The Sun.
London, England, 1856-05-21 00:00:00

which the prieoner was, wont(' have run the which
such a death would have created ; and with regard to
the evidence of that stupid fellow Newton, he should
speak at a future tine. What was Palmer's position at
the time, both with regard to his affairs and the extrica-
tion from them which the prosecution say led him to cora-
-1 mi.; this act? The prisoner's posithin was this—why at
that very time, be was in the expectation of a claim
which he had against the prisoner of bills with relation
to the insurance upon his brother being settled, and
was it likely that the prisoner, who knew that such a
death as that which be was charged with causing would,
in a place like Rugeley, lead to -much specu-
lation, have done that which would cause the
utmost discussion and lead to enquiry, which,
if it went no farther, would prejudice those claims from
which he anticipated to clear himself from his difficulties.
He refused the offer of the premium from the Prince of
Walesinsurance Office, which was a strong fact in favour
of the prisoner, and had he hal the least fear OR the sub-
ject he would not have acted in the manner he had done.
It Was not until the office had disputed the policy on
Walter Palmer that Pratt began to move in the matter.
That circumstance Pratt said entirely altered the posi-
tion of Palmer, and at the same time he intimated to the
prisoner that he must be prepared to cover the accept-
ance of hid mother fir the four thousand pounds.
A. great deal had been seid about the policy of
insurance on the life of Walter Palmer, but he felt
convinced that, as sure as the prisoner was saved—
and saved he would be —that policy • would be paid.
He had not the slightest doubt but that would be the
the case, and the effect of such a proceeding would he
the payment of the whole of the prisoner's
debts. The comprny hal no defence, and immediately
the prisoner was acquitted the office must pay the
money. It was not to be supposed that Palmer would
endaeger the likelihood of his receiving the 13,0001.
by putting Cook to death, as it was the only
means he had of meeting his liabilities. * He
respectfully submitted to the Court and jury
that that portion of the case had entirely failed.
He would now proceed to the symptoms of Cook before
death and his appearance after. Under this head he
should contrast the medical evidence, and, in order to
do so, he should for a short time refer to the evidence that
bad been given during the course of the trial. The learned
counsel then proceeded to allude to Mr. Stevens' evi-
dence, and mentioned the sheeting of him and the pri-
soner, when Stevens told him that ho euspected him,
and that he was determined to have the matter probed
to the bottom. He (the learned counsel) then described
the symptoms of Cook previous to hid death, and stated
that his father died about the age of 30, his mother
also died at a comparatively early age. He then went
on to state the appearance of the body when it
was opened for the post mortem examination, and all o
the state of Cook's throat at death, and alluded to the
circumstance of the deceased as to health, and said he
thought that without being an utterly depraved person
he had led a very loose life. He stated he should show
that Cook was in the habit of appearing on the race-
course with large spots about hint which plainly indi-
cated disease. The state of Cook was only partially
discovered at the first post mortem examination, which
was not of the most satisfactory nature. The interior
of the body was therefore sent to London to be
analysed and tha result of the analysis was,
that death might havebeen caused by antimony,
but after hearing certain evidence at the coroner's
inquest Dr. Taylor had altered his opinion and instead
of antimony being stated a• 4 the cause of death, that
was said to be a mistake, and he. had the immense
imprudence to state in his evidence before the jury
that the pills which Palmer delivered to Cook con-
tained strychnine, and that that was the cause of
death. Upon that evidence a verdict of wilful
murder was returned, aed Palmer was consigned to
a prison. If the opinion of medical men upon
certain doubted points was to consign persons to prison,
he trembled for the safet eof society.. No person would
be safe in whose family a sudden death occurred. The
medical man who attended Ceole attributed death to
apoplexy, and yet upon the statement of a gentleman
with a very imperfect knowledge on the subject of strych-
nine, this testimony was set aside and death declared to
result from that powerful poison, strychnia, ai-
ministered in pills by the prisoner to deceased.
Great trouble hail been taken to shoW that Cook had
die i from tatanus, arising front strychnia, and a great
deal of iliscosion followed about the meaning of idiopathic
tat anus, felt be denied that it was proved that it was
tetanus, or that it was otherwise than cOnvu'sians.
Evidence from medical men seeks of the deceased's
attack as convulsions. We are not called upon
to show the exact cause of death, but we
are only called upon to prove our denial of the
theory laid down by the prosecution, but it will
be enough for us to prove to you that out of the
numerous variety of convulsions with which the
human fra:ne may be attacked, asphyxia might have
taken place from ordinary disease. it is enough for
us to prove the possibiity of such a cause of death, wi h-
out proving that it is irreconcileable with the evidence
of poisoning by strechnine. The learned Sergeant, said,
that he would go through the medical depositions upon
the • state of Cook, as it was only fair to those
gentlemen whose opinions he disputed, that they
might know upon what they formed these opinions.
[The learned gentleman had not concluded his address
whoa we went to press.]

