New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-07-05
EXECUTION OF PALMER, THE POIsONER.

r. "
From The LVneon Daily Ners
STAFFORD, SATURDAY, June Ii, 1886.
On Friday morning, Palmer, for the nrSt tme ex-
pre ssed a desire to MT. smith, his attorney, and
msor Furord the governor of the jail, immediately
directed teegraphc message to be sent to LondOn,
info rming that gentleman of the PRISONERS wish. An
answer was returned that MIR. Smith would certainly
come to Stafford but that it would be Impossible for
him to do Until late in the day The prlsoLer was
visited on Friday by Sir. Haywood, his brotherin in
law ano his brothers Thomas and George, and ms
sister Mr. HAYWOOD left in the afternoon, but bis
brothers and sister remained the greater portion the
evening but it need lot be stated that two ofcers OF
she prison were preseLt tue whole time. An important
nciQent took plSee about lOs O'Clock. Mayor Fdiiord,
the governor of the je, being aware that Me- Smith,
the prisoners attorney shortly expected TO arrive,
went to the prisoners CELL &C companed by the new.
Mr. GOodaort and he addressed the prisoner AUG SAID
that if be wished TO make any family or coaudcntial
commune atoms to Mr.. Smth, he might rely that
they would not be dlvulged, aud that they should
be kept q profound secret; Palmer ian.di
ately replied, ''What l have to say 10 Mr.
"Suith / do lot wish to be kept secret bat
"I hope, on tie contrary that you will take care to
"et t be made public as possible. have only to
"say that l am very graceful 70 mr.. sultn l1r
"bs exertiOns Oh my behalf, ana also thank
'the officers Of this jail for their kindness to me-
He then finished the sentence by using this remark
able expression also Wish to say that Cook did not
die FROM strychnia" Maj FalfoId, upon his sayins
ths addressed slultr aud saio: Nj. Pdmer, nope
that at this awful moment you are not quoolins as to
The cause Of Cooks deato? The Question ID no.
tthev Cook murdered by stiyshnia, but whether
he was killed by you OF not Palmer reJoinea, my,
LQd Campbell summed up the case as one OF mdrder
by strychlis.' Major Fulford again SAID " That Il
not the questionable pont is whether Cook was mur
aered BY YOU or not" Palmer then said: " have
nothing to say than tms-l am quite easy IN my
conscience and happy in my mnd." Mr. Sm,th
arrived at the piton after this occurred ana ne
vas immediately ADMITTED TO the prisoner Cell. lae
prisoners brothers and sister were pres dufinS the
Interview II was anticipated that the prisoner vas
49, INN M
attorney but turned out that bis Chief obe was "
thank him personally for the great pains be had taken
in preparing his defeusc, and also TO CONTRADICT
ruIlor when it seemSG he magned had got aoroAd
that he had made confession u London otaer u Ser
yesn Sh. or to some Of the authorities OF che J4oi
Eewgaie. He wished Mr.. smith TO 90 an IN Ills
power " get the statement contraicteo hsa ooen
made ana be pressed up1n hun or the sake as hs
said of bis family and his poor boy, that the b)dy
Of Cook should again be exhumed, and submitted "
examination, with view ~ show that II did not cse'
tain any strychnia. Mr. Smith promised TO 10 .. n
hi. power to comply with Paluer's request. Before
be Il Palmer gave hi religious tract cut tied Inc
Sinners Friend anc just before he handed 1t to hun
he wrote ON ths first page IN frm boli irtno, WI
ham Palmer June 10, 1856" Tine hna parting Oh the
prisoner and bis relatives very affecting. Tney
did not leave the Jail until past l2 at nigm. Mr..
Smith accompanied them, AMI he left by one OF the
early morning trains to go to birmingham Palmer
retired TO res; soon AFTER his relatives ana MI oui'n
had left.
Having brought our narrative down to the N lrning
Of the eject ton, we wild now proceed TO state the
fact connected with that event. II should be stated
that from the middle Of the day Thursday down al
most 30 the hour for the execution the rain poured IN
torrents AID almost without internsslon. Notwith-
standing this, however, every traid that arrived az
Stafford, and especially those ffom birmingham, VOL
verhsDpton and that neghborhood, brought enormous
Ewing freights; and on Friday evening very large
mber were conveyed TO Stafford by the express tram
from London, the majority d them evidently being
persons who had expressly 70 witness the execu-
hon AL the inns were crowded with guests ana after
The micd Of the day beds were quite out Of the ques
Bon. Most Of the inns ana public houses were keps
open all night and we informed that the common
chsIse ior BED was guinea. During the whole OF
friday, the main street Of Stafford througed,
great number OF the people being well dressed, aud OF
totay omeicst Class oi penOns 10 those who usually
are present al executions. II was evident that the
Of the prison had Ned most deep and pow
eul impr sion upon the public mind and tie anxiety
10 know in what manner he would meet his end and
whether be would make any confession before death
were subjects that all rides with the
most intense interest The general impression amoos
all classes however, appeared to be that alt hough no
doubt il would be satsfactory for the prisoner %
make confession, yet that his falling TO do so,
. dying declaration OF innocence, would no.
by some meas or other destroyed the life
VI the unhappy young man john Parsons
In addition TO the barriers that were erected f the
Prevention OF accidents there were other erecons put
mp by private spectators in the Degnoornovu OF tho
scafold, standings upon which were let al vahous
suns ranging from guinea to i've shilings and some
o. these were occupied early as In the evening
by persons who hac evidently made up their minds "
remain there al night in order to secure ron' place
rou whence good view Of the dreadful ceremony
could DO obtained. A number Of persons connected
With sIelgors sect known by the name Of the Print
I'VE Methodist, made themselves very conspicuous
ny neu proceedings the Friday and on the day OF
We execution. They lad caused large placards ~ be