“Has Mr. Palmer gone?” and he said, “Yes; he left a quarter before
five.” I asked him how he felt, and he said he had been no worse since I
left him in the morning. He asked me if I had ever seen any one suffer
such agony as he was in last night, and I said no, I never had. I asked
“What do you think was the cause of all that, Mr. Cook?” and he said the
pills that Palmer gave him at half-past ten. When I saw Cook on the
Tuesday morning I did not observe any of those jerkings or convulsions
about him. About twelve o’clock he rang his bell and desired me to send
the boots over to ask Palmer whether he might have a cup of coffee. The
boots returned and said he might have a cup of coffee, and that Mr.
Palmer would be over immediately. I took the coffee up a little after
twelve. Palmer was in Mr. Cook’s room at that time. I gave the coffee to
Mr. Palmer, who tasted the coffee in my presence. I then left the room.
Mr. Jones arrived by the three o’clock train that afternoon. He went and
saw Mr. Cook upon his arrival. About four, or it might be between four
and five, I took up to Mr. Cook’s room another cup of coffee. At that
time I saw Palmer in the room. I left the room, and afterwards I saw
Palmer, who told me that Mr. Cook had vomited the coffee. He spoke from
the door of Cook’s room, but did not call me in. I saw Cook several
times that evening before I retired to rest. He appeared to be in very
good spirits, and talked about getting up the next morning. I believe I
gave him some arrowroot that evening about half-past ten. Palmer was
with him in his bedroom when I left him. I gave Palmer a jug of toast
and water for Cook. Mr. Palmer asked Cook if I could do anything more
for him that night, and Mr. Cook said he would want nothing more. That
was about half-past ten. I did not go to bed that night, but I remained
in the kitchen, as I was anxious to see how Mr. Cook went on. While I
was in the kitchen the bell of Mr. Cook’s room rang violently a little
before twelve [Tuesday night]. Mr. Jones was sleeping in Cook’s bedroom,
which was a double-bedded room, and where a bed had been made up for
him. I went upstairs to Mr. Cook’s room on hearing the bell. He was
sitting up in bed, and Mr. Jones appeared to be supporting him. Mr. Cook
said, “Oh, Mary, fetch Mr. Palmer directly.” He was conscious at the
time. I went over for Mr. Palmer. I rang the surgery bell at the surgery
door. I expected him to come to the window and as soon as I stepped off
the step into the road he was at the bedroom window. He did not put up
the sash. At that time I could not see whether he was dressed or not. I
asked him to come over to Mr. Cook directly, as he was much the same as
he was the night before. I then went back to the hotel. Palmer came two
or three minutes afterwards. I was in the bedroom when Palmer came, and
he remarked that he had never dressed so quickly in his life. That was
the first thing he said when he came into Cook’s room. Mr. Cook was
sitting up in bed, supported by Mr. Jones. After Mr. Palmer came I
remained on the landing, just outside the door. After I had been waiting
a short time Palmer came out. I said to him that Mr. Cook was much about
the same as last night, and he replied that he was not so ill by the
fiftieth part. He then went downstairs as though he was going into his
own house, and after a very short time he came back to Cook’s room.
After Palmer had returned I heard Cook ask to be turned over on his
right side. I was at the door at the time, which was open. I did not go
in. I was not in the room when Cook died. I went in, I believe, just
before he died, but I came out again. I saw Mr. Jones supporting Cook.