TUESDAY'S PROCEEDINGS.
[The following appeared in part of our impression of
yesterday.]

The court this morning was again densoly crowded,
and a large concourse of people were waiting outside,
most eager to obtain the slightest information.
At a few minutes before ten the prisoner was placed
in the dock. He looked extremely pale, his features
having a smaller appearance, and altogether bearing a
most anxious and Miguel expression.
The usual preliminaries having been gone through, the
proceedings commenced with the examination, by Mr.
Edwin James, of
Dr. John Jackson, who said— -I am a member of the
College of Physicians. I have been in pracace in India,
and for 25 years in this country. I have made tetanus,
both idiopathic and traumatic, my study. The idiopathic
is rare in this country, compared to India. It is far
more frequent in India. I have seen about 43 cases.
Traumatic and idiopathic are equally fatal in India. The
latter class is more frequently found in children in India,
both in natives and Europeans. It takes place shortly
after birth. In infants it is more marked in its symp
toms of lock jaw than in adults attacked with the trau-
matic class of the disease. I have always seen premoni-
tory symptoms precede an attack of idiopathic tetanus.
Lord Campbell—What are they ?.
Witness—A. peculiar expression of the countenance,
and a peculiar stiffness of the muscles of the head and
jaws. In infants it will prove fatal in from four to eight
hours. When it attacks adults from cold, it is of longer
duration, and may last many days—the idiopathic going
through all the same grades as the t!autnatic.
Cross-examined by Mr. Sergeant Shee—The patient
is uncomfortable before the premonitory symptoms come
on. He complains of stiffness of the back and front of
his neck, but may take his f 'od until 12 hours before it.
During the 12 hours after his attention is more drawn
to the stiffness of his neck and mouth. I never -heard
of any complaint of want of appetite for 12 hours before
the attack. I have heard of the first attack coining on
in bed. I have known cases of women after miscarriage ;
there is sometimes a difficulty in swallowing, as pre-
monitory symptoms.

Re-eianiined by the Attorney-General—The intervals
between the premonitory symptoms in an infant are not
more than six hours ; a male adult, from 12 to 24 hourp,
and sometimes more. The duration of attack was from
to 10 days. Both symptoms and disease are alike in each
class of tetanus. Death may follow in two days. I was
not in Court to hear the description. given of the attack
and death of Mr. Cook. Tetanus will• arise from ex-
posure to cold. I never knew a case where death en-
sued in so short a space of time as from ten minutes to
half an hour. .

