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Leader (1850-1860), 31st May 1856, Edition 1 of 2, Page 511, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      compounded , and that in the human subject a greater space of time elapses than in brutes . And there were instances of this in the evidence given on both sides . Mr . Serjeant Shee : " It is not stated in the evidence . " Lord Campbell replied that there were instances in the books which had been put in in the course of the trial where the interval between the administration of strychnine and its effects was as long as in the case of Cooke , Then , antimony was discovered in the body of the deceased , which would show that tartar emetic , produ cing vomiting , had been administered . It was impossible for any one who paid attention to the conduct of the prisoner at the bar , not to see that there

      were some portions of it which did not belong to what might be expected from an innocent man . "With regard to the funeral , he was eager to have the body of Cooke fastened down in the coffin ; and evidence was given from which it might be presumed that he got possession of Cooke's betting-book . Then , there was his conduct in attempting to bribe the post-boy to overturn the jar , containing the contents of the body of Cooke , when about to be sent up for analysis . The jury also found him tampering with the post-master , and procuring from him the opening of the letter from Dr . Taylor to Mr . Gardener , the attorney who had been employed to conduct the prosecution ; and tampering with the coroner , to procure a verdict from the coroner ' s jury , which would

      exonerate him from the suspicion which then attached to him . These were serious matters for the consideration of the jury ; and it would be for them to say whether they were not sufficient to support the charge against the prisoner . The defence consisted of two parts : first , of the medical evidence ; and , secondly , of the evidence as to facts . On the first point , there were ¦ a number of gentlemen of high honour , unsullied integrity , and profound scientific knowledge who had come there sincerely to speak the truth , and assist in the administration of justice . But the jury would consider whether some of the witnesses did not come for the purpose of procuring an acquittal . Now it was material to the due administration of justice that witnesses should

      not be turned into advocates , any more than that advocates should be turned into witnesses . The jury would say , whether some of the witnesses did not go beyond what was required of them , and assume the character of advocates in the cause . To his mind . Dr . Nunneley seemed t * have displayed an interest in . the question which was not altogether consistent with the character of a witness . His Lordship went through the whole of the medical evidence for the defence , p ointing out where It was nullified in cross-examination ; then , passing to the more general evidence brought forward by Mr . Serjeant Shee , he called attention to all the points on which it contradicted the statements of the witnesses for the pT € » s « ution . With regard to Mr . Jeremiah Smith ,

      the solicitor at Rugeley , it would be for the jury , having heard him give his evidence , and having heard the crossexamination , to say what credit they could attach to . him . His Lordship read Mr . Smith ' s evidence , and also the three letters written by the deceased with reference to some overdue bills ; and commented on Mr . Smith ' s improper intimacy with the prisoner's mother , and his equivocating denial of his attestation of the document which purported to bear the signature of Walter Palmer . That was the whole of hid evidence . The jury saw how the witness had conducted himself—how he had denied the signature to the document , for signing which it was suggested he had received 51 . from the prisoner ; and the jury would have to say whether this was not really could attach

      the fact , and then determine what credit they to the evidence of the man who had told a palpable falsehood . His lordship having again dwelt on the fact that no answer had been made to the general conduct of the accused , reminded the jury that they could not convict him on suspicion , not even on a strong suspicion ; but that if they had a strong conviction , it would be their duty to give a verdict of Guilty , undeterred by any of the suggestions that Vvad been made to them . " You will givo your verdict , " said the Chief Jus tier , in conclusion , " according to the oath you have taken ; and may God direct you to a right conclusion !" At tho closo of his address , his Lordship was sensibly affected . His voice trembled with emotion , and the concluding sentences wore almost inaudible .

      Mr . Serjeant Shee : " Tho question which your Lordship has submitted to the jury is whether Cooke a symptoms wore consistent with death by . strychnine . 1 aubruit < " . , . . T . Lord Campbell : " That is not the question winch I have submitted to the jury ; it is « question . I have told thura that unless they consider tho symptoms consistent with death by s trychnine they oug ht to acquit tho prisoner . " . . . , . to bo deterred

