The Sun.
London, England, 1856-01-12 00:00:00

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THE SUN; LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, JANUARY 12, 1856.

THE RIIGELBY POISONING CASES.

or shame upon the girl, and thus to invalidate or woaken
her testimony.
Mr. Deane contended that the question was one which
was perfectly regular, according to the law of coroners' in-
quests. To Mr. Smith's last objection he replied that if
the tendency of his question was that which Mr. Smith
hinted, surely he (Mr. Smith) was not the person to com-
plaio.

and was half filled with water. He put the mixture into
the water, and when he stirred it with a spoon it effervesced.
The mixture looked like the ordinary effervescing draughts;
and she frequently said that the preparation was more re-
freshing, and did her more good than anything else. She
would take those draughts two or three times in tho course
of the day. She was sick in a few minutes after taking
food. She had a little port wine and water. I don't know
that she had au injection. Mr. Bamford did not give me
instructions to give one. I was in the room when she
died. She appeared to go quite low and composed, and
for some time before she begged I would not trouble her to
give her anything. I did not notice anything particular in
her breathing. She appeared quite sensible to the last.
She was never otherwise night or day during the time that
I was with her. She had no convulsions or spasms. It
was two or three hours before her death that she told me
not to trouble her. The last thing she took before her death
was the juice of some grapes. I asked her to take some
grapes. She said that she could not suck them, when I
replied, " I can squeeze them into a spoon." I did so, and
put it into her mouth, when she looked at me in a very
pleasing manner, and said, " Oh, that was very nice." This
was before the purging which preceded her death. No one
else besides Mr. Palmer and myself gave her anything dur-
ing the time that I was there. He did not give her any-
thing the day that she died. He was with her very fre-
quently—corning into the room very often. Mr. and Mrs.
George Palmer• came to see her in her illness. I don't re-
collect whether Mr. Thirlby called to see her. The deceased's
vomit appeared a good deal like that of people who are
troubled with bile. It was like discoloured water of a
rather yellow hue. It was thin, but not quite so thick as
gruel. It was not frothy. She said nothing about the time
she died except that she hoped I would not allow any
strange people to come about her to do anything for her,
but do everything myself. Mr. Palmer came up when I
rang the bell after Mrs. Palmer had died. He did not quite
come round the bed. I said to him, " I fear Mrs. Palmer
is dying." He appeared very much hurt, and went out
into the next room and returned again directly. I think
that then she was gone. After she was dead I stayed with
her 20 minutes. I went into the next room to Mr. Palmer.
He appeared quite unconscious of what had taken place.
I asked him to take a little brandy. Upon this he looked
at me, and said he thought he had been asleep, rubbed his
hands, and he appeared a little better. I gave him the
brandy before rubbing his hands. I got the brandy from
Eliza, the servant girl, who brought it from down stairs. I
remained a few minutes with him after he had taken the
brandy, and he appeared a little batter. He said, " Mrs.
Bradshaw, you must have Mrs. Rowley to assist you." Mrs.
Rowley came up stairs immediately afterwards, as she was
in the house at the time. Mrs. Rowley and I laid out the
body. There was nothing peculiar in the appearance of the
body. The limbs were not stiff till she was cold.
By Mr. Smith—Mr. Palmer was with her several times
shortly before she died. On the day before she died she
took the Sacrament in my presence. The ordinance was ad-
ministered by the Rev. Mr. Atkinson, the vicar of Rugeley.
I can't say positively whether she said to Mr. Atkinson,
" Pray for my dear husband and my dear little boy," but
she did say, " Pray for my dear little boy." Mr. Palmer
appeared affectionate to his wife, and he appeared to be
anxious to do everything for her comfort that lay in his
power. When Mr. Palmer knew that his wife was dead he
went very pale and seemed very much put about, and he
shed tears. Mrs. Palmer was very much of a retiring dis-
position, and when I urged her to see Mrs. George Palmer
and others, she refused, and said that she could not see any
one, not even her own relations. She begged that I would
not suffer any one to come. I told Mrs. Wells that on the
night that she came. The deceased was dozing at the time.
The pills that she took were to compose and comfort her.
When the Rev. Mr. Atkinson was with her he said that he
feared that she was not able to bear his reading to her, but
he Loped she would send for him again. She then asked
him to pray for her "dear little boy," and when he was
gone she appeared very much affected, and said she hoped
he would always live up to that. I am not certain whether
she mentioned her husband. I tasted the wine and water,
for I was afraid of giving it her too strong. I believe that
I tasted everything but the effervescing draughts. While
I was down stairs the accused might have given something
to the deceased, but I do not know that he did.
Mr. Clarke, a juryman, here asked the witness whether
she tasted the pills ?
Witness—No.

