The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-01-12 00:00:00

'.iout six

n Liverpoi

railway station ; her little boy we
to meet her.

he Coroner did not think the fact of the little boy
1g her was at all material. It had nothing to do

the enquiry
Mr. Dean said it would be found to be most important
when the evidence of the other witnesses came to be
heard.

Mr. Smith said it might be material for the insurance
companies, but it had nothing to do with the present
enquiry.

Mr. Dean replied that at the present time, no insur-
ance companies were at all affected by the death of
Mrs. Palmer; all the insurances that bad been effected
had long since been paid.
Mr. Smith : I contradict that.

Examination resumed : Dr. Bamford was called in
on Sunday ; in about half an hour after, a box of pills
and a small bottle of medicine weresent; I saw them
inSirs. Palmer's hands; I did not give her any medi-
cine • I do not recollect seeing her take any ; during
her illness I prepared nothing for her but gruel, tea,
arrow-root, and sago.

To Mr. Dean: .Dr. Knight, of Stafford, came to see
her between two and three o'clock in the afternoon of
Monday ; after Mrs. Bradshaw, the nurse, came, she
slept in the roam with Mrs. Palmer; I did not see
her much afterwards ; I understood from the nurse
that she continued to vomit; I heard Mr. Palmer say
that Mrs. Palmer was a little better after taking the
medicine prescribed by Dr. Knight ; Mr. George
Palmer and Miss Sarah Palmer called to see Mrs.
Palmer during her illness; Mrs. Wall also called, bat
she was not allowed to see her; Mrs. Palmer died on
the Friday; Mr. Palmer was in the parlour at the time ;
he went up stairs when the bell rang ; he came down
again almost immediately; Mrs. Bradshaw was the only
other person in the room at her death ; during► Mrs.
Palmer's illness Mr. Palmer was very frequently in her
room, and in constant attendance upon her.
Mr. Dean : Before Mrs. Palmer went to Liverpool,
did Mr. Palmer ever attempt to take liberties with you ?
Mr. Smith objeeted to the question as most irregular
and unfair.
Air. Dean contended that he had a perfect right to ssk
the question, and that it was natural.
The Coroner thought it was a question which the
witness was not bound to answer.
Mr. Dean said it was necessary that the jury should

have an answer.
Mr Smith protested that the question was not only
unfair, but Mega 1; ,mr., Mau evidently wished to throw

some scandal
Mr D,an

111 aski
Mr.
called upon
prevent its being answered.
The Coroner said that, although he might not consider
it 'evidence, he shouldleave it to the jury ast o whether
they wished the question to be answered or not. Did the'
jury wish an answer?``
Several Jurors : Yes, yes.
,Mr. Smith could only protest against it. (To the
wltnes), You need not answer the question unless you
like.

e corn

Lo exercise his au:lioriy, and

The
uestion Foreman of' the jury: The jury wish to have the
q answered.
Witness (after a ase): I do not doubt thae would have taken liberties with me if I had given hihm
my cottent.

By the Coroner : Dr. Bamford attended Mrs. F'aliner
every day up to her death ; Mrs. Paltrier' told me that
she thought she had taken
cold by putting thin clothes
on at Liverpool; I do not knotv, exceptfrom hearsay,
that any intimacy existed between. Mr. Palmer and Mrs.

Miss Sarah Palmer examined : I reside at Rugeley ;
I knew Mrs: William Paltrier; I went with Mrs.'Palmer
Rtiots,rinteyvieey ,ripor,o.ilt,honhe Mr.odnudraiyno.thtehelBtihirneof, September, 1854 .
and returned to
with her on thet'following Wednesday; Whilst
ati,u Liverpool her health was' tolerably good, but on
oil. eqd,,Y, after arriving at Liverpool, she complained
being tired; on returning to Rugelely. on Wed-
nesday, she complained of being chilly and cold, and
said she thought she had ' taken a violent cold ; I.
saw her on the Saturday after she got home ; she then
again that she thought she had taken a violent
cold ; on the she
evening she was at a con-
--"re's Hail, and had a thin white
`'''"ll cold then ; when Mo.