Mr. Palmer was then feeling Mr. Cook’s pulse, and he said to Mr. Jones,
“His pulse is gone.” Mr. Jones pressed the side of his face to Cook’s
heart. Mr. Palmer asked me to fetch Mr. Bamford, and I did so. From the
time I was called up, about ten minutes before twelve, till Cook’s death
would be about three-quarters of an hour. Mr. Bamford came over, and I
saw him when he came downstairs. He said, “He is dead. He was dead when
I arrived.” Mr. Jones came out of the room and told me that Mr. Palmer
wanted me. I went into the room and saw Mr. Palmer. There was no one
with him. I said, “It is not possible Mr. Cook is dead,” and he said,
“Oh, yes, he is dead.” He asked me to arrange about laying out Cook. I
had seen a book in Mr. Cook’s room, a dark book with a gold band round
the edge. It had a pencil going into it on one side. Cook stopped at the
Talbot Arms perhaps two or three months before this time. I saw the book
on the Monday night before Mr. Cook’s death. He wrote something in it,
and took from a pocket in the book a postage stamp. I placed the book
back at the looking-glass on the dressing-table. I have never seen that
book since Cook’s death. I have searched everywhere for it. When I went
into the room where Cook’s body was lying Palmer was there. I noticed
that Cook’s clothes were placed on a chair. I saw Palmer searching the
pocket. That was on the Tuesday night about ten minutes after Cook’s
death. He also searched under the pillow and bolster. After Cook’s death
I saw some letters on the mantelpiece which were not there before.
The Court then adjourned.
Second Day, Thursday, 15th May, 1856.
The Court met at ten o’clock.
[Sidenote: E. Mills]
ELIZABETH MILLS, cross-examined by Mr. SERJEANT SHEE--I had been at the
Talbot Arms about three years at the date of Mr. Cook’s death. He first
came to the Talbot Arms about three months before he died, and up to the
time of his death he was constantly coming back and forward. During the
time he was there I never heard him complain of anything except a sore
throat or something of that kind through cold. I never noticed that he
had any soreness about his mouth or that he had difficulty at all in
swallowing. I have seen him with a foul tongue about once or so. He
never complained in my hearing of the tongue being sore so as to render
it difficult to swallow. I do not know of caustic having been applied to
it while he was there. Before he went to Shrewsbury he had not been
ailing at all to my knowledge. When he came back he said he was poorly.
After Cook’s death I stayed at the Talbot Inn till the day after
Christmas. I then went to my home in the Potteries, Shelton. Since then
I have been in service in Dolly’s Hotel, Paternoster Row, London. I
stayed six weeks there as chambermaid. About a week after I came to
London I saw Mr. Stevens (the stepfather of Cook) about six or seven
times. Two or three times I saw him alone; at other times perhaps Mrs.
Dewhurst, the landlady of the inn, or Miss Dewhurst was there. It was
not always about Mr. Cook’s death that he spoke to me. He would merely
call to see how I liked London, and whether I was well in health, and
all that.
[Sidenote: E. Mills]
Mr. Stevens is a man not in your station. He is a gentleman. Do you mean
to say he called to see how you liked London?--Just to see whether I
liked the place. I had some conversation with him at the Talbot Inn just
before the funeral. I really cannot remember what he spoke about beyond
Mr. Cook’s death. During the time I was at Dolly’s Hotel I never
received a farthing from him, and he never made me any promise to get a
place. The last time I saw him out of Court was on Tuesday last at
Dolly’s Hotel. He never spoke to me about Mr. Cook’s death. When I saw
him at that time there were other people present, including Lavinia
Barnes, Mr. Gardner, and Mr. Hatton, the chief officer of police in
Staffordshire. Mr. Gardner is an attorney at Rugeley. I cannot say what
all the talk was about. Mr. Cook’s death might be mentioned. I daresay
it was. I will undertake to say that there were other subjects of
conversation between us besides the subject of Cook’s death. I do not
wish to mention what they were. They did not, so far as I heard, talk
about the evidence I was to give. They did not ask me what I could
prove, nor did they read my depositions before the coroner to me. There
was nothing read to me from a newspaper or anything else. Mr. Stevens
never at any previous interview read anything from a newspaper to me. He
never talked to me about the symptoms which Mr. Cook exhibited before
his death. Before last Tuesday I had seen Mr. Hatton about twice. I saw
him once at Dolly’s, when he dined there. I did not wait upon him. I
merely saw him there. He might have talked about Mr. Cook’s death, but I
cannot remember. I have seen Mr. Gardner there three or four times since
Mr. Cook’s death. I have seen him at Dolly’s, and have met him in the
street. I have merely said, “How do you do,” or “Good morning.” I have
had no other talk with him. I do not remember to have read the case of a
Mrs. Dove in the newspapers, but I may have done so. I have heard spoken
of a case that lately occurred at Leeds of a lady who was said to have
been poisoned by her husband, but I did not read it. It was not
mentioned to me by Mr. Stevens, nor by Mr. Gardner, nor by Mr. Hatton.