RUGELEY, JAN. 11.
The inquests upon the bodies respectively of Walter
and Anne Palmer, the deceased brother and wife of 'Wil-
liam Palmer, late surgeon of this town, who has been com-
mitted upon the coroner's warrant, charged with the wilful
murder of William Parsons Cook, were resumed this morn-
ing in the Town-hall, here, before Mr. W. W. Ward,
coroner, and a jury of 22 gentlemen, of whom Mr. W.
Foy: ke was the foreman.

Mr. Smith—lt is irregular, that is all. I appeal to the
coroner to decide this question.
The Coroner—lf you ask me whether it is evidence, I say
it is not; but if the jury wish the question to be answered
I should be sorry to prevent them from having the infor-
mation.

Mr. John Smith, of Birmingham, solicitor, was present
to watch the case on behalf of William Palmer, who is
suspected of having poisoned the deceased. A large num-
ber of assurance companies were also represented by Mr.
Deane, solicitor, of London ; and, as before, Mr. Gardi-
ner, solicitor, of Stafford, conducted the case for the
Crown.

Mr. Smith—l object to it as illegal ; and I appeal to the
jury to decide whether it is legal or not.
The Coroner appealed to the jury whether they wished
to hear the answer ?

The jury decided in the affirmative.
Mr. Smith then called upon the coroner to exercise the
authority which, as judge, he possessed in that court, and
not permit statements to be made which were not evidence.
The Coroner refused to prevent the answer being ob-
tained on account of the desire of the jury to hear it; but
the witness, he said, was not obliged to answer it.
Mr. Smith (to the witneis)—You are not obliged to
answer the question.
Mr. Deane then pressed the witness for an answer.
Witness—l don't doubt but he would have taken liber-
ties if I had given him consent.
Cross-examined by Mr. Smith—l never hoard Mrs. Pal-
mer say that she thought she was suffering from English
cholera. She said that she thought she had taken cold
from putting on thin clothes. Mr. Palmer appeared kind
to his wife and to all about him. I heard of a Mr. Thurlby,
a surgeon, having been called in, as well as the other sur-
geon already named, but Ido no know that he was. Ido
not know, excepting from hearsay, that the lady who called
to see the deceased from Abbots Bromley was a friend of
the deceased.

When the jury had assembled the Coroner said that the
inquest was adjourned because Dr. Taylor had-not com-
pleted his analyses. That witness had not yet arrived,
and in his absence he proposed to take the evidence which
was reayd as to the post mortem examination.
Mr. Smith objected to any medical testimony being
taken in the absence of Dr. Taylor.
The Coroner said that the evidence might be read over
to Dr. Taylor when he arrived.
Mr. Smith said that his reasons for making the objec-
tion were that many questions might arise in the mind of
Dr. Taylor while the evidence was being given, which
might not occur to him if the depositions were simply read
over to him. It was important that Dr. Taylor should hear
the testimony of the medical witnesses, because, upon
their statement as to the appearance of the body at the
time of the post mortem examination might arise a series
of qaestions as to appearances then observed, tending to
confirm or refute any opinion which Dr. Taylor might en-
tertain as to death having been occasioned by poisoning or
by natnral causes.
Mr. Deane pressed the same objection, and the coroner
yielded.
Ann Rowley was then called and examined by Mr.
Deane—She deposed that she was a charwoman, and was
for a long time frequently employed by Wm. Palmer.
During Mrs. Palmer's illness he frequently took broth and
other refreshment to her oat of the kitchen. Witness
added—l attended her during her illness and assisted to
lay her out. There were no particular appearance about
the body. Mrs. Bradshaw was the only nurse in the house
at the time ef Mrs. Palmer's death, and Eliza Therms was
tke general servant. Mr. Thos. Hall was the undertaker at
Mrs. Palmer's funeral, but he was not present when the
body was screwed down. I saw the body again this morn-
ing, and it was the same thkt I saw when the coffin was
first opened after it was exhumed. It was the body of Mrs.
Anne Palmer.

