The Sun.
London, England, 1856-01-15 00:00:00

THE RUGELEY POISONING CASES.

INQUEST ON MR. WALTER PALMER.
IttfGELEY, JAN. 14.

This morning Mr. Ward, the coroner for the Stafford
district, held an inquiry, at the Town-hall, Rugeley, on
the body of Mr. Walter Palm, r, brother of Mr. William
Palmer, the Burgeon, whose death is supposed to have
been caused by poison, forming another in the link of
mysterious cases with which the public have of late be-
come so intimately acquainted.
Prior to the commencement of the proceedings, the
coroner produced the depositions in the case of Mrs.
Anne Palmer, held last week, together with the finding
of the jury, and the coroner issued his warrant against
him, committing him for trial at the ensuing assizes.
Mr. Gardner, solicitor, of Stafford, appeared as before
on behalf of the Crown to conduct the prosecution ; Mr.
Deane watched the proceedings on behalf of the insur-
ance cowpanies involved ; and Mr. John Smith, of
Birmingham, defended the accus4-d.
From the evidence taken to-day, and the cross exami•
nations that ensued upon it, it appeared that Walter
Palmer was, like his brother William, the accused, a
sporting man, and in the habit of attending races in dif-
ferent parts of the country. He was in the habit of
drinking to excess ; indeed he was rarely sober, and had
a severe attack of delirium p-evious to his death.
Dr. Ray, a surgeoti of Stafford, said that Walter
Palmer resided at Castletoa, in Staffordshire, and that
he (witness) was in the habit of attending him. On one
occasion he complained to witness that he bad given
him pills which twisted him, and witness was forcibly
struck with the remark, because he had neither given
nor prescribed pills for him, and it subsequently trans-
pired that they had been administered to him by his
brother William.

In cross-exs►mination witness admitted that he had
certified to an assurance company that Walter Palmer
was a man in perfect health and of temperate habits.
He did so upon the representations of William Palmer.
and correct-d that statement when he had ascertained
what were the true facts of the case.
Other witnesses were called to speak of the general
conduct of William Palmer to his brother, which was
kind and considerate. It appeared that they were to-
gether on the day before Walter's death, at his residence
at Castleton.
Mr. Mason, a druggist at Castleton, was examined in
reference to au alleged sale of prussic acid to William
Palmer on the day of his brother's death. He said it
was hie practice never to sell prussic acid to any but me-
dical practitioners, and he thought that if William
Palmer had purchased any he should find an entry in
his books. _

Th. enormous Rum of 23,0001 wag insured by William
Palmer on the life of his brother, and this circornitaoce,
it was stated, first led to suspicion, and the sudden death
of Mr. Cooke made it aiwume a more tangible torte.
Dr. Taylor Was present during the inquiry, but up to
the rising the' court he had not presented his report.
It may, ho '.ever, be stated that he has found prussic
acid in the body, and he will state his belief that Walter
Palmer's death was caused by that poison.
Shortly before 7 o'clock the inquiry was adjourned
until 10 o't flock to-morrow (Tuesday) morning, but it is
supposed t hat Dr. Taylor will not be examined before
Wednesday, on the evening of which day the coroner
expresses a hope that the inquest may be brought to a
close.

RUSSIAN PREPARATIONS IN THE BALTIC.—A letter
from St. Petersburg, of the 2d instant, in the Patric,
says :—" One of the points of the empire which it has
appeared to the Russian Government will be particularly
open to itlte attacks of, the allied fleets in the next cam-
paign willl be Archangel, the principal Russian e•tablieh-
ment in the White Sea The Couecil of War, during
its recent deliberations, decided on having a supplemen
tare line of defences constructed, and several batteries
-rested and mounted with gun- of the very longest range.
Orders bs.Fe becn,gi.vtn for•. conveying over the -snow in
sledVes to Archangel 42 pieces of artillery of large
calibre_ and owners of those vehicles have been called on
to tend, in tenders for the transport both of these guns
and o'c a variety of warlike stores. It is expected that
10,0(J0 militia will be stationed on the banks of the
No' ia, between the eapital and Cronstadt."