with Herring to draw Cook’s bets at Tattersalls
and make payments to Pratt and Padwick,
the moneylenders.
Cook is better all the Monday while Palmer is
away.
Nov. 19. Palmer returns in the evening. Goes to Newton,
the assistant of Mr. Salt, surgeon at Rugeley,
and purchases 3 grains of strychnia. Is in
and out of Cook’s room up to eleven o’clock.
Gives Cook pills, and leaves about eleven
o’clock. These pills were professedly those
sent by Dr. Bamford, but were alleged by the
prosecution to have been substituted by
Palmer with others containing strychnia.
Jeremiah Smith gave evidence that Cook had
taken Dr. Bamford’s pills before Palmer’s
arrival.
About twelve o’clock Cook is taken ill with violent
spasms, and awakens household with violent
screaming. Palmer is sent for.
“ 20. (Tuesday) Cook “comparatively comfortable” in
the morning.
Palmer during the day purchases from Roberts,
the assistant at the shop of Mr. Hawkins,
druggist at Rugeley, prussic acid, 6 grains
of strychnia, and liquor of opium.
Palmer requests Cheshire, the Rugeley postmaster,
to fill up cheque on Wetherby for Cook’s
stakes won at Shrewsbury.
Mr. Jones, surgeon, of Lutterworth, Cook’s most
intimate friend, comes, at Palmer’s request,
to stay with Cook.
Pills again made up by Dr. Bamford at his house
and taken away by Palmer. Pills administered
by Palmer at 10.30. Jones sleeps in
Cook’s room. Cook taken ill again as on
Monday, about twelve o’clock, and in a few
minutes dies. Palmer had been sent for, and
was present at the death.
“ 21. (Wednesday) Wetherby declines to pay £350
cheque, as the stakes were not received from
Shrewsbury.
Palmer writes to Pratt that he must have
“Polestar.”
“ 22. Palmer goes to London and pays Pratt £100; he
had no money at Shrewsbury, and lost on the
races.
“ 23. Palmer at Rugeley again; sees Cheshire, and
desires him to witness a document purporting
to be signed by Cook acknowledging £4000
of bills to have been negotiated by Palmer for
Cook.
Nov. 23. Mr. Stevens, Cook’s stepfather, arrives in Rugeley,
sees Palmer, and discusses Cook’s affairs
and the funeral. Cook’s betting book and
papers not found. Coffin ordered by Palmer
without Stevens’s knowledge. Stevens
notices unusual appearance of the body;
returns to London and consults a solicitor,
who gives him introduction to Mr. Gardner,
solicitor in Rugeley. Stevens and Palmer
meet on the train from London to Rugeley,
and Stevens informs Palmer that he intends
to have a post-mortem.
“ 25. (Sunday) Palmer applies to Dr. Bamford for death
certificate, which is given for apoplexy.
Sends for Newton, and has a conversation about
the effects of strychnia.
“ 26. Post-mortem examination; Palmer is present, and
acts suspiciously.
Mr. Stevens takes jars, with contents from the
body, to London for analysis to be made by
Professor Taylor.
Dec. 5. Cheshire, having opened Professor Taylor’s letter
to Mr. Gardner, containing account of
analysis, tells Palmer strychnia or other
poisons, with the exception of traces of antimony,
have not been found.
“ 8. Palmer writes to the coroner as to Professor
Taylor’s letter.
“ 14. Inquest, at which Professor Taylor gives evidence.
Verdict of “wilful murder” returned.
Palmer, who was in custody of Sheriff’s officer for
the bills, is arrested on the verdict and taken
to Stafford Gaol.
THE TRIAL.
Within the Central Criminal Court,
Old Bailey, London.
WEDNESDAY, 14TH MAY, 1856.
The Court met at Ten o’clock.
_Judges_--
LORD CHIEF JUSTICE CAMPBELL.
MR. JUSTICE CRESSWELL.
MR. BARON ALDERSON.
_Counsel for the Crown_--
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL (_Sir Alexander Cockburn_).
Mr. EDWARD JAMES, Q.C.
Mr. BODKIN.
Mr. WELSBY.
Mr. HUDDLESTON.
_Counsel for the Prisoner_--
Mr. SERJEANT SHEE.
Mr. GROVE, Q.C.
Mr. GRAY.
Mr. KENEALEY.
The prisoner, William Palmer, surgeon, of Rugeley, aged thirty-one
was indicted for having at Rugeley, county of Stafford, on 21st
November, 1855, feloniously, wilfully, and with malice
aforethought, committed murder on the person of John Parsons Cook.