Sarah Palmer, the sister-in-law of the deceased, said she
remembered having accompanied the deceased to Liver-
pool. While there she was tolerably well, but on the
Tuesday they were is Liverpool they went into the town
and came home tired, and Mrs. Palmer Pat fatigued upon
the sofa. When she arrived back at Itugeley (the witness
oputinued) she sat by the fire, took some tea, and com-
plained of being very cold. My brother advised her to
take some medicine and put her feet in warm water, but
she declined to do so. I did not go home with her from
the railway station, but left her on her way up. She told
me what I have stated when 1 called on the following Sa-
turday, on which day I was with her from 2 o'clock in the
afternoon until Bin the evening. I should say, however,
that on the Tuesday evening we went to the concert at
St. George's-hall, in Liverpool, when she was dressed i❑
a thin white dress. On the Saturday she complained of
a cold in her chest, and said that she felt sore. When
I left her on Saturday evening I said I would call
again on the morrow, but she said that I need not hurry,
my mother being ill. I saw her again on Sunday evening,
audsgain on the next Tuesday, and that was the last time
that I saw her. When we went to Liverpool we intended
to stay until Thursday, but came home on Wednesday,
because the deceased felt unwell. I don't say, however,
that she was ill.

Cross-examined by Mr. Smith—During the whole time
of Mrs. Palmer's illness and all the time that I knew him
since he was married, ha appeared to live comfortably with
his wife. They lived very comfortably together. He was
kind to all about him.

Mr. H. S. Bergen, superintendent of police, was next
sworn. He said—l live at Lichfield. I was present at the
po4 9nortem, examination which was made upon the body
of Mrs. Palmer, first, by Dr. Moncton, and then by Mr.
Hugh Warren, the latter on the 21st ult.
Cross-examined by Mr. Smith—l do not know that In-
spector Field was down in this neighbourhood after Walter
Palmer's death. I don't know such a person as Inspector
Field. It has been erroneously stated that he is now in this
neighbourhood. I have been in communication with no
assurance companies or their agents, except with one gen-
tleman who is now present.
At this period of the examination, about 10 o'clock,
Dr. Taylor entered the hall. He was accompanied by one
or two other gentlemen, including a secretary for an assur-
ance company who had been summoned as a witness.

By Mr. eaue—l walked up only part of the way with
the deceased from the railway station at Rugeley. My
brother George accompanied Mrs. William Palmer from
my mother's house (which is half way between the rail-
way station and her house), my sister having stayed at my
mother's to rest herself.
Mr. Smith—l should like it to be known that the ac-
cused was a duly qualified surgeon. I know this of a cer-
tainty, but the contrary has been stated.
By Mr. Smith—My brother used to attend as well as
prescribe for us all when we were ill. His practice was
almost confined to his own family.
Mr. Smith then put questions to the witness with a
view to ascertain whether she knew that her brother (the
accused) was a member of the College of Surgeons as well
as an associate of Apothecaries'-hall.
Mr. Deane—There have been found among his papers
evidence which proves that he was a duly qualified
surgeon.

. _
Eliza Tharme, the servant before referred to, next came
up. On being sworn she said—l live at Colloid. I entered
the service of the accused on New Year's day in the year
1854. I was general servant, and I lived with him two
years. I remember Mrs, Palmer being taken ill. It was at 5
o'clock on a Wednesday evening, the 20th of September,
1854. She was taken with sickness the next morning. She
came home from Liverpool on the Wednesday evening,
having left hone on the previous Monday. When she came
hone she complained of illness, and said that she thought
sho had taken cold. She went to bed at about half-past 9
o'clock. She did not take any refreshment before she went
to bed, except some tea at lealf-past 5, which tea I prepared.
She drank two cups of tea, and ate some cold meat. On
the following morning I saw her between 8 and 9 o'clock,
and she complained of being ill, but she did not know what
was the matter with her. She was in bed. Shortly after-
wards Mr. Palmer took her up a cup of tea, without milk,
but with sugar, and a little dry toast. I went up after-
wards to ask if she would have some more tea. She said
she would not. She had drunk the tea and bad eaten a
little of the toast, but she would not have any more. Be-
tween 10 and 12 o'clock I went up stairs again, and asked
how she was ? *he said she was no better, and complained
of being sick. I saw that she had vomited ; but she had
not been purged.
By a Juryman—Did any one take tea with her on the
previous night ?
Witness —No one.
Did you prepare the tea at night and in the morning?
Witness—Yes.