      Mr . Serjeant Slice : " It is my duty not by auy expression of disp leasure ; it is my duty to a much higher tribunal than eveu your Lordship * to submit what occurs to me to be tho proper question . A submit to your Lordships thut tho question whether CooWa symptoms arc consistent with death by strychnine i <* a wrung question , unless it bo followed by tins— - ' and uicousistcut with death by other and nuturnl cauaoV « " < 1 that tho question should bo whether tin ) medical ovidonco establishes , beyond all reasonable

      doubt , the death of Cooke by strychnine . It is my duty to submit that . It is your Lordships' duty , if I am wrong , to overrule it . " Lord Campbell ( addressing the jury ) : "Gentlemen , I did not submit to you that the question upon which alone your verdict was to turn was whether the symptoms of Cooke were those of strychnine , but I said that that was a most material question , and I desired you to consider it . I said that if you thought that he died from natural disease—that he did not die from poisoning by strychnine—you should acquit the prisoner ; but then I went on to say that , if you were of opinion that the symptoms were consistent with death from / strychnine , you

      should consider the other evidence given in the case to see whether strychnine had been administered to him , and whether it had been administered by the prisoner at the bar . These are the questions that I again put to you . If you come to the conclusion that these symptoms were consistent with death from , strychnine , do you believe that death actually resulted from the administration of strychnine , and that that strychnine was administered by the prisoner at the bar ? Do not find a verdict of Guilty unless you believe that the strychnine was . idministered to the deceased by the prisoner at the bav ; but , if you believe that , it is your duty to God and man to find the prisoner Guilty . "

      During the absence of the court and jury in an earner part of the day to obtain refreshments , Palmer threw a paper over to one of his solicitors , on which he had written some words expressive of his reliance on an acquittal .

      THE VERDICT . The Lord Chief Justice and the jury retired from the court at eig hteen minutes past two o ' clock . After an absence of one hour and seventeen minutes , the jury returned , and the prisoner , who had been removed on the retirement of the jury , was placed in the dock at the same moment . In the intermediate time , one little incident , full of significant import , awakened marked attention , viz ., the entrance into court of the Rev . J . Davis , chaplain of Newgate , who took his seat upon the bench near the seats of the Judges , in full canonicals , ready to pronounce the final "Amen" when sentence of death should be pronounced , if the jury convicted the prisoner .

      Palmer exhibited little emotion daring tliis stage of the proceedings . The question of " Guilty or Not Guilty" having been asked in the usual manner by the Clerk of the Arraigns , in the midst of a profound silence , The Foreman said : " We find the prisoner GUILTY . " The Clerk of the Arraigns then asked Palmer whether he had anything to urge why sentence of death should not be passed on him . The prisoner ( who , according to some accounts , appeared perfectly calui and indifferent , and , according to others , reddened in the face on the question being put , and showed some slight convulsive twitching about the mouth ) made no reply .

      THE SENTENCE . The three Judges having put on their bluck caps , The Lord Chief Justice proceeded to pass sentence upon the prisoner in the following terms : — " William Palmer , after a long and impartial trial you have been convicted by a jury of your country of tlie crime of Wilful Murder . In that verdict , my two learned brothers ( Mr . Baron Alderson and Mr . Justice Cresswell ) , who have so anxiously attended to every circumstance that has been adduced in evidence , and myself , entirely concur , and consider the conviction altogether satisfactory . Your case is attended with such circumstances of aggravation that I do not dare to touch upon them . Whether the present is the first and only offence that

      you have committed , is known ouly to God and to your own conscience . It is seldom that such a familiarity with the means of death has appeared to have been acquired without a long experience - , but for the offence of which you have been found guilty , your life is forfeited . You must prepare to die , and I trust that as you can expect no inorcv in this world , you will , by repenting or your criincs , seek to obtain pardon from Almighty Cod . The Act of Parliament under which you have been tried , and under which you have been broug ht to tho bar oi this court , at your own request , g ives power to the court to direct that the sentence shall be executed either within the district of the Central Crinmial Court or in the county where the offence is committed , and in your cuse , it is our opinion that , for tho sako of example , the in tho of

      sentence shall be carried into effect county Stafford . 1 hope that your terrible example will have the effect of deterring others from the commission of such utrocious crimes ; and that it will bo aeon that , whatever art or cunning may be exercised t . » accomplish such u crime , with whatever caution , detection i . almost sure to follow ; and however destructive poisons may be in their effui : ts , yet Providence , cnniitf for ( lie safely of human life , has given its creatures the means of detecting and punishing th « perpetralor . s of such offences its tl . e . se . Again 1 entreat you to prepare for tho awful cluing that awaits you . 1 will not heek to harrow up your feelings by dwelling upon the oimm . HUu . ee * of this most , foul and horrible murder ; but will at once proceed to puss upon you the sentence ol the law , winch is that you l . « taken from the bar at which you now stand back to the gaol of Newgale , from whence you

      came ; and that you be afterwards removed to th ( county gaol of Stafford , that being the county in whicl your offence was committed , and that you be taker thence to the place of execution , and hanged by the neck until you be dead , and that your body be afterwards buried within the precincts of the . prison where you were last confined ; and may the Almighty God have mercy on your soul !" To this the Chaplain said , " Amen ! " and the response , in a low tone , though audibly , was repeated all over the court . The prisoner did not seem at all affected while the sentence was being pronounced ; but , on the contrary , there was a sort of sneering expression on his countenance . The moment the Chief Jnstice had concluded , Palmer turned round , walked hastily away from the dock , and descended the staircase leading to the prison .

