The Sun.
London, England, 1856-05-16 00:00:00

TRIAL OF WILLIAM PALMER.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT (THIS DAY),

THIRD DAY.
The interest in this case was not in the least abated,
and this day there was a greater crowd outside the court
than hitherto, whilst the interior was extremely full.
The Earls Derby and Grey were in Court long before
the Judges took their seats.
Precisely at 10 o'clock the jurymen answered t 3 their
names. The prisoner entered the dock, and, as before,
bowed slightly to their lordships, and then leant over
the front of the dock, and had a few minutes converse
with his solicitor, before the proceedings commenced.
He was somewhat pale, and a nervous action of the
mouth, and a continual tapping of his lips with his
fingers, bespoke that he was nervous, although he strove
bard to appear otherwise.
The first witness called was Charles James Roberts,
examined by Mr. Edwin James, and having been sworn
said—l am apprentice to Mr. Hawkins, of Rageley,
druggist, and was so in November last.
Mr. Edwin James—Do you know Palmer ?—I do.
Mr. Edwin James—Do you remember the 20th of
November last !—Yes.
Mr. Elwin James—Did you see him at that time ?
Yes.

Mr. Elwin James—Where ?-I.le came into our shop.
Mr. Edwin James--About what time ?—Between
twelve and one.
Mr. Edwin James—Did he ask for anything ?—Yes ;
he asked first for some prussic acid.
Mr. Edwin James—Did he bring anything with
him !—A bottle to put it in.
Mr. Edwin James—You know Newton ?—I do:
_ _

- - - •
Mr. Edwin James—Whilst you were potting it up
did Newton COlll9 into the shop ?—Yes ; he did.
Mr. Edwin James--Did Palmor speak to him ?
Yes.

Mr. Edwin James—What did he say !--Palmer
be wanted to speak to him.

Mr. Edwin James—Did be go up and speak to him ?
—Yea ; and Palmer and Newton went out of the shop
together.

Mr. Edwin James—Da you know Bressington, a
cooper ?—I do.

Mr. Edwin James—Did you see him at that time ?
Yes ; when Palmer and Newton were outside the shop
he came up, and Palmer got into conversation with him.
Mr. Edwin James—Can you see from your shop into,
the street ?—I can. Palmer then came back into the
shop.

Lord Campbell— What were you doing ?—I was
putting up the prussic acid.

Mr. -Edwin James—Did Palmer ask for anything
else ?—Yes, he asked for six grains of strychnine.
Mr, Edwin James—Anything► else ?—Yes ; twc
drachms ofa compound called Batley's sedative.
Lerd Campbell—What did you do with the prussic
acid?—Put it upon the counter.

!dr. Elwin James—Whilst you were putting thee.
things up, was Palmer in tho shop I—Yes ; but h.
moved from the counter to the shop door, and stood
'there. He stood looking out into the street. He had
his back to the inside of the shop, and stood in the door
way.

Mr. Edwin James—How long did it take you to make
up the preparations ?—A bout four minutes.

Mr. Edwin James—Did he remain standing in the
doorway the whole time until you were ready to give
him the things

Mr. Edwin James—How was the strychnine de.
livered ?—ln paper.
Mr. Edwin James—And the opiate in a bottle?—Yes.
Mr. Edwin James--Did Palmer take them away ?
He did.

Mr. Edwin James—And pay for them ?--Yes.
Mr. r.dwin James—Whiist the preparations were
being made up was any one else in the shop ?—No one.
Mr. Edwin James—After Palmer had gone did New-
ton come ?—He did.

Mr. Edwin James—Now, you must tell us what
was said. Was there some remark made ?—There

was.