Air: George Palmer (somewhat excited) : I have every
wish to give all the evidence I can in this case ; but
wish, Mr. Coroner, to say that Mr. Hawkins wilt never
leave that box without returning a verdict against my
brother.

At this stage of the proceedings the court adjourned for
half an hour. On the proceedings being resumed,
Mr. Smith said he was instructed on behalf of those
who employed him to request that Mr. Hawkins, one of
the jurors, and who had been instrumental in getting up
evidence against Mr. 'William Palmer, should at once
withdraw ; and in a case in which the life of a man might
be at stake, he thought that Mr. Hawkins' own judgment
would tell him that.)if he had either openly, or covertly,
had anything to do with getting up evidence, he ought in
decency, to withdraw.
The Coroner said Mr. Smith must be aware that if it
was desired to challenge a juror, it, ought to have been
done before the inquiry commenced, and that 'not having
been done, it was not in his power to discharge the juror
from attendance.

Mr. Smith having made the application, was satisfied.
Mr. W. H. Tyndall, the assistant actuary of the Atlas
Insurance Company, produced a proposal for the insur-
ance for £5OOO by Mr. William Palmer, on the life of his
wife Mrs. Annie Palmer. The proposal was declined.
By Mr. Smith : The proposal was received in February.
1854. The reason why it was declined was communicated
to Palmer. He was not aware-that the Atlas Company
had entered into arrangements with other companies to
defray the cost of this inquiry. He believed no such
arrangement had been made, because if it had, he should
have heard of it.
Mrs. Matilda Bradshaw deposed that she attended Mrs.
Palmer, as nurse, during her illness in September, 1854,
after her return from Liverpool" She told witness that
she took cold by putting on a thin dress at Liverpool,
atri that after she went to bed she had the bowel com-
plaint. When she attempted to get up in the morning
she began to vomit violently. She also told witness
that glir. Knight had attended her, and given her
some medicine, ,but soon after taking it the vomiting
returned ; she complained of weakness when witness
first saw her, and saidlto her, ‘. My dear Mrs. Bradshaw.
lam gild you have come, sit on the bed by me ; " Mr.
Palmer then left the room • witness asked her what was
,tter with her, 'and she said it was the sickness

the m

3 had taken

that exhausted her ; she was lick atte, _
anything;. during the time witness was with her she took
bread, wine and water, grapes, tea, gruel, and occasionally
toast and water, but not much of anything; almost every
thing that witness took to her, she refused, as it made
her more sick; she further said to witness that she
hoped her bowels would not trouble her again, or :she
should soon be dead; that was on the day before she
died ; witness remarked to Mr. Palmer that her bowels
were not acted upon, when he said that it was of no
consequence—that it was better for her as she took so
little support; witness attended her three days and a-half,
and her bowels were not moved during that time, nor
until the morning of her death; she then appeared very
weak and low; as:soon as her bowels were moved, she
did not vomit any more; she lived only three or four
hours after that; witness tried to persuade her to eat,
when she said, " I cannot take anything—my throat is
strained from the vomiting, and it hurts me."
By Mr. Deane : She frequently complained of her mouth
being dry;; the medical men that at her were Mr.
Bamford and Mr. Palmer ; witness gave her a mixture
and pills ; after taking the pills she slept more com-
fortably; she had also effervescent drafts which her hus-
band gave her ; she generally asked him for them. They
were not made in witness's presence ; Mr. Palmer
brought some water in a glass and something in a spoon.
Mr. Deane : Describe the symptoms of Mrs. Palmer's
death.

