The Sun.
London, England, 1856-06-13 00:00:00

LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, 1 UNE 13. 1856.

THE CASE OF PALMER.

The following correspondence has passed between
Mr. John Smith and Sir George Grey

" To THE RIGIIT HON. SIR GEORGE GREY.

I" Sir, —Notwithstanding the unabated anxiety which
exists in the public mind relative to the fate of William
Palmer, I have postponed addressing you on his behalf
to the last moment. Long since his relations and friends
would have rushed, in the intensity of their grief, to the.
Home-office ; but, as I have been charged with this
matter of life and death from its commencement to the
present time, the arduous duty of appealing to you has
been delegated to rne. Let me, then, claim your largest
indulgence. I have now, when the sand of William
Palmer's life has run to the eleventh hour—when only
a few days stand between him and the grave, unless
your clemency be exercised in his behalf—to address you
as the head of that department which is recognised as
the last sanctuary of injured justice. To your judg-
ment and sense ofjustice alone I do submit myself ; al-
though since the period of your administration the re-
cords of mercy adorn it more than at any other time— '
notwithstanding murder in its blackest form had been
committed, and its perpetrator, under your wise and
merciful dispensation, has been allowed to make atone-
ment in exile or in solitude, still I shall not appeal to
your sense of mercy. I have merely to ask that a re-
spite should take place in the execution of William Pal-
mer until the grave and most important doubts, medi-
cal and circumstantial, connected with this case, are
brought •to an end ; no Matter how popular passion
may have been excited to its late state of madness
against my client, your spirit of justice must pause and
examine into the doubts that dr, exist. Sir, I trust that
you will not reverse one_pf the first principles of our
criminal code, but give to my client the full benefit of
doubt, if doubt is well founded. I therefore ground my
application for my client's respite,—
" First,—Upon- the character of Charles Newton,
Who was the principal witness upon the part of the
Crown, and whose antecedents were unfortunately un-
known to me at the time of trial ; as also upon the
character of Mills,. whose previous historY was, until a
day or two since, hidden froth me.
" Secondly,—Upon the absence of two witnesses who
could, as I believe, have given satisfactory proofs as to
the disposal of the poisons purchased by the prisoner, as
well as to the disposal of Cook's money.
" Thirdly,—Upon the discrepancy of the medical tes-
timony as to the power of finding of strychnia.
" And, lastly,—The Judge's charge.
" First, as to witnesses. The importance as to Chas.
Newton's testimony in procuring a conviction for the
Crown cannot be overrated. On the Monday night be-
fore Cook's death Newton said he sold strychnine to the
prisoner, and spon that night Cook was first seized with
symptoms of illness. The medical evidence for the Crown
pronounced this illneSs to have been connected with the
adaiinistration of strychnine ; but there was, however,
sufficient in the evidence of Chas. Newton to render him
a witness unworthy of belief. The hour which he fixed
for the delivery of the poison was incompatible with the
hour that the prisoner was seen at Stafford on the same
night. The suppression of all mention of the sale of
strychnine before the coroner, the consultation relative
to the power and effects of alkaloid which he represented
bad occurred between Palmer and himself, and the un-
feigned joy with which be represented Palmer to have
been seized when he lent to him his boyish knowledge of
the powers of strychnia—all those circumstances and in-
cidents rendered his testimony at the trial of such a na-
ture that even the consummate ability of the Attorney-
General could not deal with it as he wished, and there-
fore only touched upon it with the light and skilful
band of a master; yet the jury gave implicit faith to this
witness. I have now; sir, to tell you that this Charles
Newton has been twice in custody for theft at Notting-
ham, and that some of his acts are at present under in-
vestigation. Ought this man to be relied upon in a case
of life and death, under the circumstances I have narrat-
ed ? As to the witness Mills, she swore on the trial that
she slept with Mrs. Dutton, the mother of the man to
whom she states she is engaged. I assert upon unim-
peachable testimony that the mother of the men lives four
miles from her son's residence, and has not been in his
house for more than nine months. It may be said that
perjury by a witness to conceal the offence of fornication
is venial, and that the rest of the testimony of such wit-
ness can be perfectly relied upon. I cannot help think-
ing that any person who departs from the paths of
virtue, and then adds perjury to cover the shame, may
also commit perjury for motives not more worthy,
Again let me ask whether life should be sacrificed on
such testimony. I now, Sir, approach a most impor-
tant portion of the case—namely, the medical and che-
mical testimony. So much has been written, spoken,
and been before the world upon this point, that it re-
quires hut a few words from me. Sir, the point upon
which so much doubt exists has created a universal and
wide-spread feeling relative to the justice of the verdict.
Shall not my client have the advantage of all doubts I
Doubts have, ere this, brought unconditional pardon ;
doubts have brought a commutation of Vatushment.
Shall not doubt in the year '56 afford a nian a respite
.from death No man ought ever to ascend a scaffold
with a doubt attached to his guilt. Let not the first,
then, be that ill-fated man William Palmer, whom pre-
judice has long since consigned to -the gallows. Dr.
Letheby and Mr. Herapatb, two of the meat eminent
toxicologists of this day, upon their solemn oaths de-
eared that they could discover the 501000th part of a
grain of strychnia, and that if Wok died from that poi-
son they could now find it. Their opinions were con-
firmed by some of the most distinguished members of
the schools of London, Leeds, Edinburgh, and Dublin.
Yet the body of Cook did not yield to the manipulations
of Drs. Taylor and Rees the smallest particle of strych
nine. Since the unfortunate termination of the trial my
table has been laden with communications of scientific
men in confirmation of Dr. Letheby and others.
"If you honour me by your commands I shall be
proud to place the correspondence before you, although
I hope the facts in reference to Newton and Mills would
alone justify me in the strong assurance and un-
clouded hope that a respite, for the object of fur-
ther experiments and for the consequent eluci-
dation of truth, should be granted. Upon the
last point which I wish to call your attention to I must
to a certain extent be silent,—l allude to the charge of
the Lord Chief Justice. As an officer of his court I
owe to him every respect and duty, Bo that nothing but
the dearer interests of my client would induce me to
allude to him or his charge. I cannot, however, re-
train from saying that if a similar rule existe I in the
criminal law as does in civil law, my Lord Chief Jus-
tice's charge would be open, as I am advised, to the im-
putation of misdirection. The public press and the
voice of public opinion have unanimously condemned
this charge as one-aided and mistaken. Upon this point
I pray your earnest attention.

