New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-07-04
EXECUTION OF PALMER, THE POISONER.
From Inc LVHd0H DuNy
STAFFORD SATURDAY, June u, 1856.

LVDdon
STAFFORD, Saturday, June II, 1885,
On Friday morning, Palmer, for the hrst time, ex,
pressed deeIe 10 ses Mr.. Smith, his attorney, ana
Msjor Fulford, the governor of the JAIL Immediately
directed telegYaphic message to be sent to London,
info rmipe that gentleman of the prisoners wish. An
answer was returned that Mr. Smith would certainly
come to Stafford but that it would be Impossible Tor
him to do 20 until late il the day. The prisoner was
visited on Friday by Mr. Haywood, bus brother H.
law end his bro,hers Thomas and George, and his
sister Mr. Haywood left in the afternoon, but his
brothers and sse remained the greater potion Oh the
evening" bu. need not be stated that t%o oincers OF
the prison were preseLt the whole time Anlnportan'
inciaent took place abou: lO O'Clock. Major F9ltord,
the govern Of the js, being aware that MI Smith,
the prisoners attorney, was shortly expected 10 arve
went to the prisoners cell, accompanied by the Kew;
Mr. Gnodacre and he addressed the prisoner AID SAID
that if he wished to make any family or cJnndential
commune atoms TO Mr. Smith, he might rely that
they would not be divulSed, and thtt they onould
be KEEP, S%SSSnd sef bsys to r"a esy i TO- Mr.
"Smth i do not wish 20 be kept secret; bat
90 hope, on tie contrary that you will take care TO
"let II be made at public a. possible. have only to
"say that l am very grnt1fn TO Mr.. smih Tor
the officers of this jail for their kindness to me-"
He then fn1Led the sentence by using this remark
able expression: also wish to say that Cook did not
die from srychna;" Major kato,d, upon his saying
that at this awful moment you not clubbing as 10
the cause Of Cooks death! The question Is not
whs ther Cook murdered by siychna, bu; whether
he killed by you not" Palmer rejoined, " ny,
Lord Campbell summed up the case as one OF murder
by strychnia." Major Fulford again SAID. " mat Is
rot the queotOn-the point ID whether COOK "ds luI
dtred bt Won or not" Palmer then said: " have
nothing more to say than this I'm quite easy in my
copscience and Lappy Ia my mind Mt. santa
arrived at the pIitOn soon after ths occu1ea ana ne
was Immediately admitted TO the prisoner CELL Inc
praoners brotht aid sister were prsen1 during the
Interview 1t was anticipated that the PRISONER vas
about to make some important communca.Oh 10 Ms
attorney but it turned out tha his Chief OBJECT was 10
thank him personally for the great pains DC hsa taheu
in n,.paunp his defense, and also TO contradict
rumor when il seemed he imagined had go, ABROAD
that be had made confession III London either u ser
gean Shee TO some OF the authorities OF the anoi
kewpate He wished MIR. Smith to DO all IN Ma
poyef To get the statement contradcted II ao peeh
made and he also pressed upon him for the sake as he
said Of his family and his poor BOY, that tne o'uy
Of Cook should again be exhamed, ana suounlteu "
eIaDinhtOD, with view to show that IL ola NOT con
tain any strychnia. Mr.. Smith promised 70 90 an ID
his power to comply with Palmers request; Before
h. /, n Palmer gave him relg Gus tract entitled ne
Sinners Friend !" ana just before he handed It TO hun
be wrote ON the first page ID hrm, ood h"no' VI
ham Palmer June 49, 1856" The hpGl parting OF the
prisoner and his relatives was very affecting. Ihey
did not leave the jail until past IL at night. Mr..
Smith accompanied them, AMI he lett by one Oh the
eaily morning trains 10 go 10 birmingham; foinier
retired TO rest coon after hid relatives aHu 'ui' oos-
had left.
Having brought our narrative down TO the morning
Of the execut ton, will nos proceed TO state the
facts connected with that event. 1t should De staveo
that from the middle of the day on Thursday down al
most the hour for the execution the rain poured IN
torrents, and almost without ntermisslon. No,wth-
standing this, however, every traln tnat arrived a.
Stafford, and especially those from birmingham, "oI
verhanptOn and that Deghborhood, brought enormous
living freights; and on Friday evening very large
number were conveyed 10 Stafford by the express tram
from London, the majority of them evidently beng
pesons who had come expressly 10 witness the e4ecu
ton. AL the inns crowded with guests, anu AFTER
the middle Of the day beds were quite out OF the ques
ZION. Most Of the inns and pablo houses were KEEP
open all night and we informed that the CON non
charge for q bed was guinea. During the whole Of
Friday the main street OF Stafford was thronged, a
great number Of the people being well dressed, ana OF
totally oiereSt class OF peIsons 70 those who usually
are present at executions II evident that the
case OF the prscaer had created most deep and pow
erful impression upon the public mind and tie anxiety
10 know IN what manner he would meet bis end, aud
whether he would make any confession before DEATH
subjects that were canvassed all rides with the
most intense interest The general impression among
all classes however appeared TO be tatt although NO
doubt it would be more satsactory for the prisoner
make confession, yet that b failing to do So or even
a diving declaration Of innocence, would mo-,
create any doubt that bis hand, in reality,
by some messs or other destroyed tue hfe
Of the unhappy young man JOHN Parsons.
In addition TO the barriers that were erected for the
prevention OF accidents there were other sectons put
UP by private spectators IN the peigaooinood OF the
scafiold, standings upon which were lei AZ vanous
suIls ranging from guinea TO five shlngs, and some
Of these were occupied early as Z in the evening
by persons who had evidently made up their minds 70
remain there all night in order 10 secure mont place
from whence good view OF the dreadful ceremony
could be obtained. number Of persons connect Gu
with religious sect known by the name Of the frimi
tive Meth0dists made themselves very conspicuou:
BY their proceedings the Friday and on the day OF
the execution They Lad caused large placards to DO