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    &e*m 21, 1856] THE : LE1BBB. 583

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    In rny last letter I spoke of Palmer's w...

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    ALLEGED MANSLAUGHTER OP A LUNATIC. Mr. C...

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  • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

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    G'0% Gctiffla<Trojfc » ' ¦ - Execution O...

    down fells the drop -with a slight crash—the arms are thwwn up from the elbow , with the hands clenchedthe body . whirls rounds—the hangman from below seizes the legs—one escapes from his" grasp , and by a mighty apasffl-ia once drawn up—the chest thrice heaves convulsively ^—the hangman loosens his nold — the body Again whirls round , then becomes steady , and hangs a dull , ¦ 'grey , shapeless mass , facing the newly risen sun . One minute and a half had elapsed since the bolt was drawn ; but whither had the spirit sped in that brief interval ? CHa ! ' twas a fearsome sight—ah me I A ¦ thing to shudder at , not to see .

    A few faint screams , a solemn hush , a swaying to and fro of the dense multitude , then the confused murmur of many voices , a slow breaking up of the throng , and presently an almost deserted space , in the centre of which still hung from the beam that dull , grey , shapeless mass which once was William Palmer . The pigeons , scaTed by the noise of many thousand footfalls , rose high into the air , and eddying round once and again , flew qff in search of their morning meal . The clouds dispersed and the sun shone out brightly and warm upon the felon ' s corpse , now insensible of pain or pleasure . The motley rabble , inspirited by its cheerful rays , quickened their steps , swarmed into every place of entertainment for man and beast , called lustily for breakfast , affirmed Palmer ' guilt because he had " refused to address them , and declared that a man who could face

    death so boldly was not likely to confess—therefore he had suffered justly . The remainder of the day was devoted to business and pleasure . It was market day . Some haggled for fish—others pinched the cabbages , burst the young pea-pods , or crunched a green gooseberry—while others laid in their weekly supplies of meat , groceries , and such-like household matters . The pleasure-seekers magnanimously paid their penny and visited the astounding collection of animals , comprising , among other wonders of nature , a porcupine and a boa-constrictor . These were the intellectual idlers ; the sensualists frittered ; away their casual coppers on cakes and oranges , beer and ginger-pop . And still the sun shone on , and the drooping flowers raised their heads and returned his joyous loving smile , and the birds sang out merrily from every coppice and tree and hedgerow . But where now was William Palmer ?

    After hanging one hour , the body "was cut down and carried into the gaol , the machine at the same time being wheeled off into the coach-house in the yard on the opposite side of the road . The criminal had been executed in the grey garb of the prison , as his own clothes had been sent to his family from London . They will thus escape the doubtful honour of being exhibited in Baker-street , though the rope may yet be procurable from the officer who superintends the old -clothes department of the gaol . Perhaps the Messrs . Tussaud may not ; be sorry to learn that this same functionary possesses the dress and lethal rope rendered famous , according to their idiosyncrasy , by being

    connected with the last moments of William Moore , executed at Stafford , in 1853 , for murdering an aged couple named Blackburn , residing at Ash Flatts , and then setting fire to their cottage . But if nothing short of William Palmer will satisfy their idolatry , let them proceed at onee to Tipton , and there , in a tailor ' s shop window , they will behold a waistcoat that once belonged to that now historical personage . This waistcoat fell into the hands of the notorious Walkeden , sometime bottleholder to poor Walter Palmer , and he , wise in his generation , exchanged it for an entire suit of clothes , in which he may be seen brazening it—with the worst— 'in the streets of "Wolvorhampton ; Stafford having become distasteful to him . To return to Palmer .

    The head was now closely ahaven—the hair had been previously cut close at Palmer ' s request , because he was not allowed to use his own brush and comb—and Mr Bally from Manchester , and Mr . Bridges from Liverpool , immediately set about taking a cast of his features . This was the more easy that they had escaped all distortion . Ho looked like a man oppressed with the sleep that arises from utter exhaustion . His eyelids were closed , and his eyes not even bloodshot . Beneath tho loft » enr , indeed , there waa a blue mark whore tho knot had pressed ; otherwise , no traces of violence were discernible in tho tipper part of his person . On tho scaffold , however , the soft , white , dimpled hands , of which he had been so vain , were the ii « 3 t to indicate tho general stagnation of tho heart's blood . They suddenly became William

    red ,, than blue , and finally black . In stature , Palmer wus a little over five feet seven inches , but remarkably broad-shouldered and thick-set . When stripped , tho muscular development of his frame struck everyone with admiration . His weight exceeded fifteen stone , . « U bone and muscle , though not in fighting trim . The : front-part of his conformation was hia head . Tho animal organs wore excessively largo—ttecrctiveness almost a deformity—veneration and beuevolonco better than might Irtuvo been expected by thoso who were unaw « W * of his regular attendance at churuh , kindness to hi « . WHe and child , and his affability and liberality to hi > dependents . But even with those good points it was phyaiOjill y . impossible for him ever to have been a good m « oi—justu aa' it would be impossible A > r Mr . Wright , 41 they philanthropist , " to be Bullish and cynical . Tho

    one was organized to care for nothing , the other foi everything , but self . The two casts being taken , the naked body was carried out to the back of the chapel and thrown into a hole a fathom deep , a couple of feet from the last resting place of the murderer Moore . A quantity of quicklime and some buckets of water were then poured in , and the grave filled up with earth as rapidly as possible . No useless coffin confines his breast , Nor in sheet nor in shroud they wound him ; But he lies like a felon taking his rest , With quicklime all about him .