Witness—l know that my mother has had his diploma
iu her possession for some time.
The Coroner—l have seen documents which give the
date of his licence. The document is dated the 10th of
August, 1816.

By Mr. Smith—During her five confinements I attended
her. The accused appeared very attentive to his wife, but
did not take her anything„ because I was there to do it. He
was always particular in seeing that the jellies and broth
were made pleasing to his wife's palate, and was
afraid that I should give her strengthening food too early.
She did not like sugar or butter. She took a little sugar
iu her tea, but I never saw her take any butter during her
illness. She did not like butter or salt.
Mr. Smith—My object in wishing this to be put down
is to show that if the deceased's taste was accustomed to
everything so plain she would have instantly discovered
anything that was foreign to it.
Mr. Bamford, the surgeon referred to, said that when he
was called in to the deceased he found her in bed, labouring
under nausea, and so much debility, that she had great dif-
ficulty in giving him an answer. She did not appear to
have vomited then. Her bowels were in a very constipated
state, and did not appees to have been moved for 12 or 14
hours. I prepared her (he said) two pills, to be taken im-
mediately, and in four hours after an opening draught.
This was on the Sunday. I called again the next day, and
desired that Dr. Knight should be called in. I declined to
prepare any more medicine till Dr. Knight should have met
sue. Dr. Knight came and saw her in the afternoon of
Monday, and he prescribed two small pills. Mr. Palmer
and the nurse were present with Dr. Knight. The bowels
were in so constipated a state that it was necessary to give
a medicine that would act upon the bowels; but he did
not write a prescription. Finding her with a feeling of se
much nausea, Dr. Knight thought that she would retain a
pill better than anything else. I prepared six or eight pills,
but she took only one. They were made of 2 grains of the
compound extract of colocynth, a 1 grain of calomel, and a
little oil of carraway. After I had prepared the pills I took
them down to Mr. Palmer, and they were sent up stairs. I
then suggested to ms. Patna., the accused, that she should
have an injection. The pills were to be taken every three
or four hours till the bowels were acted upon, but she took
but one; fur at this time she was rapidly sinking. I saw
her again on the next day (Tuesday), when she refused to
take any sustenance. This was the last time that I saw
her alive. Thu mixture was composed of 1 drachm of
tartarate of potash, 8 grains of rhubarb, 1l ounces of mint
water, and 8 drsps of sal volatile. The mixture I have in
my hand is the same colour and precisely the same kind of
mixture as that which I made for Mrs. Palmer. I will
swear so, because I mix all the medicines that go out of
my shop, and have done so for the last 20 years. I used
the tartarate of potash first, then the rhubarb, in mixing
up the ingredients. The tartarate of potash was a long
time in dissolving. I could not by any accident have
taken tartar emetic for tartaric of potash. I have both in
my shop, but the bottles containing them are kept upon
different shelves, and I never made such a mistake as that
you susgest. The draught was to be taken four hours
after the pills ; and I am told that she threw it up imme-
diately afterwards. The symptoms of the deceased were
those of a person sinking in an advanced state of cholera,
and in my certificate as to the cause of death I made an
entry to that effect. On the second day after I saw her
she was in so exhausted a state that she could scarcely
articulate. When I said that Dr. Knight should be called
in, Mr. Palmer readily consented to it, and sent for him
instantly. Dr. Knight came. I did not see that Dr.
Knight wrote any prescription. Palmer paid every atten-
tion to his wife during the time that I was there; no man
could have been more attentive. He supported her in
bed while giving her something that appeared to be bar-
ley-water, or something of that kind. I don't mean Asiatic
cholera, but a bilious cholera, of which latter, in my
opinion, from the symptoms described to me, and in the
state in which [ found her, she died. lam still of opinion
that she died of bilious cholera. Constipation frequently
follows powerful purging suddenly stepped. The witness
declined to give any opinion as to the general character of
Palmer. This witness is 82 years of ago.
Edward Knight, physician, of Stafford, deposed—l knew
the deceased, Ann Palmer. I was called in to see her pro-
fessionally on the 25th of September, 1854. I saw her after
receiving a description of her disease from her husband.
She was so much exhausted that, when I asked her, she
could not, to my understanding, describe her illness. Palmer
said that she had had distressed vomiting, griping, and
purging, and that she had caught the cholera at Liverpool,
where it was then the prevailing disease. She did not
vomit in my presence, but the retching was distressing. I
required to see the evacuated matter. I was told it had
been thrown away. As far as I could form ,a judgment
upon the case, I thought it a severe, form of English cholera
—summer cholera. I retired with Mr. Palmer to a room
below stairs, and recommended that she should take two
minims of diluted prussic acid for the purpose of allaying
the retching,. Ho told me it should be administered im-
mediately. I called again and she appeared better. When
I loft for Stafford Palmer promised me that if she got
worse he would send for me again. I knew the deceased
from a child, and was one of her guardians. In 1851 I at-
tended Mrs. Palmer on account of a proposal that hart been
made to an assurance office. I found her free from disease.
From the testimony which was given me by the nurse of
the deceased, I should say that her death was not occa-
sioned by a poison which has been named. The symptoms
appeared like those of English cholera.
The inquest was then adjourned.