Mr. Edwin James—You said you bad known Palmer
some time. Hew long ?—Since I have been in my pre-
sent situation.
Mr. Edwin James—How long is that ?—Six years.
Mr. Edwin James—How long before the present time
had prisoner bought drugs at your shop ?—Not for twi
years. I know Thurlby, his assistant. He has opened
Palmer's shop for the sale of drugs about two years.
Mr. Edwin James— Has Palmer bought any drugs
at your shoo since that time 7—No, that is, not to my
knowledge.
Mr. Edwin James—Has Palmer practised since
Thuriby opened the business as druggist ?—Yes, he has.
Sergeant Shee—Did you- make any entry of the sale
of these things ?—I did nit.
By Lord Campbell—lt is not our custom,
William Burnby Stephen, examined by the Attorney-
General—l am a merchant, and was stepfather to the
deceased, Mr. Cook. I married his father's widow 18
years ago. I have known him intimately ever since hi.
mother died', shortly after our marriage. We were
always upon most friendly terms, and most intimate. I
had the constant care of hies. His fortune, altogether
was about 12,0001., as near as I can at present say. He
was articled to a solicitor, but did not follow it. He
had taken to turf pursuits recently. I think about
three or four years. I set my face entirely against it,
and do not know the exact period be took to them. I
did all I could to draw him away from them.
Lord Campbell—You were upon friendly terms with
him !--Yes.
The Attorney-General—When was the last time pre-
viously to his death that you saw him alive ?--.A.bout
two. o'clock upon the afternoon of the 15th of Novem-
ber ; it was at the Eueton.sqhare Station, as he was
going into the country.
The witness, in answer to Further questions, said—l
think Cook told me he was going to Rugoley, and he
looked better than I had seen him for a very long time.
I was so gratified that I said to him, "My boy, you
don't look anything of an invalid now." I don't recollect
f,he answer he made. He struck himself hard on the
chest and said, "I am all right," and I think he added
he was quite happy. In point of appearance he was
not a robust man ;he had a pale complexion. I knew
or some months before I saw him he had been labouring
under a core throat. I think be told me he was going
abroad. I first heard of his death on Wednesday the
21st. Mr. Jones told me, and I went down to Lutter-
Worth to search for hie will and any papers he might
have left. I found his will, and the next morning 1
I went to Rugeley. I got to Rugeley between 1
12 and 1. As soon as I arrived at the inn T asked
to see the body. Palmer was there. I met him in
tile passage of the inn. Mr. Jones introduced Palmer
to me in the inn, and then Palmer followed me up
stairs. Palmer removed the sheet from the body down
to about the waist. I think the shins were partly
exposed. I was struck with the appearance of the
body. The first thing I noticed was a tightness of
the muscles across the face. It was the tightness of
the muscles that principally struck me. There did
not appear to be any emaciation from disease. After
I had looked at the body, Jones, Palmer, and myself
went down stairs. After some time Cook's affairs
were spoken about. I said to Palmer " I hear from
Mr. Jones that you know ecenething of my son's
affairs ; can you tell me anything about them ?"
Palmer replied "Yes ; but there are 4,000/. of bills , oat of his, and I am sorry to say my name
is to them. I have got a paper drawn up by a
lawyer signed by Cook, to show that I have never.had
any benefit or any of the money." I don't recollect the
word. I expressed great surprise, and said "I fear I
wont have 4,000 shillings to pay them. I said " had be
no horses or other property," Palmer said he had horses
but-they were mortgaged. I said had he no sporting
bets owing to him, or anything of that sort. Palmer
mentioned one bet of 3001. which was owing to him
The person is dying. No sporting bets have been paid
I believe this 3001. was a private debt. Palmer:said hi
did :not know of any other. I said I thought hi i
sporting friends would h.ve to pay their bete, as 3°.
should pay nothing. I then turned round and said,
whether he has left or not, poor fellow, he must he
huried. Peliner then said " Oh, I'll bury him myself,
if that's all." I sail certainly I cannot allow you to do I
that. - At that time deceased's brother-in-law arrive,],
and he immediately expressed a great wish to bury bitn,
and I said no, as I was his (deceased's) executor I should
see all about that. I said I could not have the funeral
take place immediately, because I intended to bury himt
in London in his mother's grave. I was very sorry to.
inconvenience the people at the inn, but I would get it;
done'aS soon as possible. Palmer said " that's of not
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