The Sun.
London, England, 1856-01-02 00:00:00

THE IIUGELBY POISONING CASE.

_
Within the last few days considerable additional light
has been thrown upon the operations of William Palmer
in connection with his transactions with the various life
assurance offices of the metropolis. The following facts
relating to them may be relied on as authentic :—lt ap-
pears that, in the early part of 1855, Mr. Walter Pal-
mer, the brother of the accused, called at the Prince of
Wales Assurance Office, Regent-street, accompanied by
Mr. Pratt, who he stated to be his brother William's
solicitor, and intimated his wish to insure his own life
for 13,0001. From inquiries then Made it was ascertained
that Mr. Palmer had been suffering from delirium tre-
MC2I3, and the office therefore declined to grant the policy
unless et an increased rate of premium. It was stated on
that occasion that Mr. Wm. Palmer and his mother had
both advanced money to Mr. Walter Palmer, and that tho
policy would be eventually assigned to Mrs. Palmer for
security for such advances. The life was ultimately ac-
cepted, and in the month of February last, the first pre-
mium was paid by a cheque of Mr. Pratt, the family
solicitor ; but it has since transpired that the money to
pay the cheque was found by William Palmer. The
conanission was allowed to Mr. Pratt, as the solicitor or
agent bringing the business. The Prince of \Vales office,
not wishing to take so heavy a risk wholly on them-
selves atone, divided the responsibility with 21 other
offices, retaining only for therneolves 5001. In the
month of June following, two other assurances, each
for 13,0001., were offered to the Indisputable and Athe-
menni offices, but they both declined to entertain the
proposition, the latter office having already taken part of
the risk from the Prince of Wales. On the 16th of
August last Walter Palmer died, and immediately after-
wards notice was given to the Prince of Wales office.
An assignment was also sent, of which no previous no-
tice had been given at the office, although it was alleged
that a formal notice of assignment had already been de-
livered there. The assignment was not to Mrs. Palmer,
as first alleged by the deceased Walter Palmer, but
turned out to be in favour of William Palmer, the
accused, and the consideration was stated to be 4001.
It has since transpired that the only loan from Wm.
Palmer to Walter Palmer was one of 601. only. Before
the period for paying the claim arrived, the directors of
the Prince of Wales Assurance Office received a letter
from a person in Staffordshire, who alleged that William
Palmer hail used him badly, and containing information
which led them to suspect that the deceased had died
by unfair meanie Relying on this information, Mr.
Hernhy, the actuary of the Prince of Wales, put himself
in communication with the other offices sharing the risk,
and the result of their deliberations was the formation
of a committee, of which Mr. John Messent, of the Briton
office, was appointed secretary, for the purpose of ob-
taining evidence with the view of ascertaining whether
the suspicious circumstances were of sufficient gravity to
justify the offices in resisting any demand that might ho
made upon them in respect to the payment of these
claims. In pursirinee of this arrangement,'Mr. Hornby,
accomeamed by Mr. Deane, of the firm of Chubb,
Deane, and Chubb, solicitors, of Gray's-inn, and by
Field and Simpson, detective officers, proceeded to
Staffordshire to obtain information as to the habits of
the deceased, and the connection of William Palmer with
his pecuniary affairs. On arriving at Rugeley, the party
proceeded to make inquiries, the result of which was,
they ascertained that William Palmer was the person
really interested in the policy of assurance in question,
and that he had also been in the habit of making propo-
sitions for insurances to several London offices, and that
lie had received 13,000/. from the Norwich Union, Equi-
table, and Sun offices on the life of his wife, who had
died a short time previously under very mysterious cir-
cumstances. The deputation having been informed
that William Palmer had made a proposal for insuring
the life of " George Bates, Esq.," inquired at the
post-office for "George Bates, Esq.," and were in-
formed that he would be found at Mr. Palmer's ;
that lie was a gentleman, and that in all probability
he would give " the gentleman from London" a bottle
of old wine, as he had a capital cellar. Field then pro-
ceeded to Rugeley, and, to his amazement, found
"George Bates, Esq.," who bad been represented as a
gentleman of property and position in the country, ies
the act of cleaning out Palmer's stable. Field inquired
whether he was Mr. George Bates. Ile replied in the
affirmative. A conversation ensued, in the course of
which Field said, " I understand you are going to insure
your life ; for what amount do you intend to insure ?"
Bates replied that he had left all that to Mr. Palmer ;
but that he was to have some money for himself, the
amount of which he did not state. Field subsequently
had an interview with William Palmer, whom he in-
formed that the object of his visit was to obtain informa-
tion respecting the death of his brother Walter.
Palmer then expressed himself perfectly satisfied, and
added that the insurance offices had a perfect right,
and were, in fact, bound to make every possible in-
quiry, hi order to satisfy themselves as to the justice
of all claims made upon them. Field subsequently
alluded to the mysterious death of Palmer's wife, and
said that perhaps he would have no objection to inquiries
being made by the Norwich Union, Equitable, and Sun
offices into the' circumstances attending Ler 'death.
Palmer replied with great coolness that hecould have na
possible objection to such a proceeding if the offices de-
sired it. The subsequent inquiries made by Mr. Herlihy,
Mr. Deane, and the officers, led them to the conclusion
that Mr. William Palmer had induced the medical men,
by false representations as to his brother's habits and
general health to fill up the documents forwarded to the
assurance offices in suoh a way as to lead them to sup.
pose that the life was one which they could safely accept.
The result of the investigation made in Staffordshire was
that the offices reselved to defend themselves to the ut-
most, on the ground of fraud, against any legal proceed.
ings that might be taken by ‘Villiain Palmer, or the
representatives of the late Walter Palmer, to recover
the amount of the policies. It may also be stated that
William Palmer is alleged to have attempted the life of
the boots at the inn, that person having complained of
illness after drinking a glass of brandy and water mixed
for him in the bar by the accused. The boots had been
examined by Field, and William Palmer subsequently
interrogated hini as to whether the " gentleman from
London" had put any questions to him relating to him-
self or his deceased brother. The boots denied that be
had been questioned on the subject, and then William
Palmer asked him whether lie would have anything to
drink. Mr. Deane afterwards repaired to the Isle of
Man, when he discovered that Walter Palmer had re-
sided there for some time, and had suffered severely
from attacks of delirium tremens, during one of which
be had. attempted to commit suicide by cutting his
hroat.

No proceedings have as yet been taken against the
Prince of Wales office, or any of the other companies,
to recover the amonnt of the policy.