Were you told when you heard of it what the symptoms of Mrs. Dove
were?--I think not. I merely heard there had been strychnine used at
Leeds, another strychnine case.
Were the symptoms of strychnine ever mentioned to you by any one?--No,
never.
When, and to whom, did you first use the expression “twitching,” which
you mentioned so repeatedly yesterday?--To the coroner, I did. If I did
not mention twitching, I mentioned something to the same effect. I will
not swear I used that word at the coroner’s. I cannot remember when I
first used the word “twitching.” I cannot remember when I first used the
word “jerking” to anybody. I will undertake to swear it has never been
used to me by anybody.
You stated yesterday that on the Sunday some broth was brought in a
breakfastcup between twelve and one o’clock; that you took it up to
Cook’s bedroom; that you drank about two tablespoonfuls; that you were
sick the whole afternoon, and vomited till five o’clock. Did you state
one word about that in your deposition before the coroner?--It never
occurred to me until three days afterwards.
Did you state before the coroner that there was nothing peculiar in the
taste of the broth?--I believe I was examined three times before the
coroner. My attention had been called to the fact of broth having been
sent over on one occasion, but I do not remember whether it was the
first. I was asked if I had tasted it, and I stated I had tasted it, and
thought it was very good. It never occurred to me to mention that I was
sick and vomited frequently in the course of the afternoon.
You went to bed in consequence of the vomiting?--Yes.
[Sidenote: E. Mills]
I suppose sickness of that kind repeated frequently in the course of an
afternoon is not a very common occurrence with you?--No, I have a
bilious attack sometimes, but not such violent vomiting as I had that
afternoon. I could not at all account for it at the time. I only took
two tablespoonfuls. The vomiting came on from half an hour to an hour
after I took them.
On the Saturday morning did Cook express a wish to have coffee for
breakfast, or was it from Palmer the first you heard that his breakfast
was to be coffee?--I do not know whether Palmer told me to bring coffee
or whether it was Cook. I never knew Mr. Cook to take coffee in bed
before. He generally took tea.
I understood you to say yesterday Palmer came over at eight o’clock and
ordered a cup of coffee for Cook. Do you adhere to that?--I cannot
remember whether Palmer ordered it or not. If I said it yesterday it is
correct, but I cannot remember whether Palmer ordered the coffee or not
now. I will swear now that Palmer ordered the coffee, and I took it and
gave it into Cook’s hands, and Palmer was there.
You swear to it now?--Yes.
You doubted it a moment ago?--If that was stated yesterday I do not
doubt it was correct.
Is that your only reason for stating it to be correct?--I believe it to
be correct.
Will you swear that it is correct?--Yes; it is no doubt correct if I
said so.
Why should that make it more correct if you cannot say it now from your
own recollection?--I cannot remember as well to-day as I did yesterday.
I cannot remember that I stated before the coroner that Cook had coffee
for breakfast at eight o’clock, that he ate nothing, and that he vomited
directly he had swallowed it, and that up to the time I had given him
the coffee I had not seen Palmer. I cannot remember whether I stated
before the coroner anything about the pillbox on Monday night. It was
sent over wrapped up in paper. I will swear that Palmer was there
between nine and ten o’clock. He brought a jar of jelly to the Talbot,
and I opened it. I should say he was there nearer to ten than nine. I do
not recollect whether he was there when I left Cook at half-past ten.
