The Sun.
London, England, 1855-12-29 00:00:00

THE SUSPECTED POISONING CASE AT

.RUGELEY.

The astounding facts which 'have been brought to
light with respect to this fearful affair are prompting the
still more zealous investigation of the case by the police
authorities of the county. The accused, whose death has
been announced during the week in several of the London
and provincial journals and subsequently contradicted, is
still a prisoner in the gaol at Stafford ; and although he
refused to take food for nearly a week previous to his
arrest, and since then up to Thursday last, on that day
he was induced to take nourishment, after being threat-
ened that food would be forcibly administered to him if
he still refrained from taking it. He is now in tolerably
good health, and perfectly free from any disease calcu-
lated to cause death.

Before the apprehension of the prisoner, William
Palmer, he sent for the postboy who was engaged to con-
vey the contents of the stomach and intestines of the late
Mr. J. P. Cook to the railway station, preparatory to
their transmission to Professor Taylor for analysation in
London, and offered 101. if he would upset the convey-
ance and break the jars.
Since the prisoner's apprehension, it will be remem-
bered that the whole of his fine stud of horses and other
effects were seized ander a bill of sale for 10,500/. by a
solicitor from Birmingham ; and it is now rumoured that
the prisoner will be declared a bankrupt. It is also
stated that three writs have bees' served on Mre.Palmer,
the prisoner's mother, a lady residing at Rugeley, for
the recovery of bills amounting to between 10,000/. and
20,0001., said to have been accepted by her on behalf
of the prisoner, and which are now alleged to be for-
geries.

last week).
The analyses of the stomachs and intestines of the
prisoner's wife and brother, Walter Palmer (whose
bodies were exhumed at Rugelay
is still
being prosecuted by Professor Taylor ; and although the
analysis is at present incomplete, a small portion of
arsenic has been found in the intestines of Mre. Palmer,
on whose life there was an assurance of 13,0001. effected,
and which the prisoner had shortly before wished to in-
crease to more than double that amount.
It is not improbable but that six or seven other bodies
will be exhumed before the investigation of the case H
completed—one of which is said to be that of a gentle.
man of London, who, a year or two ago, visited the
prisoner for the purpose of receiving payment of a large
deLt owing him, and who, although then in good
health, after four or five days' illness, died at the pri-
soner'e house.
deceased Mr. Cook has at present proved fruitless.
Evsry effort to find the betting-book belonging to the

THE BURNOPPIELD MURDER.

NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, FRMAY.

The adjourned inquest on the body of Mr. R. Stir-
ling was yesterday
es beforehead Mr.
appearedJ. M.
Filven,choreoldneart. Bmurr.n
J.
filieludnytee:te,orilGa
for the prosecution, and Mr. Stoker, of Newcastle,
for the prisoners, Richard Rayne and John Cain, alias
"Whisky Jack, who were present, as were also the
father and brother of the unfortunate deceased. Some
additional evidence having been adduced on behalf of the
prosecution, arid five witnesses for the prisoners examined,
it was suggested by Mr. Stoker that, as he bad six other
witnesses to examine, the Court should adjourn. The
coroner and jury immediately concurred in the sugges-
tion, and the inquiry was consequently further adjourned
till the 4th of January.