The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-05-31 00:00:00

THE CONVICT PALMER.

Mr. Hand, the Under Sheriff of the county of Stafford,
has informed Major Salford, governor of the gaol, that the
execution of William Palmer will take place on the morn-
ing of Saturday, the 14th of June, at eight o'clock. The
scaffold will be erected on the flat roof of the building
forming the entrance to the prison.

When Palmer arrived at Stafford on Tuesday night, a
considerable crowd had assembled to see him; but he was
quickly transferred by Mr. Weatherhead and his assist-
ants to a carriage which was in waiting, and in ten
minutes he was inside the cell alloted to him. Since then
his behaviour has been much the same as before his trial.
Two of the prison officers are constantly in his cell, and
when he does enter into conversation with them, the pur-
port of his remarks has chiefly reference to a probability
of his sentence be'ng remitted. He is as collected and
unmoved as ever, and evinces cheerfulness and serenity.
Up to yesterday, none of his friends had applied for per-
mission to see him.

Notwithstanding the unanimous verdict of the jury,
Palmer, immediately after the proceedings on Tuesday,
complained to the under-sheriff that he had not received a
fair trial. The under-sheriff observed that he had no reason
to complain, and reminded him that all the judges agreed
in the finding of the jury. Palmer's reply was —" Well,
sir, but that don't satisfy me." During the charge of Lord
Campbell, he repeatedly communicated verbally and by
written messages with Mr. John Smith, his solicitor, and
the counsel conducting his case. After the learned judge
had concluded, he addressed a note to Mr. Smith, in which
he stated that Lord Campbell's summing up was ver yunfair
towards him, and that, consequently, the jury must be pre-
judiced against him. He added, however, the expression of
his belief that they would find a verdict of not guilty. When
informed by the under-sheriff, after the sentence was passed,
that he must prepare immediately to return to his former
quarters in Stafford gaol, he asked by what railway he was
to be conveyed—and, being told that the London and
North Western was the usual and most direct route, he
begged that he might be taken by the Great Western
Railway, as he stated that he was so well known oa the
North Western that he would be recognised all along the
line. The under-sheriff informed him that his request
could not be complied with, so he acquiesced without any
further observation. As it was suspected that the prisoner
might attempt to commit suicide, and thus defeat the
ends of justice, a new suit of clothes was prepared for
him, which he was directed t 3 put on after his return
to his apartment at Newgate. No person was allowed
to see him or to communicate with him after the
sentence was passed, except the under-sheriff and the
authorities of the prison. Immediately after the verdict
was delivered. a te:egraphic despatch was forwarded to the
governor of Stafford gaol, requesting him to provide accom-
modation for the prisoner ; and on the arrival of the train
at Stafford, at about eleven o'clock, a fly was in waiting, in
which he was-conveyed to the gaol. Mr. John Smith and
Mr. George Palmer, the prisoner's brother, are taking steps
to lay before the Home Secretary a statement of
facts, mainly in connection with the medical evidence,
which they hope will induce the right hon. gentleman
to recommend her Majesty to exercise the pre-
rogative of mercy, by mitigating the capital sentence.
The grounds on which the appeal will be made are the
conflict of medical evidence, and the absence of any
direct proof that poison had been administered to the
deceased. Several communications have been forwarded by
various medical practitioners, detailing cases of tetanus from
natural causes, accompanied by symptoms similar to those
spoken to in Cook's case ; and, although some of those com-
munications were not forwarded in time to be used at the
trial, the prisoner's friends are sanguine in the hope that
they may have a favourable influence in the only quarter
to which an appeal can now be made. It seems that
during the trial the prisoner expressed a belief that one at
least of the jurymen, whose personnel appeared to attract
his attention, was not the man to return a verdict of guilty,
and on more than one occasion, in his communication with
his counsel and his solicitor, alluded to this gentleman.
The jury were accommodated at the London Coffee-house.
A large room was prepared for them, fitted up with sixteen
beds, in which they slept; and they were twelve days
" sequestered" from their families, friends and pursuits.
Some members of their families were admitted to see them,
but only in presence of one of the officers of the court, and
and their dormitory was locked at night to prevent
the possibility of communicating with the external
world. The accoucheinent of the wife of one of the jurors
took place during his detention, and an application was
made to Lord Campbell to allow him to go home and see
her, in the presence of an officer of the court. Lord Camp-
bell, on ascertaining that the lady's health was not in dan-
ger, said he felt bound- to refuse the application; as, if he
granted it, he must in fairness concede a similar favour to
the whole of the remaining jurors, should they make an ap-

plicaion to visit their families. On Sunday week one of
the jurors had a narrow escape of his life. While walking
in Epping Forest, one of the large trees was blown down
by the tempest, and fell with a great crash within a few
inches of his path; but, fortunately, without doing any
injury.

By the new act under which Palmer was tried, an account
of the expense of his removal, maintenance, &c, in New-
gate, is to be delivered to the county treasurer of Stafford,
who is to pay the same. Any objection to the amount must
be made in writing, within a calendar month of its delivery.
The sum mentioned as the total of the expenses is £lO,OOO.
Since his arrival at Stafford the culprit has been taciturn
but his manner does not indicate any appearance of his
being dejected. The day fixed for his execution is Satur-
day, the 14th of June.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE

EPSOM R&CES.

Yesterday, with its programme of the events to come off
at the sporting gathering, comprising the "Oaks," second
only in interest to the " Derby," found an immense influx
of visitors assembled on the Downs. We subjoin the
return of the sports of the day :

LATEST BETTING,

OAKS.
3 to I on the Field (offered)
100 to 40 agst Mincepie (taken)
4 to 1 agst Tyne (taken)
5 to 1 agst Mermaid (taken)
5 to 1 agst Victoria (offered)
10 to 1 agst Secret.
THE OAKS.

The Oak Stakes of 50 sovs each, h ft, for three year old
fillies, Bit 711) each ; the second to receive 100 sovs out of
the stakes ; the winner to pay 100 sovs towards the
police and regulations of the course, and 50 soya to the
judge. The last mile and a half on the New Course
(137 subs.)
Mincepie
Melissa
••••••
Victoria
The following also rar :—Tyne, Mermaid, Comedy,
Secret, Shot, Shadow, and Fair Geraldine.

THE RAILWAY PLATE.
A dead heat between Kestrel and Georgium Sidus,

SUIUtEY FOAL STAXES.

Tyne
Six ran.
THE MEMBERS PLATE.

... ... 1

Alcyone
Elfrida

2