" I have now touched upon the few topics I origi-
nally undertook to bring under your notice ; they aro
selected from a pile of matter from which I might have
chosen materials far more redeeming to and beneficial fur
my client.
"I, however, sincerely trust I have given sufficient
reasons to postpone the hour of death, and that the 14th
instant, which will witness a day of universal joy with
our brave allies, the French, in the baptism of Napoleon
IV., may not on that day bathe in tears of bitterness,
sorrow, and degradation the relatives and friends of the
unfortunate William Palmer. May I seik as early an
answer as may be compatible with the consideration of
this sincere application ?
"I am, Sir, your most obedient servant,
"JOHN SMITH,"

" Whitehall, June 12, 1856.

" Sir,—Secretary Sir George Grey has received and
considered considered your letters of the 10th and 11th instant, in
behalf of William Palmer, and he directs me to inform
you that he can see nothing in any of the points that
you have pressed upon his attention which would justify
him in interfering with the due course of law in this
case.

"I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
" H. WAD DINGTON.
" Mr. J. Smith, Bacon's Hotel, Great Queen•street."

The preparations for the execution are nearly com-
pleted. There will be several very strong barriers
erected for the purpose of preventing accidents, as, from
the excitement that prevails upon the subject, it is ex-
pected that the crowd will be greater than ever was
known on any similar occasion. The magistrates yes-
terday issued the following notice :

meanour was exactly that of the poisoner's. 'We have
referred to the newspapers of his time in aid of our pre-
vious knowledge of the case, and they present a com-
plete confirmation of the simple fact for which we con-
tend. From day to day during his imprisonment before
his trial he is described as " collected and resolute in
his demeanour," as "rather mild and conciliato9y in his
address," as being visited by " friends wheal he receives
with cheerfulness," as "remaining firm and unmoved,"
as "increasing in confidence as the day which is to de-
cide bis fate draws nigh," as "speaking of the favourable
result of the trial with his usual confidence." On his
trial he looks "particularly well and healthy." His
attention and composure are considered as wonderful
as the poisoner's ; be writes notes as the poisoner did ;
he watches the cases with the same cool eye ;'.the " re-
tains that firmness for which, from the moment of his
apprehension, helhas been distinguished ;" be "carefully
assorts his papers on a desk near him ;" he ie (in this
being singular) his own orator, and makes a speech in
the manner of Edmund Kean, on the whole not very
unlike that of the leading counsel for the poisoner, con-
cluding, as,to his own innocence, with a So help me God !
Before his trial the poisoner says be will be at the corn-
ing race for the Derby. Before his trial Thurtell
says " that after his acquittal he will visit his
father, and will propose to him to advance the
portion which he intended for him, upon which
he will reside abroad." So Mr. Manning ob-
served, under similar circum,tances, that when all
that noasense was over, and the thing wound up, he had
an idea of establishing himself in the West Indies.
When the poisoner's trial is yet to last another day or
so, he enjoys his half-pound of steak and his tea, wishes
his best friends may sleep as he does, and fears the grave
"no more than his bed." (See the " Evening Hymn
for a Young Child.") When Thurtell's trial is yet to
last another day or so he takes his cold meat, tea, and
coffee and " enjoys himself with great Comfort ;" also,
on the morning of his execution, he Uwakes from as in-
nocent a slumber as the poisoner's, declaring that he has
had an excellent 'night, and that he hasn't dreamed
"about this business./ Whether the paratiel.isill .held
to the last, all to " feeling very well and very comfort-
able," as to "firm step and perfect calmness," as to
" the manliness and correctness of his general conduct,"
as to " the countenance unchanged by the awfulness of
the situation"—not to say as to bowing to a friend from
the scaffold "in a friendly but dignified manner"—our
readers will know for themselves when we know too.—
Household Words.