Mr. Berger examined by the Attorney-General—l am
chief superintendent of the police at Rugeley. I was
present at the inquest upon the body of John Parsons
Cook, after which I went upon the 15th of December to
Palmer's house to make a search. I found a quantity of
papers. I had them taken into the drawing-room from
the surgery, where I found the principal part of
them. I took some out of Palmer's bedroom. I
searched every part of the house, and put all
the papers in one place in the drawing•room,
after which I locked the door and put the key into my
pocket. Upon the next day I endeavoured to make a
selection from the papers. George Palmer was present.
Lord Campbell—ls that the prisoner's brother ?
Witness—lt is.
Attorney-General—And he is an attorney, at
Rugeley ?
Witness—Yes. I cannot say whether I gave him
notice of my intention to search the prisoner's house and
papers. He was present part of the time. Inspector
Crisp and some other gentlemen were there. I first
made a selection of the papers, but after wards gave up
the idea ; and upon the Tuesday tied them all up.
George Palmer, was there upon the Monday, but I cannot
say that he was upon Tuesday. I put all the papers into
a black leather bag and took them to Stafford, where I
gave them to Capt. Hatton. I believe it was upon the 24th
that the bag was again opened in my presence. The papers
were then gone through, and classified by Mr. Dean for
the prosecution, and he copied some of them. During
the search which I made of the papers I saw what' they
all of them weree and I saw no cheque purnorting to
bear the signature of Cook drawn upon Mr. Wetherley.
The witness further said, I found no document purport-
log to bear the signature of Cook relative to bills of ex- I
change. Some of the papers were afterwards taken. to
Mr. G. Palmer. The letters, private accounte,
and documents selected by Mr. Dean were de
livered to Inspector Crisp, and he was directed
to deliver them to that gentleman.. The prisoner was
arrested on the night of the 15th of December.
By Sergeant Shee—The inquest was held at the
Talbot Arms. There were several meetings, and before
it concluded more than a fortnight elapsed. The pri-
soner was arrested by the sheriff on a civil process two
or three days before the verdict was returned. He was
at his house at Rugeley the whole of the time the in-
quest lasted ; but he was not present at it, nor was
there any person to act professionally for him. I did
not know there had been a police officer previous to the
death of Cook in Rugeley; but I heard a person of the
name of Field was there.
Mr Henry Dean atten'led the inquest on Ann Pal-
mer on the part of an insurance company. The first
time I saw Palmer's papers was on the 24th of Deceniber
in the custody of the last witness. I selected and
classified them. They were in a black bag. It was
nagetled in my presence. Mr. Hatton and another
person was present. I examined the whole of the con-
tents of the bag for the purpose of selecting those
Papers which were material. The rest, a con-
, eiclerahle citlaritity, were returned to Mr, G, Palmer.

I did not find a cheque upon ttie Messrs,. Wether-
ley, signed by Mr. Cook for 3501. I heard the
witness Cheshire examined relative to a certain paper,
bet I did not finclAliat paper, or any other, which
stated that Palmer had signed a document for CaOk's
accommodation. . •
Cross-examined by Sergeant Sliee—l knew Inspector
Field had been at Rageley at the time of the inquest._
My firm were solicitors to the., Prince of; :Wales- Life
ASsiiraithe Office, and Field went there upon. their em-
ployment, but he was at Rugeley 6roy part of a day.
He was at Stafford for three or four days; but he did
not see the prisonei while there. .His visit bad been
preceded by that of another officer. named Simpson.
.
Simpson I saw one day at Regeley. He went frotn
Itugeley to StatTord with myself and Field. He said be
had seen Palmer. He was first retained in our service
on the first week in October. ' • •
By Mr. E. Jaines—Field was sent down to make in-
quiries as to the habits and life of Mr. Walter:Palmer,
of whose death the (ale bad shortly before received no-
tice, and also t inquire into the circumstances ,of a
person'tiamed Bates, with reference to an insurance on
his life.
Mr. E3pin, Belle:tin. for Mr. Padwick, said—l pro-
duce a bill for 2,0001., which was-placed in my hands by
that gentleman to enforce payment from the pfisoner's
mother. Ido not know whether it is the handwriting
of the prisoner. (Mr. Strawbridge 'was: here called and
he stated that the bill was in the handwriting of the
prisoner.) The words " Sarah Palmer" were:not-in t'le

handwriting of that lady. The bill was due three
months after date, but 1,000/, had been paid off, and
the bill was p!aced in my hands oli the 12th of Dec.
to enforce the payment of. the remainder. I had not
Made application for the payment of the bill in Nov:
myself.. I received two letters fram the prisoner.
The letters were here put in and read, and con-
tained the cheque for 1,000/.., with a request that it
might not be presented till the 28th of Nov. ; and
the other related to a sum of money, 300/., about
which there was some mistake about the remittance,
and in which Palmer stated he would shortly be in
London.

