came together in a fly. Cook cornnlaine3 01100:
ill, and shortly afterwards retired to rest. On the P.ll. lie
morning he said he felt no worse, but he was not To vile
went out, and returned about ten o'clock. and in 1101;05 50:
afterwards went to bed. "Witness asked whether he,. ieg P
worse. He said, " No," and that be had bees 01,13, for 16
Mr. Palmer's He was perfectly sober, and askel,aneef
piece of candle to read by. On Saturday Inernsiinga. St's°
came over, and ordeted a cup of coffee for Mr. uric/eve besi
gave it to Mr. Cook in Palmer's presence, .111 'Gina° Icli
room. She placed it in Cook's hands. When
an etas' i
up stairs again the coffee had been vomited into an side 0
which had been placed on a table by the right a„ ietti.
the bed.. During that day she saw PAlDier ~tier tell
Cook'. room four or five times. She heard reini 10011
Subsegs tie
Cook he would send him some broth.
she saw some broth in Cook's room which w(lll3rteft
made in the hotel. Abut ten minutes or a,e po-
o Palmern hour after the broth was sent over
..t. csolr
1 . on the stairs, and he asked her whether I%o' got
tad had his broth. While this conversation .w, raoll19;
on Lavinia Barnes came out of the commerel,,, it, bey
and said she had given. the broth to Mr. L'",fid al
he had refused to take it because it we%) and
dstiaryecotend his
sitss stomach.to fetch it wshaiicdh hsehenitidsitd't3l;b3rel teiltiliT;
afterwards she went up stairs and found that the
ford, sat.
been vomited. On Saturday evening, Mr. Bstin,.„e are e,l‘;
goon of Rugeley, was called in. On Sunda)! rat,l3l`l7,er's ',ea-
st cup of broth was brought over from -L' a ja the
sap 0
oans s
isubi
ie. tlooakabiatat rooloss tests
Witness took it up to Cook's
ane cup in which it was brought. twoWitne tables
orok allent reisru
uhpa.lf anShheourtoan hour a1,.0 tirae---
she was very sick, and vomito i violently, from afterthelaoeli;
twelve or one o'clock—until five o'clock in the Vadat
She saw Cook several times on Sunday, and enhreakfas r
morning she took him up a cup of coffee for „,tiarte
Cook did not vomit that. Palmer was there aboUt 3 84aredl
past seven. When Cook got up on Monday he a/Plie ~sfialf.
great deal better, and washed, dressed, and shave,ijoll',.'
he felt better but was exceedingly weak. Ashman, tli, t clsii
and Mr. Saunders, the trainer, called to see hits that se'clee
Witness gave him some arrowroot about envoi ail:
that day, and he retained it on his stomach. 13°t: ralniu„,
inand ten o'clock on the Monday night she agaia sa 2,1,t fr-
-31 Cook's room. On that night a pill box was br64l;is dress;
Mr. Bamford's fir Co ,k, and witness placed it 00 .0 900
ing table. Shortly afterwards Palmer came. WitneiginiPS
to bed, and about twelve o'clock heard violent sera she
twics, proceeding from Cook's room. As Sauna. 0:0
entered, he desired her to fetch Mr. Palmer clire%3o. the
was at that time sittfng up and best'sti7stsl374
bethelothes with both his hands and arras offoeati,g
if I lie down.
out. He said, i, I can't lie down. I shall hoe :tiros l'o-
Oh, fetch Mr. Palmer." S taand
thet
would throw back his head upon the pillovr, bra, and
traise himself up again. His breathing was vtllo goatee
po_ balls of his eyes very much prejoted. k,' ‘,„ rooal;
ltently three or four times, while witness was 111 n.'"o rialeoe,
He was moving and rocking about all the time. one
,_!
haloud " murder" twice. He asked witness to rub was in
is hands. She did so, and found it stiff. raltnests• °le
hen—. g,.
the room while witness was rubbing Cook's i eheer'll...
recognised Palmer, and was quite conscious ahuisaitaer!
He said to Palmer, " Oh, Doctor, I shall die." palmer the!!
reply
went and fetched two pills, and some mixture, ?''..,illsg
thin kind, in a wineglass. C
Cook tried het
.... I;_art.
ytals' a
was, "Oh no my lad, you wOl r'
_7 a data
but said they stuck fast in his throat.
iim, and
ordered some toast and water to be given afiteasPal:
that washed the pills down. It was given hirn in,. inou_,t
at which he snapped every time it came near Os t. 1-0
Palmer then gave him the draught, which he dranDlat the
snapped at the glass as he had previously denes,ited i!"
spoon. As soon as he swallowed the draught he vow mite'
up
immediately. She held the basin into Which behl:t s
the draught, which smelt like 'opium. 13/ ithi,s Wl.'
he appeared ,Palmer
how it beat. Palmer went to him and said it was! soy)
or something of that sort. On the following dal ('-iisli the
re easy. He desired Palmer to tee ii ight,
she saw Cook again; Palmer having been with hira
env, 000
night. Cook lied - '
suffer such agony as she had last night. and she reP ~ refer
asked her whether she had ever seen a"' salt
she never bad. He said he should think she woXeua him
like to see any one like that again. Witness ites and b°4
what he thought was the cause of all that arty winless
said " The pills Palmer gave me at half past ten. „ jest
Proceeded to describe the renewal of the syraptoees-r ,bee
before he died, and said that Mr. Palmer came over ''
minutes after he was called. nd ntil
At ten minutes to six o'clock, the court adjourne
ten o'clock to-morrow morning.
attendance during the whole of the day, incluenn, ole
There was a formidable body of medical sm. esn;
Benjamin Brodie, and Dr. Paris, President ° ~.' .tood
tin de.- the
College of Physicians, both of whom it is
have been supbcened to give evidence in reference tc) the
testimony given by Dr. Taylor. It is believed that tor,
medical evidence, which is looked to with an inter
bole ol
parallelled, will not be proceeded with until the .", the
the general testimony has been given, the object %jot
prosecution being, if possible, to establish the case 14
the:prisoner without the medicallevidence.