    &E*M 21, 1856] The : Le1bbb. 583

    & e * m , 1856 ] THE LE 1 BBB . 583

    In Rny Last Letter I Spoke Of Palmer's W...

    In rny last letter I spoke of Palmer ' s walk from the station to the gaol . It would seem that he himself was not so deeply impressed with the solemnity of the occasion as the majority of the bystanders . On alighting at the station , he was received by Wollaston , the superintendent of the borough police , whom he recognized with a pleasant smile and the ordinary salutation . As soon as they were in the road , he inquired at what hour the news of hia conviction was known in Stafford , and if the Advertiser had issued a special number . Stepping into a puddle , he asked if it had been raining , and remarked that the townspeople were very economical in not lighting the gas during the summer months . Somebody

    having brought out a candle to the door of a house , one of the crowd attempted to get on to the pavement to have a better view , but tripped against the kerbstone , and fell forward . Palmer laughed , and cried , " That ' s it—go it ! " Soon afterwards he complained that his fetters prevented him from walking properly , and expressed a wish that he was snug within the gaol . He also acknowledged that the trial had fatigued him a good deal , and added that there were some people who seemed very anxious to make him out guilty- " I don ' t mind , " he said , " people having their own opinions , but when medical men pretend to give evidence , and do nothing but tell lies , that ' s rather too bad . "

    When Palmer first appeared on the scaffold , the representatives of the Press , crowding together in front , suddenly pulled out their note-books and stood ready , pencil in hand , to take down his last dying speech and confession . There was something ludicrous in this exhibition of discipline . They were quite as anxious as the vulgar herd to observe the demeanour of such , an unparalleled culprit , but their duty was to note down his words . So there they stood , gazing at their note-books , with the pencil ready poised—intenti ora tenebant . Could Palmer have turned his thoughts from his own awful position , he must have smiled at their eagerness for a paragraph , or perhaps he would have fancied himself once more in the midst of the betting ring .

    As might be expected , Rugeley ha 3 become the resort of pilgrims from all parts of the kingdom . Some yards of the courtyard in front of William Palmer ' s house have been broken up , and the huge pebbles carried off as mementos . Our ancestors , the early Britons , would have acted very differently . Instead of carrying off these stones as so many trophies , they would have piled up a cairn upon the accursed spot . In what are we wiser than they ? Other persons content themselves with breaking off twigs from the young yew-tree beside Cooke ' s gTave , or with having their own photographic likenesses taken by an artist who " solicits their patronage at the rear of the premises lately occupied by William Pulmer . " One young man , last Saturday , performed his

    pilgrimage in a manner to command the envy of his fellow-boobies . He passed the night in the bed wherein poor Cooke had breathed his last , and on the following Sunday had the impertinence to scat himself in Pulmer ' s pew , and make use of his prayer-book—it is a marvel that ho did not steal it . Others , with equal good tasto and feeling , stand about in front of old Mrs . Palmer ' s house , in the hope of seeing liev little grandaon , happily unconscious of his sad fate , playing in the garden ; or of catching a glimpse of her own mature charms . William Palmer ' s house will probably be pulled down , and n now street opened out , facing tho Tnlbot Arms . Accompanying tho pilgrims , burglars havo made their appearance . Ah ! rural felicity ! Ah . ' rustic virtue I

    It has been frequently stated that Mrs . Wflhnm Palmer ' s life was embittered by tho suspicion that her husband was n poisoner , and the murderer of his own children . The statement is almost too absurd to need refutation . It is true that tho unfortunate lady had hecome low-spirited and melancholy soino time beforo her death . But this is attributable to her knowledge , of her husband ' s pecuniary embarrassments , and her consequent anticipation of ruin . It is universally acknowledged that Palmer treated his wife with uniform tenderness .