Witness continued--I produce a cheque for 1,0001.,
inclosed in the above letter of the 12th, dated the 28th.
I presented it on that day and payment was refused. I
also produce a cheque for 6001., dated Bth Dc,ceinber, to
prisoner's handwriting, payable to Mr. Pad wick or
bearer, which was also dishonoured. It was forwarded

in consequence of tha cheque of 1,0001. having been die.
honoured. 1,0001. still remains due on the 2,0001. bill.
Execution was issued against the person. The prisoner
was taken on the ca sa.

Cross-examined by Mr. Sergeant Shee--Tfitut saw the
cheque's, day or two before the date of the 12th.
Re-examined by Mr. James—Au action was brought
against the mother fur the recovery of the 1,000/. due on
the bill.

Mr. Bamford, surgeon, of Rugeley, who bad been
suffering latelyfrom ill health, which prevented his earlier
examination, having greatly recovered, was led into
court by Mr. Gardner, the solicitor for the prosecution.
and examined by the Attorney-General. He said—l
am a surgeon and apothecary, of Rugeley. I first saw
the deceased Cook on Saturday, 17th November, at the'
request of Mr. W. Palmer. He called on me and asked
me to attend a friend of his, who was ill at the Talbot
Hotel. He said he had dined with Cook the day before,
and that he had taken too much champagne. I walked
with Palmer to the Talbot and saw the deceased. I asked
C )ok if he had taken too much wine the day before. He
assured me that he had taken but two glasses. He was
constantly vomiting, but I saw no bile thrown off. I
prescribed a saline effervescing draught for the deceased,
a six-ounco mixture.

Lord. Campbell said that the witness need not be
examined on this point, bec3u,e it was stated in his
deposition that had been read to the Court. If it was
persisted in, ho Inuit have the whole of the medical
witnesses re-examined.

The Attorney-General said he bad no intention to go
,nto it.

•
Witness examined—On Monday I prescribed and
prepared some pills for deceased. The medicine I pre-
pared on Monday I took myself to the Talbot Arms, and
gave it to the servant maid. I saw her take it upstairs.
On Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, I prepared the
same sort of pills for deceased: I saw Palmer on Tues-
day morning on tuy Way down to see the patient. He
met tne, and I asked him if he saw Cook the night be-
fore. He said he saw kim between 9 and 10 o'clock,
and was with hini Italian-hour, and requested me not
to see deceased that morning to disturb hitri. I did not
see him then. Between 11 and 1 o'clock that day I was
met again by Palmer, on my way to see Cook. He
begged I would not go to see Cook. as he was still quiet,
and he did not wish him to be disturbed. About 7 o'clock
that night Palmer sent. a request to my house that I
would see Cook again. 14:went and saw him for the first
time on that day. After that, I left the room with Mr.
Jones and Palmer, and had a conversation with him.
Palmer rather wished" Cook to have his pills again, and
he walked with me to nay house for them ; and stood by
me whilst I 'prepared them in my surgery. I have
strychnia in a private room, but I keep none in my
surgery. Palmer saw me weigh the ingredients of which
the pills were composed. I put them in a 'hex, And
labelled them "Night pills—John Parsons Cook," at
the request of Palmer. He took the pills away with him,
between seven and eight o'clock. I never saw Cook
again alive. I wrapped the pills and directions
up in a paper, and fastened each end with seal-
iog-wax. The directions were ; written on a
paper folded square, placed under the box of
pills, and both were afterwards wrapped in the paper that
was sealed. There was nothing written on the outside
paper. I saw Cook dead as near 20 minutes past 12
o'clock as could be. I learned from Palmer that de-
ceased had been dead about five minutes. I found the
decease t stretched out as straight as could be on his
heels and back of his head and stiff. His arms were in
a rigid state by his side and fists ,clenehed. I gave it
then as my opinion that deceased died of apoplexy, and
gave a certificate accordingly. Palmer asked me to,fill
up the certificate. I had the form with me. I told
Palmer it was his place to fill up the certificate as Cook
was his patient, but he said he would much rather I-did