Sporting Intelligence

ASCOT RACES.-VISIT OF ROYALTY.

Since the memorable visit of the late Emperor
Nicholas to Ascot such excitement as characterised
yesteiday has not been manifested by the metro-
polis. Ascot would be a dull affair on the grand
day if it was not a rule seldom departed from that
the reigning Sovereign honours the course by being
present at the contest for the great prize. From
an early hour yesterday morning numbers of cabs
and other vehicles were engaged in conveying, not
only the sporting world, but also the miscellaneous
class of holiday-folk to the Great Western and
South-Western Railways, and several of the sport-
ing houses had special vehicles engaged to convey
their frequenters by road to the fashionable rendez-
vous. The aristocracy, the corps diplomatique,
and many fashionables who had sent their equi-
pages forward to Windsor, travelled by the Great
Western Railway, whilst the humbler classes, in
consequence of the rail passing within 400 yards of
the grand stand,' proceeded by the South-Western.

Mr. G. Payne, Mr. J. M. Stanley, Mr. W. P.
Honey wood, Mr. R. Magenis, Mr. C. Greville,
Mr. Rudston Read, Mr. G. W. Fitz william, Mr.
Jacques, Mr. Norman Macdonald, Mr. George
Elope, Mr. Cavendish Fitzroy, Mr. A. Lumley,
and many others. We have omitted the names of
the numerous lady visitors.
The sport was decided as under :
Sweepstakes of 50 sous each, h it, for three-yr-olds ;
colts, Bst 71b ; fillies, 84 31b. Certain allowances.
Swinley Course. One mile and a half. 10 subs.
Baron R ,thschild's Comedy, 7st 131 b (Charlton) 1
Duke of Bedford's Tyre, Bst 31b (S. Rogers) 2
Mr. Gulliver's Illuminator, Bst 31b (Yates) 3
Betting-5 to 4on Tyre, sto 2 agst Illuminator, 7to
2 agst Comedy. Won cleverly by half a length ; a neck
between the second and third.

The Visitors' Plate of 100 sovs, and 25 sow to the se-
cond horse, by subscriptions of 5 sovs each, the sur-
plus to go to the fund. Once round and a distance.
31 subs.
Lord Anglesey's Astrologus, 3 yrs, sst 131 b . _

- - - -
(Fordham) 1
Baron Rothschild's Hungerford, aged, Bst 7lb
. . _

- (Charlton) 2
Mr. J. M. Stanley's Mishap, 5 yrs, 7st 21b (T. Cliff) 3
The following also ran :—Mayboy, Raphael, Lundy-
foot, King Cob, and Lawn.,

Betting-3 to 1 asst Hungerford, 4to 1 each eget
Astrologus and Mishap, and sto 1 agst Lawn. At
first 3 to 1 was taken about Astrologus. Won by a neck;
a length between the second and third. Mayboy and
Lawn were fourth and fifth, well up with Mishap, and
just behind them were King Cob and Lundyfoot, close
together ; Raphael was beaten off, and did not pass the
post.

The Gold Cup, value 300 sovs, by subscriptions of 20
sovs each, with 200 added. Three•yr-olds, 6st 101 b ;
four, Bst fib ; five, 9st ; six and aged, 9st 31b. Mares
and geldings allowed 31b. About two miles and a
half. 9 subs.

Mr. S. Walker's Winkfield, 5 yrs, 9st(Bartholomew) 1
Mr. T. Parr's Sancebox, 4 yrs, Bst 51b .(Wells) 2
Mr. W. H. Brook's Manganese, 3 yrs, list 71b
too 6.,.
_ _ .

