The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-06-16 00:00:00

THE EXECUTION

WILLIAM PALMER.

(FROM OUR SPECIAL COREESPONDENT.)

STAFFORD, SATURDAY

My last communication will have prepared the public
for the sad denouement which consumated the career of
this unparalleled delinquent. Already your readers were
acquainted with the intelligence that the dread sentence
of the law would be carried into effect this morning.
Before recording the details of the finale to the Rugeley
tragedy, it is necessary to revert to the last hours of the
wretched culprit.
Last night, Mr. John Smith, the prisoner's attorney,
arrived at half-past ten o'clock. to take a farewell of his
unhappy client, whom he had not seen since his con-
viction.

The Governor of the Gaol, with the discretion which
has characterised his conduct throughout the whole pro-
eeelings, accompanied Mr. Smith to the prisoner's cell.
After a few words of greeting, the Governor informed
Palmer that, if he had any thing to say to Mr. Smith
upon family matters, of a confidential nature, he might
rely upon his keeping, whatever he might say upon that
subject, secret.

Palmer replied " No," and that " he hoped all he might
say, the Governor would lose no time in publishing to the
world.'' He then remarked that all he had to say was,
that he thanked the chaplain for his great attention to
him, and that he was also grateful to the officers of the
prison for their kindness, finishim„, his remarks by saying
that Cook did not die from strychnine.
The Governor made au observation in reply, to the
effect that he " trusted, in the awful condition la which he
was placed; he was not quibbling." " The question,',
added the Governor, is aye' or 'no ' did you or did you
not murder Cook ?"

Palmer answered directly, " Lord Campbell summed
up for poisoning by strychnine."
The Governor replied, "are you guilty of the murder—
it is of very little importance how the deed was done ?"

Palmer replied that he had "nothing more to add,''
and that " he was quite easy in his conscience and happy
in his mind."
A conversation then took place between Mr. Smith
and Palmer about family matters and other subjects of no
material public importance, and after an interview of
upwards of half au hour, Mr. Smith took his leave of the
convict.

Last evening the Roy. Thomas Palmer, Mr. George
Palmer, solicitor, and Miss Palmer, arrived at the gaol to
take their final leave of their brother. Each of them,
separately, spent a considerable time with the prisoner,
and, as may well be imagined, was greatly affected, the
sister particularly so. The prison: rno longer maintained
the extraordinary self-possession which has characterised
him both before, during, and after his trial. He was
occasionally moved to tears, but he quickly recovered
himself. The Rev. Thomas Palmer earnestly entreated
the prisoner to confess, if he were guilty, but he firmly and
distinctly replied, " I have nothing to say, and nothing I
shall say." The interview between the parties occupied
upwards of two hours, and the last of the visitors finally
took leave of the prisoner at about a quarter to ten o'clock,
though they did not leave the gaol for some time after.
The chaplain of the gaol, the Rev. R. H. Goodacre,
visited him as early as two o'clock, remaining with him
until five; and again at half-past six, and staying with
him until half-past seven o'clock. As the period Palmer
had to live became fearfully brief, the chaplain, as may
readily he supposed, was the more urgent in enforcing
upon the wretched prisoner the necessity of a compliance
with the laws of his Creator, but, as the sequel will show,
we regret to say that his exertions were, to all outward
appearance, unavailing. Tne prisoner listened with the
same calmness and respectful demeanour which he had
exhibited tiiroug,hout ; but further than this it cannot be
said that he paid attention to the advice which so greatly
concerned his immortal welfare.

In reply to a question from the chaplain, the prisoner
said that " Cook was not murdered by strychnine."

The prisoner did not partake of anything to eat, but
drunk a cup of tea and a little brandy and water. On
the officer tal:ing him his tea, he asked the prisoner
" how he was ;" to whom he replied with the greatest
nonchalance that he was quite comf,,rtable.
The High Sheriff, Lieut.-Col. I)yott, and the Under
Sheriff, R. W. Hand, Esq , arrived at the gaol between
seven and eight o'clock, and the Governor, about twenty
minutes to eight, announced to the prisoner that the time
had nearly arrived for the last sentence of the law to be
carried out.

The executioner was shortly afterwards introduced into
the prisoner's cell. The prisoner received him quite un-
concernedly and while the preliminary operation of
poinioning was being performed, he betrayed no symptoms
of emotion, simply requesting that the cord might not be
drawn "too tightly."