it, and 1 c-oasented. I was present at the post mortem
examination. After it was over Palmer said to me "we
ought not to have let that jar go."
Cross-examined by Mr. Sergeant Shee--My house is
about 200 yards from Paltnei 1,8 house.
Mr. Thomas Pratt examined by Mr. James—l am a
solicitor, practising in ICing.street, Mayfair. I am
acquainted with the prisoner. I commenced in Nov.,
1853, when I obtained a loan of 1,0001. for him. That was
afterwards paid. In Oct., 1854, I was employed by him
to make a claim on two policies, both on the death of Ann
Palmer. I received 5,000/. from the Sun, and 3,0001.
from the Norwich Union. The money ‘;'as applied in pay-
ment of three bills amounting to 3,5001. or 4,0001., and
2,0001. of it was doe on acceptances and loans obtained
subsequently to the claims on the policies, the remaining
1,500/. was not so applied. In April, 1855, he applied
to me for a loan of 2 0001. ; hut he did not state for
what purposes he wanted it. I obtained it on an accep-
tance drawn by himself and accepted by his mother. On
Clint my Pg tn. 1,1 *dab+. bills that I
h2oadthdN November 1 andedforPlmer. I held four of them wyse f.
There were two .Thera then overdue. The bills are as fol-
lows: —June 5, 1854, for three months after date drawn by
Mr. Pal mot% and accepted by Ssrah Palmer for 5001, and
endorsed by him ; Aug. 2,1854, a similar bill for 1,0001.,
payable three months after date ; July 22, 1855. for
2,000/ , three months after data; July 24. 1855, for
2,000/., three months after th,. date, endorsed by Palmer
to Twos. Pratt ; Sept. 27, 1855, for 1,0001., for three
months after date ; Sept. 29, 1855, for 2,000/., for three
months after date; Oct. 2, 1855, for 2,000/., for three
months, indorsed by Palmer to Thos. Pratt; and one,
Oct. 12, 1855, for 2,000/ for three months after date.
The whole of the bills purported to be drawn
by Mr. Palmer, and accepted by Sarah Palmer,
6,0001. had been renewed, and. would become due in
bpyayahbileel. to
T. , owrdheorle
o
January ; two bills were only overdue on the 20th of
f amountedPal m e
r,
atno' I iln2d, osroBo° Id.
November for 2,000/. One bill for 1,000/, and another
for 500/. was held over from month to month, as was
the interest. The interest charged for discounting the
bills was about 60 per cent. In August, 1855, Walter
Palmer died, and I made an application to the Prince
of Wales-office for 13,000/„ the amount of the policy.
Sarah Palmer, as the acceptor of these bills, had fre-
quently
received.ntlybeenwrittento at Rugeley, but no replies had
been

Some letters from Pratt to Palmer were here pro-
duced, which were found by the Superintendant of the
Smfford police amongst the prisoner's papers after his
arrest, and during the investigation before the coroner
respecting Cook's death. They related to, the overdue
bills, and also to the policy effected on the life of Walter
Palmer; also letters from Palmer to Pratt, in, reply to
one of which he stated he bad been requested by his
mother to reply to the communication.
Examination continued—Palmer called upon me and
paid me 2701. upon the account of the bills thQn due.
He said he would send another sum of 2501. before the
following Wedoes lay, and that he was to pay the prin-
cipal, by instalments, ns soon as possible.
Lord Campbell said he was glad to see that the jury
were taking a close note of this part of the evidence, as
it would save him much trouble during the summing
up
A.
letter of the 28:11 of o,tober was then put in and
read. It runs thus :

"Dear Sir,—l will send you 2501. Do not think of the
writs; I will get you the money if I pay 1,0001. for it.
Give we a chance of
paying. Do not send to the proctor."
The letter, after referring to some other matters, was
signed " Win. Palmer."