Cross-examination by Mr. Smith resumed—l know that
the deceased had a life interest in some property. I don't
know that it was of the yearly value of 2001., but it ceased
with her life. I should add that Mrs. Palmer was always
in delicate health, and in the summer of the year of her
death she was particularly so, and bad gone to several
wat-ring places, with a view to establish her health,
When at Buxton together iu August, 1851, I perceived
that her tongue was exceedingly white, and I said to her,
" Oh, Annie ! whatever is the matter ?" She replied she
attributed it to a want of medicine, as during the time
that she was with Mr. Dawson at Abbots Bromley she
us.d to take a great deal of medicine. When we left home
for Liverpool it was arranged with Mr. Palmer that we
should return on the Thursday, and I don't know if we
wrote to my brother to say that we were coming on Wed-
nesday. His little boy was at the station to inset us, not
because he knew when we were coming, but because, as he
was out walking almost every day, he might as well be at
the railway station as elsewhere. We were upon the rail-
way on our journey home from Liverpool from about half-
past 12 to half-past 5 o'clock. We took lunch before we
left Liverpool and partook of cold roast beef.
Mr. George Palmer sworn—l am a solicitor, residing at
Rugeley. The deceased was the wife of my brother.
saw her on the day that she returned from Liverpool. She
was then in wy mother's breakfast-room, and she seemed
unwell. She remained there about 10 minutes. I walked
with her as far as the Talbot Inn. I never saw her after-
wards.

Examination in ehief resumed—l did not notice any-
thing particular in the vomit. It was white, and was
transparent, like water. I threw it away. No one told
MP to do so ; I did it of my own accord. After I had done
so I returned into Mrs. Palmer's bed-room, but she said
nothing to me. No one eke attended her during Wednes-
day but Mr. Palmer and myself. Mrs. Bradshaw came on
the following Monday.
A juryman—Did Mr. Palmer sea the vomit ?
Witness—Yes.
Did he make any remarks ?
Witness —No.

By Mr. Smith—During my brother's sale I hoard that
some papers were found at his house.
Mr. Smith—How wore they disposed of 2
Witness—They were dispbsed of by Mr. Hawkins, a jury-
man.

Cross-examination in chief resumed.—She continued sick
at times durin Wednesday. and, I believe, about the same
on Thursday. 1. prepared the tea and broth auu gruel, and
such like things that were taken up to Mrs. Palmer. On
Friday the deceased continued in the same state, so far as I
know—that is, ill and vomiting. I did not attend her much
in the latter part of her illness. The nurse came on the Mon-
day preceding herdeath, and the-Monday after she returned
from Liverpool, and attended upon her from that time ; and
after the nurse came I scarcely went into Mrs. Palmer's
room. She was purged after she came from Liverpool, but
I cannot say on what day it was. It was a day or two after-
wards. She never complained to me of any particular pain.
During the time that I lived in her service I never—except
when she was confined—knew her to be ill. Mrs. Bradshaw,
the nurse, then waited upon her. Mr. Palmer also waited
upon the deceased, and I have known him occasionally take
her refreshment during hoe confinements. During Mrs.
Palmer's last illness Dr. Balfour was called in to see her.
That was on the Sunday before she died. When she died
I was in the house, but not in her room. She had no fits.
By Mr. Deane—There was no other servant in the house
but myself ; but I was occasionally assisted by Mrs. Row-
ley (a previous witness). Miss Sarah Palmer accompanied
her. When she left home, I understood from her that she
should return on the following Wednesday. Mr. Palmer
was not at home when deceased left for Liverpool.
By the Coroner—He returned on Monday evening while
I was away. He went out at six o'clock on the morning
that Mrs. Palmer went. I don't know whether the jour-
ney was a pre-arranged one, or whether it was suddenly
conceived. Mrs. Palmer left home about one or half-past
o'clock on Monday.
By Mr. Deane—Deceased returned home on the Wed-
nesday, on the day that she was expected. Her little boy,
aged seven years on the 11th of last October, went to the
station to meet her.