    Ho was not an ordinary ruffian . His disposition was not natuvully addicted to cruelty or violence . Hia manners woro habitually plausible , and , had they not been underbred , would havo been insinuating . He watt what is commonly called " too civil by half . " It wao no part of his character to torture hia victims unnecessarily . If they stood in his path , and their removal could bo of positive , however temporary , advantage , ho put thum aside with as little remorse as if ho had boon " nobbling" a horse . And then went on smiling a » before , and renuiinwd " a nice , pleasant sort of gentleman" to tho lust . Liko Uban ,

    He smiled at self , and , smiling , sliow'd his teeth , : And , seeing hia white teeth , he smiled the more ; Lifted his eyebrows ' , ' spnrn'd'the path beneath ; Show * d teeth'again , and smiled as heretofore . His approach was stealthy and feline . He purred until he sprang . Intense selfishness . taught Mm that if he would use his neighbours , he miut keep them in good , humour , and dispose them favourably , to himself . Having , nicely calculated the chances of detection on the-one . hand , and the benefit to be derived on the other , he ^ made his choice , and never lost sight of his purpose until it was accomplished . But it is ridiculous to suppose . that , his wife would have consorted with a man whom aha : suspected of having murdered her mother and four of her own infant children . The knowledge of a husband ' s . infidelity would alone be sufficient t & render a wife unhappy , and in this case she was also aware that his .

    circumstances were hopelessly involved . That she- mayhave suspected him of dishonourable practices is alsa quite possible—and if she did forge old Mrs . Palmer ' s name , she had even a guilty knowledge of the fact . It is certain that none of his neighbours respected him . His associates were horse-trainers , or such fellows as George Bate and Jeremiah Smith : latterly he inveigled poor Cooke within his net . On one occasion , at least ,, his brother George , addressing him as " Win . Palmer , " declined to have any . further transactions with him , and boldly charged him with dishonesty . This noble-minded brother , if report be true , has generously made out a heavy bill of costs — including various writs served upon newspapers—the payment of- which he demands from his mother , the golden milch-cow of that hopeful family . It is estimated that the expenoe of Palmer ' s defence , from first to last , will not fall short of 5000 ZL

    William Palmer was essentially a coarse , sensual , selfish man . He was not a drunkard , or ever much addicted to drink ; but no man could do more , justice to a * - good dinner . Not that he was a dainty feeder—ha asked for quantity rather than variety . His appetite needed no stimulants . Writing once from York to his " dearest Annie , " he announces his safe arrival , and then , goes on to tell her how heartily he had enjoyed his beefsteak and potatoes ; he cannot yet name the winning horses , but hopes that his wife and the -baby are quite , well . The table , the turf , and then the domestic relations ! Perhaps , however , the turf occupied the promi ? nent point in his thoughts and character . Horse-racing ., was a family weakness . The Palmers , one and allt . yielded to the spell , though not to such an extent as the medical gentleman . A fatal propensity did it prove to the latter . And it is remarkable how seldom he was a

    winner . His best chance of success was in running Nettle for the Oaks , when he stood to win 10 , 0001 . But the mare bolted , fell over the chains , and threw her jockey , whose leg was fractured . Even this disappointment made no visible impression on his iron nerves . Ho scarcely noticed the accident beyond remarking to an acquaintance , " It is a bore , though , is it not ? " Success or misadventure he bore with equal equanimity , and was never either elated or depressed . From his earliest boyhood William Palmer was addicted to falsehood and fraud . Though always eager to oblige , he never commanded esteem . No one over placed confidence in him without being deceived . More than once , in his 3 'outh , ho robbed his employers and cheated

    his companions . It is believed that ho seduced no fewer than fourteen women from the paths of virtue , his last exploit being reserved for tho night after his wife ' s death . His extravagance dates from his childhood . He would borrow money under false pretences from his father ' s labourers , in order to treat liis playfellows . As an apprentice , ho abstracted money from letters entrusted to his care , that lie might indulge hid nascent passion for gambling . While walking the hospital—St . Bartholomew ' s—he committed his first forgery , and dissipated a fortune in riotous living . As a married man , ho was notoriously unfaithful to his marriage vow ; His wife , his mother-in-law , hia brother , four legitimate and at lonst three illegitimate children , hia confidential associate , at least 0110 other sporting companion , a woman ho had deceived , and a man ho had wronged—al \ these 0110 of these

    mysteriously perished . Tho death of every persons was a gain to him , cither immediate or prospective . Ho had a inotivo for their removal—and they were removed . Besides these criminal offences , he wo » guilty of tho baseness of accusing Ills dead wife , murdered by his own hands , of forging tho name of hor mother-in-law , though avowedly for hia solo benefit j and ho certainly connived at the prostitution of his owa mother . On the other hand , he was a very civil-spokea gentleman . Ho had a smile and a auilliug for every . groom , ostler , chambermaid , and wuitreau in tho county . Ho was a regular attendant at church , made notes of tho sermon , subscribed to charities and missionary objects , and took tho Sacrament . And , had ho been a free man at tho time , would no doubt have addressed His Grace tho Archbishop of Canterbury on tho imprOipricty of allowing innocent recreation on tho Sabbath *

    Alleged Manslaughter Op A Lunatic. Mr. C...

    ALLEGED MANSLAUGHTER OP A LUNATIC . Mr . Charles Snape , tho resident surgeon of tho County * Lunatic Asylum at Waudflworth , appeared at How * jtroet , on Monday , upon a summons , to answer tue

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), June 21, 1856, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_21061856/page/7/