Lord Clifden's Homily, 4 yrs, Bst 21b ..,...(A. Day; 4
Lord Ciifden'e Simorrr, 4 yrs, Bst 21b (Sly) 5
Betting-2 to lon Manganese, 7to 2 agst Saucebox,
12 to 1 agst Winkfield, 20 to 1 agst Simony (offered),
at one time 4to 1 was taken about Simony. Simony
took a lead of about three lengths, Saucebox going on
second, Manganese third, Winkfield fourth, and Homily
last. They ran thus to the Royal Stand, where Man.
ganese, pulling hard, rushed into the second place,
Saucebox being third, well laid up ; the other two
being separated from them by upwards of six lengths.
On going down the hill, past the Swinley post, Simony
increased her lead, and was soon fully a dozon lengths
ahead, the others following in Indian file, at inter-
vals of about a length and a half. On approach.
ing the Brick-kiln turn, Simony gradually gave
way, and soon afterwards dropped into the rear, and
Homily passed Winkfield. Manganese then went on
with the running, followed by Saucebox, Homily, and
Winkfield, in the order named. As they ascended the
hill towards the last turn Winkfield drew into the third
place, and on entering the Straight was in close attend.
ance upon Saucebox. At the distance Saucebox reached
Manganese's shoulders, Winkfield biding his time at his
quarters ; half way up Fordharn called upon Manganese,
who made a faint effort only, and Winkfiell then came
our, and won easily by three lengths ; a length and a
half between the second and third ; bad fourth. Simony
was pulled up, and walked in.
Handicap Sweepstakes of 5 soirs each, with 50 added, for
two and three year olds. Half a mile. 27-subs.

Mr. J. M. Stanley's Oltenitza, by the Flying Dutch-
man, 3 yrs, Bst 41b (Ashman) 1
Mr. Hope's Sly Fellow, 3 yrs, Bst 121 b (A.ldcroft) 2
Capt. Christie's Tho Abbott, 2 yrs, Est 71b (Fordhatn) 3
Mr. Merry's Cara Fatima, 2 yrs, 7st 7th (J. Hall) 4
The following also ran :—Flying Duchess, Mirage,
Pretty Girl, Bonnets o'Blue, °bow, Annot Lyle, Rou-
lade, Fie, Salonica, Perfume, Giles, Cinderella, and
Inspiration. _ .

Betting--5 to 2 agst Perfume, sto 1 agst Oltenitza
and Mirage, 12 to 1 agst Pretty Girl. Oltenitza made
most of the running, and won by two lengths ; a length
separated the second from the third ; and two lengths
the third from the fourth ; Chow was fifth ; Annot Lyle
sixth; Fi3 seventh ; Perfume eighth, and Flying Duchess
ninth, tolerably well up.

The New Stakes of 10 soya each, with 50 added, for
two-yr-olds ; colts, 8-,t 7lb ; fillies, Bst 31b. Certain

winners extra. T.Y.C. 49 subs.
Mr. Den net's fby Red Hart—Subterfuge (Fordham) 1
Mr. Howard's Goldfinch, 83t 71b (Wells) 2
Mr. Howard's Schiedam, 83t 71b (J. Goater) 3
The following also ran :—Somerset, Y.rkshireman,
Equity, Equinox, Black Tommy, Aspasta, Double Glos-
ter, S donica, The Duke, c by Colltny,rwood—El. Ad-
miral Lyons, Sydney, The Zouave, Queen Bess, King-
maker, Boscobel, and Gulliver. _ _

Betting—Even on Goldfinch, 6 t' 1 agst Aspasia, 10
to 1 each agst Double Gloster, Gulliver, and Black
Tommy. Subterfuge filly made all the running, and
after a fine race in with the favourite won by a neck, two
lengths between the second and third, Aspaßia was a
good fourth, Sydney was fifth, Double Gloster sixth,
Equity seventh, Somerset beading the next lot. On re-
turning to scale the owner of Goldfinch lodged an ob-
jectio❑ against the Subterfuge filly, on the plea that she
was not the proper age.

The St. Jame4's Palace Stakes of 100 sous each, h ft,
for three.yr-olds ; colts, Sat 71b; fillies, fiat 4!b. Old

mile. 15 subs.
Mr. Combo's Pitapat, B.t 71b (BArtholomew) 1
Mr. Ho ivard's Spindle, Bst 41b (Wells) 2
Mr. W. Peel's Grampian, Bst 71b . (1. Day) 3
Betting-5 to 4on Pitapat, sto 2 agst Grampian, 3
to 1 agst Spindle. The favourite made all the running,
and won by a length ; same distance betwee❑ the second
and third.