The High Sheriff, from a proper sense of his duty,
accompanied the chaplain to the prisoner's cell, after he
had been pinioned, and asked.him " whether he had any-
thing to say to him—whether he did not acknowledge the
justice of his sentence ?"
The prisoner with energy and accompanying his asse-
veration with much gesture, said, "No," observing that
he " was fully persuaded that certain parties, whose
names he need not mention, were guilty of his murder, and
that he should go to the scaffold without acknowledging
the justice of his sentence," adding that he " must express
his gratitude to the officers of the prison for all their
kindness."

After the High Sheriff and the Chaplain had retired
from the cell, the prisoner rernarlod to the officers who

attended him, that they would observe that he had not
changed from what he had always said, and he then said,
" all f have to ask of you is to pray for my child." The
High Sheriff and Chaplain again visited the cell, and,
thinking that the prisoner might, perhaps, object to say
anything in the presence of the officers, they requested
them to withdraw, and the question was thereupon
repeated to him " Whether his sentence was a just one?
The prisoner replied that " it was not a just one ; " and
these were the last words to which the wretched culprit
gave utterance. The Chaplain with emphasis replied,
" Then your blood be upon your own head."
In a minute or two afterwards, the prisoner was brought
out of his cell, and he tripped down the steps leading from
the floor on which the cell he had occupied was situated to
the basement fl or with a jaunty air, and a smile (though
any thine but a pleasant one) on his face. To look upon
him at that time, a spectator would imagine, had he not
known to the contrary, that he was going to participate in
some bo'ilay festival, rather than he was about to take his
final walk this side the grave. The mournful procession
was then formed.
A continuous dr7zzling rain fell through the night, and
as the lamps were not lighted, the darkness was exceed—
ingly dense. This seved to drive a large portion of the
visitors into the publiehous.s. which were full, and were
kept open all night. The New Connextion and Primitive
Methodist chapels were open, and religious service was
being performed during the night.
Meanwhile an enormous influx of spectators com-
menced. Hundreds, tired, foot sore, and travel-stained,
had evidently tramped many weary miles to reach Staf-
ford; and for five hours carriages of every kind, laden,
to the very extreme capacity of horses and vehicles
poured into the town in an unremitting stream, and their
occupants gradually closed up the approaches to the
entrance of the gaol. On the Wolverhampton road the
scene was most remarkable. From twelve o'clock at
night until six in the morning there was a complete
procession of overladen spring carts, omnibuses, many
with four horses, and all descriptions of vehicles. From
the Potteries the arrival of vehicles was almost as
numerous.

The platforms near the prison were soon occupied, and

looking at the crowds which assembled on ihem, the
precautions taken by the mayor and magistrates of Stafford
appeared fully to be warranted. The precautions of the
police were P celle n t• The representatives of the press were
introduced by the police to a space near the drop at five
o'clock, and to remain in a drizzling rain, which at
times increased to a very heavy shower, to await the period
of the execution.
The rain, which began to fall heavily at a little before
six, did not cease until about seven, when the clouds began
to break, and the sky brightened.
_

The firmness with which the prisoner walked surprised
every one who witnessed it. The senior officers of the gaol
had never beheld a felon conduct himself with such coolness ;
and it may be truly said that he was the least affected of all
in that melancholy group.

The prisoner ascended the steps lcadinT to the drop with
firmness, and was immediately placed under the fatal
noose. In a moment the executioner adjusted the rope, and
having shaken the hands of the prisoner, he quickly with-
drew the bolt. The drop fell amidst the breathless silence
of the immense crowd, and the criminal yielded up his
life.

ATHENS, JUNE 7.—Passengers travelling by the public
conveyances have been attacked on the road from Athens
to the Pirarus. There has been a desperate and san-
guinary fight between the Brigands and the French
atrols.

TRIE4TP, SATURDAY MORNING.—We have" intelligence
from Constantinople of the 6th. The Russians have
restored Kars to the Turks. Christians have, for
the first time, been admitted to join the procession of
Bairam, and to kiss the hand of the Sultan.
EXCURSION TO PRESTON.—The date of the Historic
Society's excursion to Preston Is fixed for Tuesday, the
24th. Arrangements have been made by a local com-
mittee to g;ve the party a hearty reception, and to show
them all points of interest in the town and neighbour-
hood. A museum of local antiquities, specially collected
for the occasion, will be laid out, and besides a meeting
at the Avenham Institution, the Castle Hill, Pen-
wortham, Walton-le—Dale, and Ritchester, will be
visited—perhaps some of the party may go as far as
Whalley. At four o'clock the party will dine together
at the Bull Hotel, the Mayor of Preston in the chair.