Now, did you apply to the Midland Counties Insurance Office to be
appointed agent to the company at Rugeley?--I did.
When was it?--I should like to fetch my documents and papers; I should
then be able to answer you accurately.
Oh, never mind the papers. Was it in October, 1855?--I think it was.
Did you send up a proposal for an insurance of £10,000 on the life of
Bates?--I did.
Did William Palmer ask you to make that proposal?--Bates and Palmer came
together to my office, with a prospectus, and asked me if I knew whether
there was an agent for the Midland Counties Office in Rugeley. I told
him I never heard of one. He asked me afterwards if I would write to get
the appointment, because Bates wanted to raise some money.
Did you send to the Midland Counties Office to get the appointment of
agent, in order that you might be enabled to effect this insurance on
Bates’s life?--I did.
Did you make the application in order to get the insurance effected?--I
did.
Upon the life of Bates for £10,000?--I did. [Sensation.] Bates was at
that time superintending William Palmer’s stud and stables. I do not
know at what salary. I afterwards went to the widow of Walter Palmer to
get her to give up her claim on the policy of her husband. She was then
at Liverpool. William Palmer gave me a letter for Pratt to take to her
to sign. Mrs. Palmer said she would like to see her solicitor about it.
I brought the document back with me because she did not sign it. I had
no instructions to leave it.
Did she give any reason for not signing it?
Mr. Sergeant SHEE objected to the question.
Lord CAMPBELL decided that it could not be put.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL: Do you know whether Walter Palmer received
anything on executing the assignment of his policy to William Palmer?--I
believe he ultimately had something.
Did he not get a bill for £200?--I believe he did, and he also got a
house furnished for him.
Was that bill paid?--I do not remember.
Is that document in your handwriting? [document handed in]--It is.
Now, having seen that document with your signature, I ask you whether
you were applied to to effect an insurance on the life of Walter
Palmer?--I do not recollect.
Not recollect! when your signature is staring you in the face?--No, I do
not.
You are an attorney, and accustomed to business transactions?--I am.
Now I ask you again, were you applied to on the subject?--I may have
been; it is from my memory I am speaking, and I wish, therefore, to
speak as accurately as possible [laughter].
I don’t ask you as to your memory in the abstract, but your memory now
that is refreshed by that document. Is that your signature?--Witness
(hesitating) I have no doubt it may be.
Look at that document and see whether you were not applied to to effect
the insurance I have named?--That is my signature.
I ask you, have you any doubt that in the month of January, 1855, you
were called upon to attest another proposal for £13,000 on the life of
Walter Palmer?--Witness (with hesitation): I may have signed that paper
in blank.
Did you sign this proposal in blank?--I might have done.
But did you, I ask again?--I cannot swear I did or did not. I have some
doubt whether I did not sign several of these proposals in blank
[sensation].
Upon your oath, do you not know that William Palmer applied to you to
effect an insurance for £13,000 on the life of his brother?--I do not
remember.
Why this is a very large sum, surely you must remember such a
transaction as this?--I may have been applied to on the subject.
Were you applied to to attest another proposal for an insurance with the
Universal Life Office?--I cannot say that I was.
Will you swear that when Walter Palmer executed the deed of assignment
of his policy to William Palmer, that you were not present? Now, be
careful, for you will certainly hear of this on some future day if you
are not careful.--I cannot say that I was.
Upon your oath, did you not attest the deed of assignment of Walter to
his brother of his interest in a policy of insurance for £13,000?--I
cannot say. I believe the signature “Jeremiah Smith” is very much like
my handwriting.