Witness : She appeared to go quite low and composed ;
she begged that witness would not trouble herself to give
her anything; she was quite sensible to the last; she had
no fits, convulsions, or spasms ; the last thing witness
gave her was some juice of grapes; no person but witness
and Mr. Palmer gave her food; Mr. Palmer came in and
out a good deal the morning she died.
Mr. Deane : Where was Mr. Palmer when his wife died?
Witness : He was down stairs; 1 rang the bell, and he
came up directly, but he did not remain ; he did not
(vac come round the bed; I said to him—" I fear Mrs.
Palmer is dying." He appeared very much hurt and
went out : he came back again almost immediately after-
wards ; he went out again, and I followed him into the
next room ; he appeared quite unconscious of what had
taken place; 1 offered him some brandy, and he said he
thought he had been asleep. He was unconscious, and I
rubbed his hands, and he appeared a little better ; I
remained with him a few minutes, until he had taken the
brandy. He said—" Mrs. Bradshaw, you must have
Mrs. Rowley to assist you ;" Mrs. Rowley and I laid out
the body, about which there was nothing peculiar. The
limbs were not stiff until the body was cold.
A Juror: Was Mr. Palmer with his wife during her
last hours ?
Witness : Yes.'

Mr. Smith :P,Vas the sacrament administered to her
before she died ?
Witness : Yes, on the day before, by the Rev. Mr.
Atkinson, the Vicar of Rugeley.
Mr. Smith : Did she ask him to pray for her husband
and her child ?

Witnes

I do not recollect whether she mentioned her
husband, but I remember that she asked him to' pray Or.
her dear little boy; I think she-did mention her-husbani,
Mr: Smith7.l Was Mr. Pali-her 'afflict:iodate towar,lB ho!s
?

•-• • Wi!11069 Yes, and he seemed to wish to do everything
f,,r. her comfort that lay in his power ; When he beery
that his wife was dead he seemed very -ale, and ver
much put about ; he shed tears. Mrs. Palmer was of ay retiring disposition, and she, frequently requested that
during' her illiteSs she should not soe anybody, but her husband—not even her own relatives; withess told Mrs.,
Wells on the night she came.

The witness was closely examined in reference to the
prayer Mrs. Palmer requested Mr. Atkinson to offer up
for liar child. She said she 'perfectly recollected Mrs.
Palmer 'asking that gentleman to offer up a pray
wo ed r for
her dear child, and expressed a wish that he
up to it. would live

[This portion of the witness's eviednce produced a most
impressive effect upon the court. She Was much affected
whilst giving this testimony, and the propriety of her
manner called forth the respectful approbation of all

Tesent.)

Mr. Wr --Bamford,— surgeon;- of Rugeley deposed to
visiting Mrs. Palmer on the 24th of September, 1854;
when she complained 9f nausea and debility, so much
so that it appeared painful to her to give an
answer. Her bowels were in a constipated
state, and had not been moved for twelve or fourteen
ellegot worse, he
prescribed for
ivfrs. hours.
Palmer,T h .The w i tandnes s
ut hl
tehnn
atel3,, stated,a
as what hsaht
requested that Dr. Knight, of Stafford, should be sent for.
Mr. Palmer consented, saying, ,‘ se.id for him instantly."
He was sent for at once and came. Mr. Palmer paid
every attention to his wife while witness was there. His
opinion was, that Mrs. Palmer died from a bilious
choleraic attack.
'.. Mr. Smith : What is your opinion about Mr. Palmer,
as a medical man ?
Witness : I decline to say any thing about him as a
professional man; he was a very gentlemanly person in
his manners.
Dr. Knight, physician, of Stafford, deposed to being
called in to see Mrs. Palmer, in September, 1854; in a
consultation which he had with lair. Palmer, thelatter