Mr. Smith—What! a juryman interfering? Say that
again.

-Witness--They were taken possession of by 11fr. ifawkins,
a juryman, who got possession of the papers and handed
thew to Police-Inspector Crisp and .Mr. Gardiner, the
solicitor to the prosecution.

Mr. Smith—l wish that taken down.
The Coroner--I cannot take it down on my notes.
Mr. Hawkins—l never had the papers.
Mr Bergen, superintendent of police—They were taken
possession of under a warrant.
Mr. Gardiner desired to be permitted to make some
statements with respect to this matter, his name having
been very improperly brought before the public.
.Mr. Smith—lt is a mockery of common justice that a
man should sit and adjudicate upon this man's trial who
had taken such a part in the transaction as I will show Mr.
Hawkins has done. The coroner is bound to exercise his
judicial authority and prevent him front sitting on the
jury. . . _

Ti►e Coroner—The statement is quite irrelevant.
Mr. Smith (to the witness)—Have anonymous letters
been written ?

The Coroner—Really, really, Mr. Smith ! I cannot sit
hei o and hear such questions put. lam here, with a jury
of 22 respectable and independent gentlemen, assembled to
inquire into the cause of the death of Mrs. Ann Palmer,
and I don't know what anonymous letters have to 'do with
such a case.

Mr. Smith—Well, I think that you aro right ; but cer-
tain facts should be made public, and they shall come out.
Toe foreman of the jury said that the question which
Mr. Smith was putting was irrelevant to the case.
Mr. Smith complained of such a remark on the part of a
juryman. _ _

Mr. Cooke objected that the statement that the boy
went to meet his mother was not, evidence, inasmuch as
the witness could not say positively that he did. He did
not wish to raise any objections unnecessarily, but he
thought that it would be much better that no statement
should be put upon the notes of the coroner that was not
evidence.

The foreman—l am here to do my duty ; and I shall do
it without fear, affection, or favour.
Witness—l would add three words. Whatever evidence
may bd given before you (the coroner), Mr. Hawkins will
hot retire from the jurybox and give any other verdict than
one that will be against my brother.
The inquiry was here, at about 1 o'clock, adjourned for
half an hour.

Witnesa—l did not go to meet her. She walked to the
how°. I opened the door to her, and she was alone—the
little boy, even, not being with her. She complained that
I bad allowed the boy to go out to meet her.
Mr. Deane (to the coroner)—l hope you will take down
that statement.

On the resamotion of the inquiry, Mr. Smith resumed his
objection to Mr. Hawkins sitting as a j ury man, and desired
the coroner to have him removed from the jury bench.
The Coroner replied that Mr. Smith knew well that if
any objection were to be made to a juryman, it ought to
be made before the commencement of the proceedings. He
refused to accede to Mr. Smith's application.

The Coroner declined to do so, as it was not evidence.
Mr. Deane said that the statement was very important,
as it bore upon the testimony of other witnesses.
The Coroner said that he would:take down any fact
which might be adduced which was relative to the case,
but if they were to take down everything that was said by
Mrs. Palmer, and what she did, they might sit there fur
an unlimited p3riod.
Mr. Smith concurred with the views of the coroner.
A Juryman—The statement appears to me to be evidence.
The Coroner—Any statement made in the absence of the
accused cannot be evidence against him.
Mr. Deane—But, Mr. Coroner, I think you will agree
with me, and will inform the jury, that we are not
hero to take evidence as against Palmer, the deceased's
husband, er any other person, but to ascertain the facts
in connection with the death of the deceased lady.
The Coroner—Oh, clearly.
Mr. Smith—lt may be evidence of interest to an assur-
ance company, but it is not of importance in the case now
before the jury.
Mr. Deane—ln answer to that I may say that there is no
assurance company affected now by Mrs. Palmer's health.
The only assurances that, were effected have been long since
paid
The Coroner—Go on with yeur examination, Mr. Deane,
and I will take down such answers as I think necessary.