* * * * *
On being called upon the prisoner pleaded not guilty.
* * * * *
The jury having been duly empanelled and sworn, the
Attorney-General opened the case for the Crown.[A]
Evidence for the Prosecution.
[Sidenote: Ishmael Fisher]
ISHMAEL FISHER, examined by Mr. JAMES--I am a wine merchant. I attend
races occasionally, and knew the deceased, John Parsons Cook, for about
two years. I was at Shrewsbury Races in November, 1855, and I remember
the race for the Shrewsbury Handicap won with a mare called “Polestar,”
the property of Mr. Cook. That was on Tuesday, the 13th of November. I
saw Mr. Cook, the deceased, that day upon the course. He appeared in his
usual health and spirits. At Shrewsbury I stopped at the Raven Hotel. I
know Palmer, the prisoner, very well. I have known him a little longer
than I have known Mr. Cook. Mr. Cook and Mr. Palmer were also stopping
at the Raven Hotel, and were occupying a room near me. There was only a
wooden partition between my room and theirs. Between eleven and twelve
on the night of Wednesday I went into the sitting room, in which Mr.
Cook and Mr. Palmer and Mr. Myatt were. Myatt is a saddler at Rugeley,
and is a friend of Palmer. They each appeared to have some grog before
them. In my presence Mr. Cook asked Mr. Palmer to have some more brandy
and water. Mr. Palmer said, “I shall not have any more till you have
drunk yours.” Mr. Cook said then, “I will drink mine,” and he took up
his glass and drank it at a drop, or he might have made two drops of it.
After he had drunk it he said, “There is something in it.” He also said,
“It burns my throat dreadfully.” Mr. Palmer then got up and took up the
glass. He sipped up what was left of the glass, and said, “There is
nothing in it.” There appeared to be certainly not more than a
teaspoonful left by Mr. Cook. At that time a Mr. Reid, whom I knew, came
in. He is a wine merchant, and attends races. After Palmer had put his
glass to his mouth and said, “There is nothing in it,” he handed the
glass to Reid, and asked him if he thought there was anything in it.
The glass was also handed to me. We each said the glass being so empty
we could not recognise anything. I said I thought there was rather a
strong scent upon it, only I could not detect anything besides brandy.
About ten minutes after this Cook retired from the room. Cook then came
back and called me out of the room, and I went with him into my sitting
room. Cook at that time was very ill. He had been sick. He said he had
been very sick, and he thought that Palmer had dosed him. On that
occasion he handed me over a sum of money, between £700 and £800 in bank
notes. It was given to me to be taken care of. He did not say till when.
Mr. Palmer and Mr. Cook jointly occupied a sitting room. They occupied
different bedrooms. After Cook had given me this money he was
immediately seized with sickness. I saw him in the same room and in his
own bedroom. He again complained of suffering during the time he was
absent, and said he had been again very sick. He asked me to go with him
to his bedroom, which I did. A Mr. Jones, a stationer, went with me to
his bedroom. While we were there he was violently vomiting again, so
much so that we thought it right to send for the doctor, Mr. Gibson. We
left him that morning in his room about two o’clock or a little after.
Mr. Gibson came about half-past twelve or a quarter to one. I again sent
for Mr. Gibson, as Cook was so ill. The second time I sent was about
one, as near as I can remember. After taking some medicine Cook became
more composed. The medicine was sent by Mr. Gibson, but he did not
administer it himself. Mr. Jones and myself gave him the medicine. The
next morning about ten o’clock I saw Palmer in my own sitting room. He
was in the sitting room when I got downstairs. He said that Cook had
been stating he had given him something last night, that he had been
putting something in his brandy, or something to that effect. Palmer
said he never played such tricks with people. He said, “I can tell you
what he was; he was very drunk.” Cook certainly was not drunk. I did not
see him at dinner, but I saw him some time after, and from what I
observed of him he was certainly sober. On the same morning Mr. Cook
came up to my bedroom after he had got up. He was looking very ill. I
gave him back his money. On that day (Thursday) I saw Mr. Cook on the
racecourse at Shrewsbury. It would be about three o’clock. He looked
very ill. I frequently had been in the habit of settling his bets for
him when he did not settle them himself. I was in the habit of paying
and receiving for him at Tattersall’s and other places. At Shrewsbury I
saw Cook’s betting book in his possession. It was a little more than
half the size of this (a small memorandum book). As nearly as I can
remember, it was very nearly this colour (a dark colour). On the 17th,
which was Saturday, I paid to Mr. Pratt, by direction of Mr. Cook, £200
in a cheque. As his agent I expected to settle his Shrewsbury account at
Tattersall’s on the following Monday, and I should have been entitled to
deduct the £200. That was the course of dealing between us, but I did
not settle that account, as it turned out.