Palmeicomplained on the Wednesday evening, witness's
mother asked her to take some medicine, but she
declined to do so, but she afterwards consented to put
her feet in hot water; she complained of soreness at the
chest, ;and said she felt Very weak; she also appeared
Very low; witness said she would return on Sunday
morning and see her, when Mrs. Palmer said, " don't
hurry yourself, your mother is not well, and I have
William to take care of me ;" witness called on the
Sunday morning, and found her in bed ; on Tuesday
she called again, but did not see her, as she was toll
she was dying.
By Mr. Smith: My brother William generally attended
upon members of our family, personally, as a medical
his practice was nearly confined to the members
of his own family ; I ani not aware whether my brother
is aniember of the College of Surgeons, and of the Apo-
thecaries' company, bnt I know lie had a diploma which
is now in my mother's possession; Mrs. Palmer had a
life interest in a property which ceased at her death;
Mrs. Palmer was never particularly strong, and in the
summer of 1854 she was very delicate, and went to two
watering places fur the benefit of her health ; one day,
while at Buxton, in August 1851, Mrs. Palmer showed
witness her tongue; it Was in very bad condition, and
witness said, " Oh, Annie,' what is the matter with you ?"
to which she replied, " Itis'nearly always so ;" she said
that she had been in the habit of taking a great
deal of medicine, and attributed it to not having taken
any latdv.

• By Mi. Smith: On the road home from Liverpool,
Mrs. Palmer took no refreshment; they were on tho
road from half-past one, until twenty minutes before
five ; !hey took luncheon before they started from Liver-
pool, at about twelve o'clock.
Mr. George Palmer examined I am a solicitor at
Rtigeley, and am brother to William Palmer, now in
custody; I saw Mrs. Palmer, the deceased, the day she
returned from Liverpool, and she seemed unwell ; I saw
her in my brother's breakfast room, where she remained
about ten minutes ; I walked with her on her way
home, as far as the Talbot Inn.
Mr. Smith : Were yon present at your brother's sale?
Witness : I was.
Mr. Smith: Did you hear that during the sale certain
documents were found in a drawer in your brother's
house, and that Mr. Hawkins, one of the jury, handed
them over to Crisp, an officer of police, and that
afterwards they came into the hands of Mr. Gardner ?
Witnes : Yes.
Mr. Smith : What! a juryman getting up evidence.
Why, he ought to leave the box at once!
Mr. Gardner wished to explain hew the documents
came into his hands, but the Coroner said it had nothing
to do with tha enquiry.
Mr. Hawkins, the juryman, denied Me,
statement, and wished to be examined.
The Coroner again objected, on the ground of irre-
gularity.

Smith's

Mr. Smith again urged his point, and contended that
Mr. Hawkins ought to leave the box ; his presence
there was a mockery of justice. (Some cheers in court.)
I am peepared to prove, said Mr. Smith. emphatically.
that anonymous letters have beep written by a juryman,
and I will prove it before the case terminates. Let
that go to.the world.

said that Mrs. Palmer had been Eat Liverpool, and taken
the cholera, which was raging there. She was vomiting
very much, the retching being very distressing; she was
so much exhausted, that he could'-scarcely understand
what she stated ; he prescribed a draught,,consisting of
two minims of dilated prussic acid. Mr. Palmer pro-
mised that it should be administered immediately;
as far as witness could form a judgment of the case,
he thought it a severe form of English summer cholera;
after ordering the prescription witness walked into the
town, and called upon Mr. Bamford and other friends ;
he designedly remained two hours in the town before lie
"" Palmer's to inquire the effect produced

by then if
two hou

then took leave

if she lid nrt, con

t• hi -n

her death on the Sit
By Mr. Dune-: I
She. was the ,dauzh
sympto

gain aft

the Space of

mewhat relieved i he

Palmer th

ve he would inunediately
o Stafford that eveninm

r case until he heard of

v event'

Palmer's guard

r of Colonel Brooks ; from the
- - •

given me by Mrs. Brad s 1
hay

sysli should not sus-

pect poisoning by
to Mr. Palmer, cer

She died of English eL
the purpose of registrat