Mr. William 11. Tindall was then sworn. He said that
lip was the assistant actuary of the Atlas Asaurance Com-
P!,nvi and produced a proposal to that office upon the life
(1* the deceased Ann Palmer, made by the accused, William
Palmer, for 5,009 e, but the office refused to accept the pro-
pesal. The applicant said that he was interested in his
wife's death to the extent of the sum which he requested
the office to guarantee to him. The proposal paper con-
tained William Palmer's signature, vouching for the cor-
rectness of its entries. It was dated the 6th of Feb., 18.54.
Cross-examined by Mr. Smith—l am not aware that
other offices are sharing the expense with the Atlas Com-
pany of these proceedings.
Matilda Bradshaw deposed that she had known the de-
ceased, Anne Palmer, ever since she was a very young wo-
man, and attended her in her several illnesses as her nurse.
Witness went to see her on the Monday after she returned
home from Liverpool, when she was in bed, and said that
she thought she had taken a severe cold through wearing
thin clothes. Deceased said that in coining from Liver-
pool she took something that she thought had done her
good, and on the following morning attempted to get up,
bat was unable, being seized with sickness, and that sick-
ness had continued. Deceased added that when Dr. Knight
came he gave her something which had done her good, but
she soon got ill again. After she had said this, in reply to
my question as to what was the matter with her, she said,
,t My dear Mrs. Bradshaw, I am glad that you are come ;
sit by me on the bed." Witness did so, and then the ac-
cused left the morn. After he had left she said that it
was the sickness that exhausted her. This was all (con-
tinued the witeess) that I heard her say ; but I am deaf.
She vomited several times after I was with her. She took
gruel; tea, wine and water, and grapes and bread. I pro-
posed other things, but with reference to- almost every-
thing she said that it would make her sick. She never
complained of any pain to me, excepting that arising from
sickness. She was not purged much while I was with her
until the last. She frequently said that she hoped her
bowels would not trouble her again, or she should soon be
dead. She said this the morning before ber death. When
she felt some little. unpleasant sensation in her bowels I
told Mr. Palmer that her bowels had not acted, but he said
that that was of no consequence. He spoke words to the
effect that that was better for her as she took so little sup-
port. I had attended upon her up to that time, during
three days and a half, and during the whole of that time
her bowels had not been moved. They were not moved
until the morning of her death. She was then purged
several times. After that she appeared very weak and
very low, and as soon as her bowels were moved the sick-
ness abated. She did not 'live more than three or four
hours after that ; 'and the purging continued up to the
time of her death. To the best of my recollection she died
at about one o'clock in the day.
_ _ _ _

In connection with the above matter there is now being
prosecuted at Rugeley an inquiry in which the postmaster
is scrionely implicated.
It will be remembered that in The Sum a few days since
there was reported a conversation which took place after
the adjournment of the inquest on last Wednesday week.
It had reference to the contents of a letter that had been
sent from Dr. Taylor to Mr. Gardiner, the solicitor for the
Crown in this case, relative to the process of the analysis
which was then being made upon the stomach and intes-
tines of the deceased Cook. After that conversation cer-
tain representations were made to the Secretary of State,
who immediately communicated with the Postmaster-
General, and without the least delay two Post-office in-
spectcrs were sent down to Rugeley from London to inves-
tigate certain statements which had been made to the
Secretary of State.
The postmaster of Rugeley was removed temporarily
from the duties of his effice. The inspectors continued
their inquiries, and thought the matter of so serious a
nature that they caused the postmaster to be arrested
and conveyed before the magistrates.
The magisterial inquiry commenced on Thursday, and
was continued yesterday, when
Dr. Taylor stated—On the 27th Nov., 1855, I received
for examination a jar, containing the viscera of Mr. John
Parsoas Cook ; they were contained in a stone jar, sealed.
On Tuesday, the 4th December, I received a letter from
Mr. Gardiner, solicitor, of Rugeley, dated Rugeley, Dec.
2, 1855, on the subject of that examination ; and on Tues-
day, the same day, I wrote to Mr. Gardiner, in reply, a
letter written by myself, and signed by Dr. Rees and my-
self. The letter now produced is the letter ; it is addressed
as follows :—" James Gardiner, Esq., Messrs. Lauder and
Gardiner, solicitors, Rugeley, Staffordshire." I enclosed
that letter in a common adhesive envelope so addressed.
I know it to have been the same letter from the fact of its
having been written with a particular kind of ink, which
I only use there, made by myself from oxide of croden.
The envelope was secured in the usual adhesive manner.
My practice, when closing such a letter, is not only to
press it down, but also to feel at the sides to satisfy myself
of its being securely fastened. I kept it in my possession,
posted it in King William-street, and am as satisfied of
its being securely sealed as it is possible for a man to be
satisfied of any transaction in life. This was 'shout 4
o'clock in the afternoon ; consequently in ample time for
the post of that night.
Post-office Inspector—Will yon refer to the third page
of that letter?
Dr. Taylor—Would it not be better to read the whole !
The Chairman—Oh, certainly, if you wish.
The letter was then handed to the clerk of the court
to be copied rut *the depositions .
Dr. Taylor—You have made reference to the third
page of that letter. There we stated that we had not
found strychnine, prussic acid, or any kind of opium.
Upon receiving the information which was contained
in the letter of Drs. Taylor and Rees to Mr. Gardiner,