[A] See Introduction, p. 2.
Cross-examined by Mr. SERJEANT SHEE--I have known Mr. Palmer a little
longer than Mr. Cook. I knew that they were a good deal connected with
racing transactions. They appeared to be very intimate, and were a great
deal together. They generally stayed at the same hotels. I knew that
Cook won considerably at Shrewsbury. I knew that “Polestar” was his
mare. I do not know whether Palmer also won. I saw Mr. Cook after the
race on the course. He appeared very much elated and gratified.
“Polestar” won easily. In the room to which I went in the evening, in
which Mr. Cook, Mr. Palmer, and Mr. Myatt were, I remember seeing a
glass before Mr. Palmer and before Mr. Cook. I could not answer for
Myatt’s glass. I believe there was one decanter on the table. I did not
observe sufficiently the glasses to see whether both had been drinking.
Mr. Cook asked me to take some brandy. I do not recollect drinking any,
but I cannot positively remember. I was not tipsy. I do not think I
drank anything. I believe I am a good judge of brandy by the smell. I
smelt this glass, and said that it had a strong smell about it, but I
thought there was nothing in it unlike brandy. The glass was perfectly
empty, and had been completely drained. I had been in the Unicorn in the
evening before this occurred. I saw both Cook and Palmer at the Unicorn
on Wednesday night about nine o’clock, or between nine and ten. I cannot
say if he was drinking then. I do not know that a good number of people
happened to be ill at Shrewsbury on that Wednesday or Tuesday. I had a
friend who was rather poorly there from a different kind of illness to
Mr. Cook. Wednesday was rather dull. I do not know that it rained, but
it was damp under foot I remember. I saw Mr. Cook about the racecourse
several times on Wednesday. On Thursday I remember the weather was
rather cold and damp, but I cannot say whether it rained or not. On the
16th or 17th of November I received a letter from Mr. Cook, dated
Rugeley, 16th November, 1855--
Dear Fisher,--It is of very great importance to both Mr. Palmer and
myself that the sum of £500 should be paid to Mr. Pratt, of Queen
Street, Mayfair, to-morrow, without fail. £300 has been sent up
to-night, and if you will be kind enough to pay the other £200
to-morrow on receipt of this, you will greatly oblige me. I will
settle it on Monday at Tattersall’s. I am much better.
I received this on the 17th at No. 4 Victoria Street, London. I
considered that Palmer and Cook were for some time jointly connected
with racing transactions, but there is no proof of it. Cook was not more
elated after winning than people usually are.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: Thomas Jones]
THOMAS JONES, examined by Mr. WELSBY--I am a law stationer, and was at
Shrewsbury Races last November. I stayed at the Raven. On the Monday
night Cook supped with me and some other friends. He appeared well on
that occasion, as he also did on the Tuesday and Wednesday. On Wednesday
night, between eleven and twelve, Mr. Cook came into my room at the
Raven and invited me into his. I went there, and found, amongst other
people in the room, Palmer. After the party broke up Mr. Fisher said
something to me about Cook, in consequence of which I went up to Cook’s
bedroom. I found him there, and he complained of a burning in his
throat. He was vomiting. Some pills and a draught were brought. Mr. Cook
refused to take the pills, in consequence of which I went to the doctor,
Mr. Gibson, and got some liquid medicine from him, which I brought back
and gave to Mr. Cook. He drank about a wineglassful of the medicine, and
after that he also took some of the pills. Next morning, between six and
seven, I again saw him. He looked pale, and appeared to be unwell.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: George Reid]
GEORGE REID, examined by Mr. BODKIN--I was acquainted with the deceased
Mr. Cook and the prisoner Palmer. I saw them at Shrewsbury Races in
November. On the Tuesday and Wednesday Cook appeared to be in his usual
health. On Wednesday night I went into the room at the Raven where
Palmer and Cook were. There was another gentleman present. We had a
glass of brandy and water before the time to rest. Almost immediately
after I arrived there I noticed that Cook was in pain. I heard him say
to Mr. Palmer there was something in the brandy and water. Mr. Palmer
handed me the glass to taste from it. I said, “What is the use of
handing me the glass when it is empty?” The next time I saw Cook was
about eleven o’clock the next morning. He said he was very ill.