      Mr . James then applied to the Court to order that all the forged bills that had been produced should be impounded , and placed in the charge of the officer of the court . The Lord Chief Justice : " Let it be done . " With an expression of thanks from Lord Campbell to the jury and the sheriffs , this long and extraordinary trial came to a close .

      Untitled Article

      PALMER ON MONDAY NIGHT . The Times of Tuesday contains some particulars of the demeanour of Palmer on the previous night , after the conclusion of the first day's summing up . Though Lord Campbell ' s address was clearly against him , his courage remained apparently undaunted . " He met his brother George , and his solicitor , Mr . John Smith , of Birmingham ( not Mr . Jeremiah Smith , of Rugeley ) , with the same firmness and unblenched look . To his brother , who was visibly affected , and shed tears on seeing him , William Palmer spoke cheeringly , and said , ' Don ' t take on , George ; there is a God above us that will stand between me and harm . I am innoeent of the

      crime imputed to me . Let that be a consolation to yon , my mother , and my boy . Act upon my word ; I have never deceived you yet ; and , however guilty I have been in other things , to destroy life has never entered my head . ' He then tapped his brother on the shoulder and went on , ' May you sleep as sound as I do ! I have had a good tea , with half a pound of steak . May you have as good a night's rest as I shall ! Tell my mother and my boy that Newton and Mills are false , and that I fear the grave as little as my bed . ' With that he shook hands with both . He then entered into a desultory conversation , inquiring how his boy was , and saying , ' Tell Willy his father has had many troubles , but the Iea 3 t of all has been the accusation of murder against him . ' Ho then said , ' Good night ! God bless you ! May your mind be as easy as mine is now . ' Don ' t feel low . Jerry Smith ' s evidence was very bad . It has left the case just where it was , and leaves Newton ' s evidence only open to the suspicion that attended it before Jerry came . '"

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      DEPAItTUUK OF PAT . MEU FOIt STAFFORD GAOL . Some hours after the conclusion of the trial , Palmer was taken from Newgate to Euston-squnre in a cab , in charge of two officers ; thence transferred to the London and North-Wcstern Railway station , and conveyed to Stafford Gaol by the eight o'clock train . Immediately ou the cab containing the culprit being driven into the station-yard , Palmer and bis keepers alighted , and walked through tho large room on to the platform . The fact of Palmer being in the station spread rapidly , and in a few moments there was a rush into the

      station , and tho platform became crowded . On arriving on the platform , Palmer was immediately placed in the middle compartment of a first-class carriage , followed by his keepers , who sat on each n \ dc of him . The carriage was soon surrounded by large numbers . Thin was evidently annoying to Palmer , and the blinds of tho carriage window were drawn down . ' The eriminnl wore a cloak and cap , and was fettered on one aide by the log and arm . Ho did nor , seem to be in the least an-srloiiH , but displayed the Hrtino extraordinary coolness which ho ha . s shown throughout tho trial . Ho arrived nt Stafford Gaol about midnight .

      Untitled Article

      IRELAND . Tun Tu'iT . uAHY IJanic . — A dividend of 2 . s . in the pound has been struck , payable on and alter the 17 th of June This is owing to the unremitting assiduity of tho official inanugur and his solicitor . Tho trade report of the Freeman ' s Journal supplies the following information upon the subject : — "Simultaneously with tho dividend , which is wholly paid out of tho assets of tho bank , the official assignee proposes to make a c . ill on all tho contributarirrtof 40 / . per share , or four times tuc uuiouut of the sum paid up . The number of shares subject to Una call i . sul . 't !> , from which , however , must bo deducted insolvencies , and also debts due to . shareholders which they will bo entitled to set off against tho call , so that tho amount actually to be received cannot oven bo estimated . Dkci . ink of Pauimciumm . —There , in a reduction ol nearly fifty per cent , in tho number of paupers tUia your in tho Culwuy workhouse us compared with the corresponding period in 1 B 55 .

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      Max 31 , 1856 . ] THE LEADER . B 11

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), May 31, 1856, page 511, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2143/page/7/