You stated yesterday that you asked Cook on the Tuesday afternoon what
he thought the cause of his illness was, and he said, “The pills which
Palmer gave me at half-past ten”?--Yes.
Did you say that before the coroner?--No.
[Sidenote: E. Mills]
Have you been questioned by any one since Mr. Cook’s death respecting
what you did say before the coroner as to when these pills might have
been given or respecting anything you have said about these pills before
the coroner?--Yes; I was questioned by Dr. Collier at Hitchingly. I did
not tell him that the gentleman in London had altered my evidence on
that point, and that my evidence was now to be that “Cook said the pills
which Palmer gave him at half-past ten made him ill.”
Did he state anything about your evidence being altered since?--Yes; he
said he had not got that down in what I had given to the coroner in the
coroner’s papers. I said “No, I thought it was down in some of the
papers. I had given it to a gentleman in London.” The evidence has been
altered by myself since. I do not remember who the gentleman was that I
had given it to. I gave it to him at Dolly’s. The gentleman came to me
at Dolly’s and asked if I would answer him a few questions. I said I
would, and I saw him in a sitting-room. I was with him about half an
hour. He asked me not very many questions, and during the time I was
answering the questions he was writing. He did not tell me who he was or
whom he came from, but he mentioned Mr. Stevens’ name.
What did he say about Mr. Stevens?--Mr. Stevens was with him. He called
Mr. Stevens by name.
Why did you not tell us that before?--You did not ask me.
Then, although you did not know who he was, you knew he was an
acquaintance of Mr. Stevens because he came with him?--He did. All that
I said then was taken down. I do not remember saying before the coroner
that when Cook was ill on Monday night and sitting up in bed beating the
bed-clothes he said, “I cannot lie down; I shall suffocate if I do.” I
do not remember whether I mentioned the word “jerking” before the
coroner.
Did you say before the coroner, “He would throw his head back and raise
himself up again”?--Yes.
You will say you said that?--Yes. I do not know whether I mentioned the
word “jerking.” I said the whole of the body was in a jumping, snatching
way. I believe I mentioned it was difficult for him to speak, he was so
short of breath. I did not mention about him calling “murder” twice. I
do not remember whether I mentioned before the coroner that Mr. Cook
said the pills stuck fast in his throat and he could not swallow them. I
did not answer the coroner anything more than he asked me. If he had
asked me I should have answered him as I am answering now.
The first time that you were examined before the coroner was Dr. Taylor
present?--I believe he was.
[Sidenote: E. Mills]
Were you not recalled after you had been examined once for the purpose
of describing the symptoms for Dr. Taylor to hear?--I was not. I was
never examined as to the symptoms when I knew the medical gentlemen were
there. I cannot remember how Mr. Palmer was dressed when he came over
on the Tuesday night. He had a plaid dressing-gown on, but I cannot
remember what sort of cap he had. When Mr. Jones asked me to go into the
room after Mr. Cook’s death I went in at once, and it was then that I
saw Palmer searching the pockets of the coat. When I went in he did not
seem at all confused.
Re-examined by Mr. JAMES--I was under examination before the coroner
perhaps a couple of hours on different occasions. The coroner put the
questions to me, and the coroner’s clerk, I believe, wrote down my
answers. The coroner asked me if the broth had any effect on me, and I
said not that I was aware of.
By Mr. SERJEANT SHEE--What brought to your mind afterwards the vomiting
after taking the broth?--I do not know. I believe it was some one else
in the house that mentioned my sickness first. It did not occur to me
until some one else mentioned it about a week after the coroner was
there.