Cross-examined by SERJEANT SHEE--I should consider that Cook’s general
state of health was delicate. He always had a pallid complexion, and did
not look like a strong man.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: W. S. Gibson]
WILLIAM SCAFE GIBSON, examined by Mr. HUDDLESTON--I am assistant to Mr.
Heathcote, surgeon, at Shrewsbury. On 14th November last, between twelve
and one at night, I was sent for to the Raven Hotel, and saw there Mr.
Cook in his bedroom. He was not in bed. He complained of pain in his
stomach and heat in his throat, and said he thought he had been
poisoned. His pulse was about 90; his tongue was perfectly clean. I
advised him to take an emetic, which he did, and he was then very sick.
Nothing came away but water. I sent him two pills and a draught. The
pills consisted of rhubarb and 3 grains of calomel. The draught
consisted of mistura sennacum. Later on in the same night I gave Mr.
Jones some medicine for Cook. I never saw Cook after that occasion.
Cross-examined by Mr. SERJEANT SHEE--I treated Cook as if he had taken
poison. I took him at his word, that he had taken poison, not from his
symptoms. He seemed a little excited by drink.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: E. Mills]
ELIZABETH MILLS, examined by Mr. JAMES--I was chambermaid at the Talbot
Arms at Rugeley in November last. I had been there about two years. I
knew the prisoner. He was in the habit of coming to the Talbot Arms. I
remember on Thursday, the 15th, between nine and ten at night, Mr. Cook,
along with Mr. Palmer, came to the Talbot Arms. He retired to rest
between ten and eleven. He said he had been poorly, and was feeling
poorly then. The next morning he got up about twelve o’clock, and said
he felt no worse, but still he was not well. That night he retired to
bed about half-past ten. He said he had been to Mr. Palmer’s and had
dined there. On Saturday morning about eight, Palmer, who lived opposite
to the Talbot Arms, came over. He ordered a cup of coffee for Mr. Cook,
which I believe I gave to Mr. Cook in his bedroom. Mr. Palmer was in the
room at the time. I did not see Cook drink it, but about half an hour
afterwards I returned into the room and found that the coffee had been
vomited. On that occasion I observed a jug in the room which did not
belong to the Talbot Arms. It was sent down to me by Lavinia Barnes to
make some more toast and water. During that Saturday I saw Palmer
perhaps four or five times in Cook’s room. I heard him say to Mr. Cook
that he would send over some broth. I did not see it brought over, but I
saw the broth in the kitchen. The cook told me that it had come over
from Mrs. Rowley. The broth had not been made at the Talbot Arms. Later
in the day I took up the broth to Mr. Cook. About a quarter of an hour
after the broth came over I met Palmer coming up the stairs to Cook’s
room. He asked if Cook had had his broth. I told him I did not know that
any was come for him. During this conversation Lavinia Barnes came
forward and said she had taken up the broth to Mr. Cook as soon as it
had come, and he had refused to take it, saying that it would not stay
in his stomach. Palmer said that I must go and fetch the broth, which I
did, and took it into the room. Mr. Palmer was there, and I left the
broth in the room. About an hour and a half afterwards I went up to the
room again and found that the broth had been vomited. About six o’clock
that evening some barley water was made for Cook. I took that up to him,
but I cannot remember whether that stayed in his stomach or not. At
eight o’clock that evening I took up some arrowroot to Cook. The first
time I saw Mr. Bamford [the doctor at Rugeley] was about three o’clock
on the Saturday afternoon. Between seven and eight on the Sunday morning
I went into Mr. Cook’s room. During the night Mr. Smith, a friend of Mr.