" I must have Polestar again. If any one asks you
about what money Cook has bad of you, do not
say anything about it until I see you." Prisoner pro-
mised to send more money upon this'. Pratt wrote an•
other letter upon the 22d, which was put in and read.
After alludingto Cook's death the writer told Palmer
that, as Cook was dead, he must see and look about him
for the 500/. bill ; and it also stated that Pratt had
sent down the bill of gale to Crabb.
This letter having been rend. the 'Court adjourned.
On the resumption of the Court the further reading
of the letters was continued. One stated that on the 23d
of November the prisoner would be iu town.
Examination of witness continued—On the 24th of
the month I saw him and he signed a paper for the pay-
ment of 1001.
Another letter was read from Palmer to Pratt, marked
" strictly private and confidential." It contained a re-
quest" by the prisoner to Pratt, to the effect that if any
questions should he asked of Pratt respecting the money
received by the prisoner on account of C:nok that he
would refuse all information until he saw the prisoner.
The witness proceeded--I_ held-a. bill of sale respect
ink two racehorses mentioned in September, 1855. The
,prisoner :transacted the loan ; it was for the sum— of
-500.. Ido not know Cook. The. hexes were Siring
and Polestar. The bill of sale upon which I advancedthe
5001. was siened by John ParsonS Cook. The money
given was -3751.-a-nd a wine warrant. In compliance
with a letter. from the prisoner, I enclosed 3001. in notes,
and a cheque for 751. in a registered letter directed to
the prisoner at Doncaster, and a letter was received
from the prisoner aeknowledging the receipt of the money.
had another transaction with Cook ; it was a bill
drawn by Palmer and accepted by Cook. Cook paid the
money?
Mr. Stevens, father-in-law of the deceased, was hero
recalled.

Mr. E. James—Xr. Stevens, look at the endorsement
on the bill for 37N. Is it in the handwriting of Cook I
Mr. Stevens (looking at the bill)—No.
Mr. E. James—The signature is "J. Paraons Cook."
Mr. Stevens—l never saw him write his name other-
Wise than -" J. Parsons Cook."

Mr. Strawbridge was then called, and the Attorney.
General directed him to look at the acceptances, and see
if they were in the handwriting Sarah Palmer, and
he declared that none of the acceptances were in her
hand writing.
Mr. W. Cheshire—ln the month of September last I was
clerk in the National and Provincial Bank at Rugeley.
Mr. Palmer had an account there, and the cheque in
question was paid in to his credit by his groom, Cockaigr.
The cross examination of Pratt was then proceeded
with by .34r. Sergeant Shee—Previous to May, 1851, I
had no knowledge of the prisoner. I knew nothing about
Mr.-Cook, but I had a sum of money due to Mr. Pal-
mer, andhe wished me to add 1901. to it. Mr. Cook never
complained to me by letter that he did not receive the
mortgage money of the race horses. I had not the
slightest knowledge how Cook and the prisoner stood as
to the winning on the Shrewsbury races.
John ArnashaW—l am an attorney practising at
Rugeley. Oa 12th Nov. last I was applied to enforce the
payment of a debt of 601. by some gentlemen in Ittiieley
'on the 19th of the month. I sent to London for a writ,
and the next morning I went to the prisoner at his
house and he paid me two fifty pound notes. One was
a Bank of England and the other was a local note.
I took the money to my client and told him to take a
receipt and settle about the costs.

By Mr. Sergeant Shee—lt was about nine o'clock in
the morning.

Mr. John Wallbank—l am a butcher, residing at
Rugeley. I remember the nonday in Shrew.bury race
week. I was fetched to Palmer's house. I saw him,
and he said, " Wallbank, I want you to lend me 251,"
I said, "Doctor, I am very abort of money, but I
will try and get it." He said, "Do, that's a
good . fellow, . and I'll give it you on Saturday
morning." He said be should receive some money that
day. I met him on the Saturday morning, and he paid
me the money. I think it wAe by a bill.
By Sergeant Shee—Palmer had lent the money on
occasions when I required it. Palmer's mother lived in
a large house near the church. I have often seen him
visit there.

John Spilsbury, farmer, residing at Rickerscott—l,
have had-dealings with Mr. Palmer. Cto Thursday, the
221 of N0v.,1 called upon him -and received payment•
Ern' a debt. , It was by a 501. Bank of Kr.gland note.,
I cal ed casually that day. I did not have an appoint-
ment. •

By Sergeant Shee—That was the only transaction I
had with him.

