The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-06-30
Ohief Jusios OockbQM

London W.nd-
He was an admirable host, told stor-
les quietly, but With much dramatic
power, In 3 voice the musical qualities
a which I never heard equalled, and
possessed that are quality In ; clever
man, the quality of listening. he was
perhaps, seen at his best when, most Of
his guests having gone. he would ad-
journ with two or three TO his library.
and oyer his cigar would pour forth his
"reminiscences Of personal history, in
which he. during his long and splendid
career, had played q distinguished part
There have L listened 70 his wonder
full story of the great Palmer trial,
from its commencement to its close; how
he. then attorney general, read the
notes of the case and of the earlier ex-
aminations, and became convinced NO
merely of Palmer's guilt. but of the
manner in which the crime was carried
out; how he worked night and day in
studying the effects of various poisons.
and finally submitted himself 10 an ex-
animation by friendly experts to prove
90 himself that he had mastered the
subject; how he had elected 10 have
the prisoner tried on Cooks case,
though it was the weakest of the sever
al indictments which he could have
brought forward. feeling certain that if
he failed to hang Palmer for the murder
OF Cook, he would Individually convict
him for the murder of his wife. L
remember his telling me how. having
been called away by his duties rs at
torney general To Westminster. he re-
turned to the old Bailey as Lord Camp
bell was summing up, and looking
down from the gallery into the court,
81 knew" said he. s4by the look of
| John Campbell's face, that Palmer was
a dead man."
1t was In connection with the Palmer
t.ial that he told me he experienced
what he considered the greatest COM
pliment ever paid TO him. Palmer was
in the habit. as he stood in the dock, Of
writing instructions or suggestions to
his attorney. Mr.. Smith. screwing thcm
up into little pellets, and tossing them
over to their destination. One OF these
which he wrote Immediately after the
verdict Of guilty had been pronounced
by the jury. wa afterwards handed TO
Cir Alexander Cockburn. It merely con-
tanned these words: Its the riding
that has done It," conveying thereby.
In sporting metaphor. which Palmer
was constantly using. the prisoners
opinion that it was solely due to the at
Iorney generals conduct of the case
Lhatths verdict against him had boon
obtained
He was passionately fond of music,
and the leading musicians of tho day
were constant visitors at his house,
notably Herr Joachim. who always paid
one of his first visits in Hertford street
after his annual arrival in England. and
who was to be found there constantly
during his stay. The late Mrs. Satoris
adelaide Kemble) was also one Of Sir
Alexander's favoritc guests; and the
sympathetic qualities Of her lovely voice
never seem to have lost their effect on
him. At ono time no was . constant
attendant al the Monday popular con-
,erts; but Of late years he had given up
going there.
His devotion to work may be estimat-
Cd by the fact that. after . medical
consultation, held nearly two years ago.
he was plainly informed that his disease
rad reached such = point that he might
lie at any time without Q moments no.
dee. His retirement from the bench
was advised by his friends and his med
,cal man; and 1t was suggested. u an
alternative. that he might prolong life
by devoting himself to his favorits
amusement Of yachting and . mild
sourse of literary labor. for the purpose
II putting into shape his legal. political,
literary, and social "Reminiscences. The
Chief Justice, however, would not hear
II retirement, and on each of three &C.
sasions onswhich he was seized with Q
disease of the hoart returned to work
without the needful rest for recupera-
lion.