Cook, had slept in the same room. I asked Mr. Cook if he felt worse. He
said he felt pretty comfortable, and had slept well since twelve
o’clock. Upon the Sunday a large breakfast cup of broth was brought to
the Talbot Arms by Charles Hawley. I took some of it up to Mr. Cook’s
room in the same cup in which it was brought. I tasted about two
tablespoonfuls of the broth before I took it up. It was between twelve
and one, before my dinner, that I tasted this broth. About half an hour
afterwards it made me very sick, and I vomited violently all the
afternoon till about five o’clock. I was obliged to go to bed. Up to
that time I had been quite well. I had taken nothing that I am aware of
that had disagreed with me. In the evening and on the morning of the
Sunday I saw Mr. Cook several times. He appeared to be better during
that evening, and to be in good spirits. The last time I saw him on the
Sunday night might be about ten or a little after that. I saw him
between seven and eight on the Monday morning. I took him up a cup of
coffee. He did not vomit that. Palmer was there that morning about a
quarter or half-past seven. I saw him coming downstairs as though he had
been to see Mr. Cook. Mr. Cook got up at one o’clock on that Monday. He
appeared a great deal better, and he washed and dressed and shaved
himself. He said he felt exceedingly weak. On the Monday Ashmall, the
jockey, and Mr. Saunders, Cook’s trainer, visited him. As soon as Cook
got up at one o’clock I gave him some arrowroot, which he retained in
his stomach. I believe he had a cup of coffee about four or five. About
eight o’clock that night Miss Bond, the housekeeper, gave me a pillbox
to take upstairs to Mr. Cook’s room, which I did, and placed it on the
dressing-table. It was wrapped up in white paper. I do not know whether
the box contained pills or not. After I had placed the pillbox on Cook’s
dressing-table Palmer came, and went into Cook’s room. I saw him sitting
down by the fire between nine and ten. I retired to rest between ten and
eleven. About a quarter or ten minutes before twelve Lavinia Barnes, the
waitress, called me up. I heard a noise of violent screaming whilst I
was dressing. The screams came from Cook’s room. My room is on the
floor above Cook’s room. I heard the screams twice, and went down to
Cook’s room. As soon as I entered the room I found him sitting up in
bed. He desired me to fetch Mr. Palmer directly. I walked to his
bedside, and I found the pillow upon the floor. There was one mould
candle burning. I picked up the pillow and asked him would he lay down
his head. At that time he was sitting up and was beating the
bed-clothes, with both his arms and hands stretched out. He said, “I
cannot lie down. I shall suffocate if I do. Oh, fetch Mr. Palmer.” His
body, his hands, and neck were moving then--a sort of jumping or
jerking. His head was back. Sometimes he would throw back his head upon
the pillow, and then he would raise himself up again. This jumping and
jerking was all over his body. He appeared to have great difficulty in
breathing. The balls of both the eyes were much projected. It was
difficult for him to speak, he was so short of breath. He screamed three
or four times while I was in the room. He called aloud “Murder” twice.
He asked me to rub one hand. I found the left hand stiff. It appeared to
be stretched out as though the fingers were something like paralysed. It
did not move. It appeared to me to be stiff all the way up his arm. I
did not rub him very long. The stiffness did not appear to be gone after
I had rubbed him. During the time I was rubbing his hands Palmer was in
the room. Cook was conscious while this jerking of the body was going
on. He recognised Palmer when he came in, and said, “Oh, Palmer, I shall
die,” or “Oh, doctor, I shall die.” Palmer replied, “Oh, my lad, you
won’t.” Palmer then left to fetch something, and asked me to stay by the
bedside with him. He returned in a few minutes, during which time I
merely stood by the bedside. He brought back with him some pills. He
gave him something else, but whether he brought it with him or not I do
not know. He gave him a drop from a wineglass after giving him the
pills. Cook, when he took the pills, said he could not swallow them. At
Palmer’s request I gave Cook a teaspoonful of toast and water, which he
took. When I gave it him from the spoon his body was then jerking and
jumping. He snapped at the spoon like that [describing it] with his head
and neck, and the spoon was fast between his teeth. It was difficult to
get it away. He seemed to bite it very hard. While this was going on the
water went down his throat and washed the pills down. Mr. Palmer then
handed him the draught from the wineglass. It was something liquid, and
the wineglass was three parts full with a liquid of a dark,
heavy-looking nature. Cook drank it. He snapped at the glass just the
same as he did at the spoon. He swallowed the liquid, which was vomited
up immediately. I supported his forehead with my hand while he vomited.
The stuff he vomited smelt, I should think, like opium. Palmer said
that he hoped the pills were not returned, and he searched for the pills
with a quill. He said, “I cannot find the pills.” After this Cook seemed
to be more easy. This second attack lasted about half an hour, or it
might be more. He appeared to be conscious during the whole of that
time. He asked Palmer to feel his heart after he had got more composed.
I do not know whether he did so or not. Palmer made some slight remark
as to its being all right, or something of that kind. I left Cook and
Palmer about three o’clock in the morning. Cook was dozing when I left
him, and Palmer was asleep in the easy-chair.
[Sidenote: E. Mills]