The Sun.
London, England, 1856-05-26 00:00:00

Having gone through this part of the evidence the court
adjourned.

On the re-assembling of the Court, his lordship pro-
ceeded with the evidence of Mr. Jones, the surgeon, of
Lutterworth, upon the portion relating to the consulta-
tion about the medicine which Cook was to take, and the
proposal that Dr. Bamford should prescribe for the de-
ceased, and also that relating to the missing betting-book.
His lordship having gone through, his notes of that evi-
dence and having done so directed` the evidence given by
Dr. Jones, as given by him before the coroner, to be read,
and said that he did not think there was anything differ-
ing from what he had stated in this court which ceuld lead
them to think he was not the witness of sincerity and
truth. His lordship than went into the evidence of New-
ton, the assistant to Dr. Salt, and said the jury would
have to consider the demeanour of the prisoner when he
was purchasing the strychnine amongst other drugs, at
Hawkins' shop, and his conduct. upon seeing Newton.
They then came to the interview, upon the 25th of Nov.,
with Newton, about the amount of strychnine to kill a
dog, and the effect it would have upon the stomach. New-
ton's evidence before the coroner was then put in and read,
and his lordship said it was for them to consider whether,
from that conversation which he made, they were to think
he had wilfully told a wicked lie. He was not shown to
have any to the prisoner ; and ho did not see that
he could have any motive for Tasking the additional state-
ment which he had done. He then went through the
evidence of Roberts, the assistant to Hawkins. The cross-
examination had not attempted to deny that evidence.
This brought the prisoner ,into the possession of the
strychnia, which they would couple with the circum-
stances and symptoms of Cook's death. The learned
counsel had not favoured them with any explanation
or opinion or given anything as to what had become
of the strychnia, or what had been done with it,
and if they came to the conclusion that the death of Cook
was caused by tetanus from strychnia he should be shrink-
ing from his duty, in the high position which he held, if
ho did not tell them that was a very strong fact established
by the prosecution which had not been in any way an-
swered. His lordship then went through the evidence of Mr.
Stevens, whose conduct he (his lordship) thought was per-
fectly justifiable, and did not merit that violent attack
which the learned Sergeant had made upon him. He had
strong suspicions, and the deceased was his stepson, and
he had perfect grounds for acting in the manner
in which he did. His lordship then went through
the statement of the woman who laid the body out, and
that of Dr. Harland, and his interview with the prisoner
previouly to the post mortem examination, and the post
mortem examination was put in and read. It was signed
by Dr. Harland, Dr. Bamford, and Mr. Devonshire. Re-
verting to the evidence of the pushing at the post morteai
examination, and the jar being removed and found
near where Palmer was, and then found with
the bladder cut ; this, of itself, was not much, but when
it was taken into consideration with prisoner's remarks
and subsequent conduct, it seemed to indicate an intention
upon the part of the prisoner to upset the jar and destroy
its contents. After reviewing the evidence relating to the
post mortom examination, and after going through the evi-
dence of Boycott and the post boy, his lordship drew the
attention of the jury most especially to the offer of 101. to
upset the post chaise, and said it was for them to consider
in a case of circumstantial evidence the conduct of the
accused, and whether it was consistent with innocence or
guilt, and it was for them to consider whether Mr. Ste-
vens had so provoked Palmer that they could take
the view which the learned counsel did of the matter,
that Palmer only meant to upset Mr. Stevens, and
net to destroy the contents of the jar. The jar was men-
tioned at that interview, and it would be for them to say
whether such conduct was innocent of the design to de-
;troy the jar and its contents, and so destroy the chance
of their being evidence against him. He then came to his
conduct with Cheshire, the postmaster, in getting him
to be a party to the assignment of Cook's property, that
was evidence of fraud and forgery, but ought net to preju-
dice the case. He then came to the prisoner's getting hold
of the letter containing the report of Dr. Taylor to Mr.
Gardner, and, referring to prisoner's conduct and that of
the coroner, said he disapproved in the strongest man-
ner of the coroner in taking presents from the prisoner.
As far as the letter to the coroner was concerned, he asked
them to consider it most carefully. The prisoner might
he innocent, hut they must consider, if that accorded with
innocence, it was tampering with the coroner, and,
to his mind, suggesting to the coroner the ver-
dict which should be arrived at. The letter was,
jto state to the coroner, that there had not been any
!spleen found, and that the verdict would be a natural
Meath. With regard to the book found at the prisoner's
Nouse, he begged the jury not to attach any importance
whatever to it, as it was used by the prisoner in '
his studies. His lordship then went through, without
somment, the evidence relative to that of the game being
sent, and also that of Mr. Herring and Bates, and then
s.scie to the evidence of Dr. Curling, and said that the jury
would now have to judge, upon the evidence of men of
science, whether the eymptons of the disease corresponded
with those of traumatic tetanus, dr idiopathic tetanus,
my natural disease, or otherwise. His lordship then
vent through the evidence of Dr. Carlin, Dr. Todd, and
Dr. Bamford, the latter of whose evidence before the
Crown was also put in and read. The evidence
about the bills his lordship said was most important,
eecause they had been in the prisoner's posses-
sion, and that he had the opportunity of changing
hem. Sir Benjamin Brodie's evidence was of the greatest
importance. He was a maa of great practice, and a very
'nigh authority, and he stated that Cook's symptoms were
each that be could not attribute his death to any
natural cause. Dr. Danlble and other medical evidence
,greed with that. The symptoms in Cook's case were
not those of idiopathic or traumatic tetanus, neithei
did it agree with any of the symptoms known in
cases of epilepsy, and all agreed that the symptoms would
not arise from syphilitic infection.
The learned Judge had not concluded his address when
we went to press. It is expected that it will not be finished
to-night.

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