Mr. Strawbridge' the manager of the bank at Rugeley,
said on the 19th of Nov. his account showed a balance
of 91. 6s. in his favour. Nothing had been paid in since.
The last payment he had made to his credit was on the
10th Oct. It was 501.

Mr. Herbert Wright, a solicitor, of Birmingham, said,
I.bave known' the prisoner since July. 1851. In Nov
he was icdebted to my brother 10,4001. We had a bill
of sale on his property ; it was dated May 5, 1855. It
was for 6,5001., and comprised bills of Exchange drawn
by Palmer, and purporting to be accepted by Sarah
Palmer. The sum of 2,3004 was further advanced, for
which all his. personal property, race-horses. and also a
policy for 5,0001. on his life was taken as further secu-
rity. The bill,of sale was subject to redemption. The
whole sum advanced amounted to 10,4001. During the
early part of Nov. I was pressing Palmer for payment.
The money was considered to be due on the first or sr
cond week in Nov., but before the 22d of the month we
were urging for payment, The bill of sale was put in
force after the verdict bad .been returned. I neither
took nor found any of his papers.
Cross•examined by Sergeant Shee—A good deal of
pr,perty was taken. I don't think if the interest had
been forthcoming I should have objected to put off the
seizure.

By the Attorney-General—Me bills were di/counted
at 60 per cent. per annum—(sensation)—and the bills
would not have been renewed under that amount.

Mr. Strawbridge proved that the acceptances to the
whole of these bills were not in the handwriting of
Sarah Palmer.

Cross-examined by Sergeant Shee—l have none of the
handwriting of Mrs. Palmer with me. The imitations
were very faint ones, and I should not pay such if they
were presented at the bank.

Mr. Weatherby was recalled, but be not being pre-
sent, the Attorney-General saiii that the question which
he proposed to ask could be put in the morning before
the learned sergeant commenced hi, address to the jury.
This having closed the case for the prosecution, the
Court adjourned until a quarter to ten to-morrow morn-
ing.

Upon the 31st of October Pratt wrote to Palmer, to tell
him that in consequence of the promises in that letter,
that with the exceptions of the writs against the brother
of prisoner, no steps should be taken. The letter pressed
for further payments, and also alluded to the necessity
of further steps being t tken about the policy of Walter
Palmer's life. Upon the 6th November I issued writs for
4,0001. upon prisoner and his mother, and sent them
to Mr. Crabb, a solicitor at Rugeley, upon the 6th.
Upon the 10th Palmer called upon me, having written
that he would come. He paid me 3001, upon the 10th.
That sum, with the 500/., made 8001. 2001. was de.
ducted for interest, and he was credited 6001. off the
account. I think that I mentioned at that time to
him that the writs had been sent down to Rugeley.
A. letter of the 13th was put in and read. It
was from Pratt t 3 Palmer about the prospects of
obtaining the policy, and pressing for the payments,
Upon the 16th November I had another letter promising
200/ , and upon the next day some one called and paid
ms a cheque for 2001. had another letter, and upon
the following Monday, being the settling day after the
Shrewsbury Races, prisoner called and paid me a
sum of 500/., making in the whole a sum of 1,3001.
paid up to that day upon account of the 2,0001. bill.
Upon the 21st I had another letter from the prisoner.
The letter was put in and read. It stated that Cook had
died and that prisoner was very much fatigued, and added

STAMP DUTIES PAID BY FIRE INSUR-
ANCE COMPANIES.

A statement was given on Monday of the amount of
stamp duties paid during the pat year by each (f the
I,,ndon fire insurance offices, arranged in the order of
their respective amounts. Sabjoined is a similar table
with regard to country offices :

DUTY PAID BY THE COUNTRY FIRE INSURANCE OFFICES

DURING THE YEAR 1835.