Re-examination resumed--I cannot remember who it was, but it was some of
my fellow-servants in the house. A person of the name of Dr. Collier
called upon me and represented that he was for the Crown. He asked me
questions about the inquest and about the death of Mr. Cook. That would
be about three weeks or a month ago, at Hitchingley.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: J. Gardner]
JAMES GARDNER, examined by the ATTORNEY-GENERAL--I am an attorney, and
attended for Mr. Stevens at the inquest. The inquest lasted five days,
and on each of these days I had several times occasion to expostulate
with Mr. Ward, the coroner, as to questions which he put or omitted to
put, and I observed that the clerk omitted to take down answers given to
the questions which had been put.
Cross-examined by Mr. SERJEANT SHEE--A great many questions were put by
the jury after the examination of the professional men.
By the ATTORNEY-GENERAL--The jury made very strong observations as to
the necessity for further questions.
Objection to statement of these observations allowed.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: Anne Brooks]
Mrs. ANNE BROOKS, examined by the ATTORNEY-GENERAL--I live in
Manchester, and am in the habit of attending race meetings. I was at
Shrewsbury races in November, 1855. About eight o’clock in the evening
of Wednesday, the 14th, I met Palmer in the street. I had some
conversation with him as to horses that were running during that week at
Shrewsbury. About half-past ten the same evening I went, along with some
friends, to the Raven, where I knew Palmer was staying. I had been there
frequently before. I left my friends downstairs and went upstairs to go
to Palmer’s room, which I knew. As I approached Palmer’s room a servant
called my attention to Palmer himself, who was standing at a small table
in the passage. When I first saw him he had a glass tumbler in his hand,
in which there appeared to be a small quantity of liquid like water. I
did not see him put anything in the glass. I saw him shaking up the
fluid that was in it. There was a light in the passage. It was nearer to
me than to him. He held up the glass as if he were looking at the light
through it. He then said to me, “I will be with you presently.” He
noticed me the moment I got to the top of the stairs. After he made that
remark to me he stood for a minute or two holding the glass in his hand
up to the light once or twice and shaking it now and then. The only
observation he made was about the fine weather we had. After this he
carried the glass into a sitting room adjoining his own. The room, I
imagined, was empty, as I heard no one speaking. He remained there two
or three minutes, and came out with the glass still in his hand, and
carried it into his own sitting room, shutting the door after him. Three
or four minutes afterwards he came out to me, bringing me a glass--it
might be the same one, it was very like it--with some brandy and water
in it. I took the brandy and water, and it produced no unpleasant
consequences in me. We had some conversation regarding the next day’s
racing, and he said he should back his own horse “Chicken.” “Chicken”
lost. Palmer never told me afterwards whether he had won or lost on the
race.
Cross-examined by Mr. SERJEANT SHEE--I am a married woman, and am in the
habit of attending race meetings, but my husband does not sanction my
going when he knows about it. Several people were taken ill in
Shrewsbury on the Wednesday. One of my company was dreadfully ill, and
there was a wonder what could cause it; we made an observation. We
thought the water might have been poisoned. We were all affected the
same way by sickness.
Can you tell me in what way it affected persons?
By the ATTORNEY-GENERAL--Any person you saw. Whom did you see yourself
affected in that way?--There was a lady that came to meet me there; she
was one; and there was another party in my company who was so ill that
he could not go to the races on Thursday.
By Mr. SERJEANT SHEE--They were affected by sickness and purging.
You saw Palmer with the glass in his hand?--I did.
[Sidenote: Anne Brooks]
Did he put it up to the light?--He held it just carelessly up. I did not
see any substance in the glass. He was doing this in a passage that led
to a great many rooms. I could not say if there was more than one light
in the passage. I think it was a chandelier. He said, “I will be with
you presently,” when he carried the glass into the room which I supposed
to have been unoccupied.
Did he also say that while he was holding it to the light?--Yes, just in
this manner, quite carelessly.
And at that time you thought nothing of it?--I thought he was mixing up
some cooling draught, and was waiting for some water. I was not examined
before the coroner.
By the ATTORNEY-GENERAL--The brandy and water he gave me was cold, not
hot. I have known Palmer for a great number of years as a racing man.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: L. Barnes]