The Northern Daily Times. — 1856-05-31 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

THE CONVICT PALMER.  Mr. Hand, the Under Sheriff of the county of Stafford, has informed Major Salford, governor of the gaol, that the execution of William Palmer will take place on the morning of Saturday, the 14th of June, at eight o'clock. The scaffold will be erected on the flat roof of the building forming the entrance to the prison.  When Palmer arrived at Stafford on Tuesday night, a considerable crowd had assembled to see him; but he was quickly transferred by Mr. Weatherhead and his assistants to a carriage which was in waiting, and in ten minutes he was inside the cell alloted to him. Since then his behaviour has been much the same as before his trial. Two of the prison officers are constantly in his cell, and when he does enter into conversation with them, the purport of his remarks has chiefly reference to a probability of his sentence be'ng remitted. He is as collected and unmoved as ever, and evinces cheerfulness and serenity. Up to yesterday, none of his friends had applied for permission to see him.  Notwithstanding the unanimous verdict of the jury, Palmer, immediately after the proceedings on Tuesday, complained to the under-sheriff that he had not received a fair trial. The under-sheriff observed that he had no reason to complain, and reminded him that all the judges agreed in the finding of the jury. Palmer's reply was —" Well, sir, but that don't satisfy me." During the charge of Lord Campbell, he repeatedly communicated verbally and by written messages with Mr. John Smith, his solicitor, and the counsel conducting his case. After the learned judge had concluded, he addressed a note to Mr. Smith, in which he stated that Lord Campbell's summing up was ver yunfair towards him, and that, consequently, the jury must be prejudiced against him. He added, however, the expression of his belief that they would find a verdict of not guilty. When informed by the under-sheriff, after the sentence was passed, that he must prepare immediately to return to his former quarters in Stafford gaol, he asked by what railway he was to be conveyed—and, being told that the London and North Western was the usual and most direct route, he begged that he might be taken by the Great Western Railway, as he stated that he was so well known oa the North Western that he would be recognised all along the line. The under-sheriff informed him that his request could not be complied with, so he acquiesced without any further observation. As it was suspected that the prisoner might attempt to commit suicide, and thus defeat the ends of justice, a new suit of clothes was prepared for him, which he was directed t 3 put on after his return to his apartment at Newgate. No person was allowed to see him or to communicate with him after the sentence was passed, except the under-sheriff and the authorities of the prison. Immediately after the verdict was delivered. a te:egraphic despatch was forwarded to the governor of Stafford gaol, requesting him to provide accommodation for the prisoner ; and on the arrival of the train at Stafford, at about eleven o'clock, a fly was in waiting, in which he was-conveyed to the gaol. Mr. John Smith and Mr. George Palmer, the prisoner's brother, are taking steps to lay before the Home Secretary a statement of facts, mainly in connection with the medical evidence, which they hope will induce the right hon. gentleman to recommend her Majesty to exercise the prerogative of mercy, by mitigating the capital sentence. The grounds on which the appeal will be made are the conflict of medical evidence, and the absence of any direct proof that poison had been administered to the deceased. Several communications have been forwarded by various medical practitioners, detailing cases of tetanus from natural causes, accompanied by symptoms similar to those spoken to in Cook's case ; and, although some of those communications were not forwarded in time to be used at the trial, the prisoner's friends are sanguine in the hope that they may have a favourable influence in the only quarter to which an appeal can now be made. It seems that during the trial the prisoner expressed a belief that one at least of the jurymen, whose personnel appeared to attract his attention, was not the man to return a verdict of guilty, and on more than one occasion, in his communication with his counsel and his solicitor, alluded to this gentleman. The jury were accommodated at the London Coffee-house. A large room was prepared for them, fitted up with sixteen beds, in which they slept; and they were twelve days " sequestered" from their families, friends and pursuits. Some members of their families were admitted to see them, but only in presence of one of the officers of the court, and and their dormitory was locked at night to prevent the possibility of communicating with the external world. The accoucheinent of the wife of one of the jurors took place during his detention, and an application was made to Lord Campbell to allow him to go home and see her, in the presence of an officer of the court. Lord Campbell, on ascertaining that the lady's health was not in danger, said he felt bound- to refuse the application; as, if he granted it, he must in fairness concede a similar favour to the whole of the remaining jurors, should they make an ap plicaion to visit their families. On Sunday week one of the jurors had a narrow escape of his life. While walking in Epping Forest, one of the large trees was blown down by the tempest, and fell with a great crash within a few inches of his path; but, fortunately, without doing any injury.  By the new act under which Palmer was tried, an account of the expense of his removal, maintenance, &c, in Newgate, is to be delivered to the county treasurer of Stafford, who is to pay the same. Any objection to the amount must be made in writing, within a calendar month of its delivery. The sum mentioned as the total of the expenses is £lO,