Norwich Union
West of England
Manchester
Royal
Liverpool & London 21,057
Yorkshire
Lancashire
Leeds and Yorkshire L 8,144
Birmingham , 14,193
Kent 14,0:16
Birmingham District 7,942
Essex and Suffolk
Newcastle on-Tyne 6,008
North of England
Essex Economic

Salop 3,833
Nottingham & Derby 3,735
Sheffield
Norwich Equitable 2, 693
Rent Mutual
Provincial ...„ 2,583
Hants, Sussex, and
Dorset
Shropshire and North
Wales
Midland Counties
Lincolnshire ..618
Durham and Nor-
thumberland

Of the value of the farming stock insured at each of
the country offices, and which is exempt from duty, the
following are the totals :
VALUE OP FARMING STOCK (EXEMPT FROM DUTY) IN-
SURED BY COUN iRY OFFICES.

Norwich Union 9,652,715 Shropshire
Yorkshire 3,276.085 North Wales ... 362,590
West of England 1,352,278 Essex Economic ... 349,325
Essex and Suffolk-1,332,682 North of England.. 332,797
Sent
Midland Counties 993,951 trict
Manchester
13irmingliam 726,520 Norwich Equitable 262,916
Provincial
Leeds and York- Hants, Sussex, and
shire
Salop 524,918 Lancashire ... ..... 108,262
Newcastle-on:Tyne 450,829 Sheffield .. 79,068
Nottingham and Durham and Nor-
Derby 447,736 thuLaberland 4,450
The totals of the entire returns thus furnished show
that the duty paid by London offices during the year
1855 was 860,38 C/., being an increase of only 8,9031. on
the previous year ; while- by country offices it was
346,3971., being an increase of 10,117/., the business of
the latter continuing to exhibit relatively the greatest
augmentation. The value of the farming stock insured,
and which is exempt from duty, was 37,951,8281. in
London, and 24,334,1481. in country offices, Nhowingau
increase of 1,925,9191. in the former offices, and of
1,457,700/. in the latter.
With respect to Scotch and Irish
lowing is the return both of the duty
insured on farming stock exempt froi

and

SCOTCH OFFICES,

Scottish Union ..
North British•• ...... ..............
Northern
Caledonian .,••••••••
Scottish Provincial
National ......... ••• ....••..•• ••
Forlarshlre and Perthshire.........

insurances, the fol-
paid and the sums
a duty :

Day.

26,040
19,583
10,080
9 814
6,330
5,341
2,260

79;502

5,609
4.9'46
48,171

ium Insured
on Farm-
ing Stock.

1,572,240
1,015,132
740,199
708,948
£75,750
4 t 1,507
190,730

5,224,507

39,4R5
69,078
539,947

58,766

648,510

Subjoined are the aggregate figures :
Art ACCOUNT OF THE GROSS AMOUNT OF RECEIPTS FOR
INSURANCE DUTY IN YEARS 1850, 1851, 1852,
1853, 1854, 1855.

Years England. Scotland. Ireland. Total.
£ s. d. s. d. s. d s. d.
1350 1,042,396 15 1 65,875 12 7 51,258 10 0 1,159,530 17 8
1851 1,070,727 16 2 67,229 16 2 42,543 2 411,190,505 14 8
1852 1,094,457 13 11 68,099 1 2 53,824 14 9 1,210,381 9 10
1853 1,141,346 17 '1 71,600 18 1 56,478 15 11 1,269,426 10 3
1854 1,178,016 10 1 76,782 10 4 54,424 391 1,313,223 4 9
1855 1,203,861 11 0 78,613 5 9 58,766 10 01 1,341,242 12 9

TILE SUN, L01ND0144,--- WEDNESDAY EVE-14..i.Ne,---24-Xlr--21, 1856.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(This Day.)
Toe SrEAKER took the chair a, 12 o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The Cork and Yougbal Railway Bill was read a third
time and passed. ,
The Ely Tidal Harbour and Railway Bill and the Vale
of Clwyd Railway Bill were respectively amended and
ordered for On third reading.
Sir J. BULLER. presented a petition from .a place
in Devonshire, praying thai; women who had property
might be compelled to take care of their husbands.
(Laughter.) •