The Windsor Forest Stakes of 50 sovs eacb, h ft, for
three.yr-olds ; fillies Sit 71b each. Certain penalties.
Old mile.

Mr. Harland's Mirage, 83t 74b

(Basham) w.o.

lIAMPTO2
Acceptances; for the Surri

NT RACES.
!ey and Middlesex Stakes.

_
Age st lb Age st lb
Saucebox
Winkfield
Veteran
\Vantage
Lucy Lockit
Redemption

HER MAJESTY'S VISIT TO ASCOT.

(From the Court Newsman,. )
WINDSOR, THURSDAY.

The Queen went to-day to Ascot races. Her Majesty
and his Royal Highness the Prince Consort, with the royal
visitors and suite, left the Castle in 11 carriages and four,
at 20 minutes past 12 o'clock. The attendants, and also
the outriders, were in scarlet liveries.
The first (open) carriage conveyed her 31,jesty the
Queen and their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cam-
bridge, the Regent of Baden, and Prince Frederick Wil-
liam of Prussia.
The second carriage conveyed their Royal Highnesses
Prince Albert, the Princess Royal, the Princess Mary of
Cambridge, and the Prince of Wales.
The third carriage conveyed their Royal Highnesses the
Princess Alice, the Duke of Cambridge, the Prince Alfred,
and the Countess de Persigny.
The fourth carriage conveyed the Duchess of Sutherland,
the Countess do Bernstorff, the French Ambassador, and
the Duke of Wellington.
The fifth carriage conveyed Lady Macdonald, the Coun-
tess of Clarendon, the Prussian Minister, and the Earl of
Eglinton.
The sixth carriage conveyed Lady Geraldine-Somerset,
the Countess of Bessborough, and Lieut.-General Baron
Schreckenstein.

The seventh carriage conveyed Lady Caroline Barring-
ton, the Marquis of Abercorn, and the Earl of Clarendon.
The eighth carriage conveyed the Hon. Lucy Kerr, the
Hon. Mary Bulteel, Lord Waterpark, and Colonel Baron
Seutter.

The ninth carriage conveyed Baron de Moltke, Capt. de
Heinz, Lord George Lennox, and Major Home Purves.
The char-a-bane conveyed Lieut. de Schreckonstein,
Baron do Gernmingen, the Hon. Mortimer Sackville West,
and Major-Goner:al Berkeley Drummond.
The eleventh carriage conveyed Colonel Tyrwhitt, Dr.
Ullman, and Mr. Gibbs.
Prince Albert, the Duke of Cambridge, and the Gentle-
men of the Royal Household, appeared in the Windsor
uniform. _ _

The Dake of Buecleuch and Viscount Palmerston rode
on horseback to the race course.
The Equerries in Waiting, Lord Charles Fitzroy and
Captain the Hon. D. de Rom, attended her Majesty on
horseback.
The Lord Steward, the Lord Chamberlain, and the Mas-
ter of the Buck Hounds, preceded the Queen to the Royal
Stand.
six o'clock.
Her Majesty returned from the races at 25 minutes be-
fore The Queen
evening. The banquet was served in St. George's Hall, on
gave a dinner to a numerous party in the
the magnificent service of gold plate. The table was deco-
rated with epergnes and wine coolers in silver gilt, the
former being filled with artificial flowers. The large " St.
George" candelabrum, supporting 12 wax lights, was
placed opposite her Majesty, and other candelabra also
filled with wax lights wore displayed the whole length of
the table.
On the buffets erected at each end of the hall were
arranged a large selection of the choicest specimens of the
royal treasury. At the base of the west buffet were four
large shields • two of them enriched with designs illus-
trating the feasts of the gods—one of them a battle, and
the fourth the chars. The middle of the base was occu-
pied by the beautiful architectural fountain in gold and
silver, to which horses are being led to drink, from the
Irish Exhibition. The compartment above was filled:with
crystal and jewelled vases and cups, golden bulb cups, and
tankards and cups elaborately carved in ivory and enriched
with pi ecious stones—the national cup of St. George oc-
cupyinc, the centre. Above these was placed the shield
presented by the King of Prussia to his godson, the Prince
of Wales, with other articles of rare workmanship and
value ; and, above all, on the top, was the urn, one of the
spoils of the great Spanish Armada.
On the opposite buffet the principal object was the shield
of Achilles, designed by Flaxman, with a great number of
other beautiful and interesting articles of gold plate. Botb
buffets were most brilliantly lighted by numerous sconces
and candelabra of silver gilt.
Tho couvalli inolude4 theirßoyal Eillumen the
_ _