Witness then continued, in reply to Mr. Deane, to repeat
several statements which she had made in her examination
in chief, adding—Mr. Palmer slept in his deceased wife's
room until the Monday before her death. After Mr. Bal-
four, the surgeon, came on the Sunday, a bottle of medi-
cine and a box of pills were sent. The bottle was about
the size of my finger, and I saw the medicine in Mr. Pal-
mer's hands. I prepared gruel and tea for her on Friday
and Saturday, and on one day sago. Dr. Knight came to
the deceased after Mr. Balfour came. After Mrs. Brad-
shaw came she slept in the room with the deceased. So
far as I know with reference to the question as to whether
Mrs. Palmer might have got better at any periled of her
illness, I say that I have heard that she got a little better
after taking the medicine which Dr. Knight prescribed on
the Sunday evening. Daring the illness of the deceased
Mrs. George Palmer called to see her. Mrs. Wells, from
Abbots Bromley also called, but she was net allowed to see
her. She was intimate with Mrs. Palmer, but during the
time I was with Mrs. Palmer she had not before called to
see her.

TMr. Smith (to the Coroner) —Do you think it is any evi-
dence whether Tom, Dick, or Harry called? The basket-
woman might have called.
Mr. Deane—And might have seen her.
By a juror—How do yea know, then, that they were in-
timate if Mrs. Wells never called ?
Witness—l have heard it talked of.
Examination by Mr. Deane resumed —Mrs. Palmer died
on the Friday. When she died Mr. Palmer was in the
sitting-room. Tim bell rang and he went uprstairs, when
it was said that she was dead, and came down again al-
most immediately.
Mr. Deane—Before Mrs. Palmer went to Liverpool, did
Mr. Palmer attempt to take liberties with you ?
The Coroner—Oh, really—
Mr. Smith—l do not think it is a proper question. It is
not a moral one. It is a most unusual one, too—the wit-
ness being for the complaint. It must tend to invalidate her
statement; and, if so, I have a right to object to the ques-
tion. _ .

By Mr. Deane—Daring the time that I was with her
Mrs. Palmer hid no solid food at all. T tried to persuades
her to eat ; but she replied, " I cannot take anything."'
She said that her throat felt sore from the vomiting, which
strained her throat. She complained at times of her
mouth being dry. She was not particularly thirsty. The
medical men who attended the deceased were Mr. Bamford
and Mr. Palmer, her husband. I gave her some medicine.
It was a little mixture, but not much. I tasted it. I tasted
her mixture because I was in the habit of doing so in at-
tending upon sick people. She had two pills as well as the
mixture. I don't remember that she took more than two
pills. I gave her that medicine, and only that. I saw no
one else give her more. The night that she took the pills
she slept more comfortably than before. This was two
nights before her death. She had some effervescing
draughts; I forgot to mention that. They were given to
her by Mr. Partner, her husband. I cannot recollect how
many she took. She generally asked for the effervescing
mixture. They were given in my presence. in this way Ole
brought some quite clear water in a glass and a spoon with
some powder in it. The glass was an ordinary tumbler,

Mr. Deane—l regard it as important that an answer
should be obtained to this question ; I ask the coroner to
take it.
The Coroner—lf you ask the witness a question that is
likely to criminate her, I bust say that she is not com-
pelled to answer it.
Mr. Smith—If my friend would say whether he appears
for the Crown, or for whom he appears, I should then know
better what ho is doing ; but, if he appears for the prcseeu •.
tion, it is certainly the most extraordinary course that I
ever knew an advocate to take with one of his own wit-
nesies. By his question he is seeking to bring some scandal