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Leader (1850-1860), 21st June 1856, Edition 1 of 2, Page 582, Untitled Article

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      ^ EXECUTION OF WLMAM PALMER . ifFfom « m *> - - ^ iesfttf ifci **** " * " * ) 'Sta&brd , June 14 , 1856 . ^ BttFORE resuming the . thread of my narrative it is-ae-SSaT ^^^^ inaccura « * h at crept Into ^ -my Splatter from this . plaee . It was s £ d tbat ^ almer ' s litfle cfiOd was at present Kvingwith his-grandmother , " -under the vaotilsurveUtance if the noted Jeremiah . " Itisaaiisfactoryto learn that all connexion has been broken off between that graceless individual and-the Palmer family . Equally incorrect w as the statement thiU ; the , prisoner ' s two brothers took their * final leave of him on Thursday morning . And it may be most conveniently mentioned in this place that , although only four reporters were admitted within the gaol , the reprethe

      sentatives of the press are indebted to Mr . Hatton , chief constable of the county , for ^ n excellent position within the inner barriers , immediately round the drop : and there were at least forty of these gentlemen to be provided for . Throughout the -whole of yesterday the town of Stafford wore the aspect of a great festal holiday . "With every train—and they were incessant —< a long Hhe of visitors poured into the streets . All night long the clatter of heavy shoes was heard on the ever-pointed swan ' s-egg pebbles that stand proxy for pavement . Some came in carriages and carts , very many by rail , but Still more on foot . The rain , indeed , continued to fall , and the surcharged drops falling from the eaves kept up their monotonous patter . The water stood in little , pools , while overhead the cloudsr seemed as if they were utterly inexhaustible . From Derby , and Manchester , and Liverpool , from Birmingham , Wolverhampton , and Tamworth , from Cheater , . Shrewsbury , and

      . Worcester , hundreds upon hundreds . were ever -arriving . 'But the Potteries and " the black country" poured forth rtheir thousands , for at most of the neighbouring works * he operatives had claimed * holiday . Comparatively "jfew . persons ; retired to rest that night , and even -these i were-too-excited to sleep . The majority wiled away the hours as best they could , listening to the discord of n wandering- minstrels , rattling the dice-box , or indulging -Jufpotations deep . So early as two in the morning ; the iBore determined sight-seers took up their posts , and bravely-stood out "the peltiug of the pitiless rain " through six loqgnwedry hours . "Very haggard and wan was theirUtppearance , especially of those -who came from the Potteries . Thin , stunted , emaciated creatures , with

      cavernous cheeks , hungry jaws , and vacant expression *© f-the-eye . Kor is the shoemaking population of Staffed mere - stalwart or . prepossessing . But never did , a onore orderjy crowd assemble to witness ¦ the extreme penalty of the law . Scarcely ; any -women disgraced thamselves by being . present , excepting a few respectably ^ Sttned ^ females on the scaffolds erected at every point winch corfritmiided' a view of' the horrid spectacle . ^• ttngehild ^ n . werelft ^ prcvs * ite 4 i as far ^« s ^ possible , -fr « m ? mtu ^ ing-with tfae tftreng , - nd ^ lifitte ~ in < M ^ a suzgle fetifeifeat ^ oearved worthy » ' f 'wsiwaok . It must be ^ tfd-* ffttt 4 &tlrowetifer , tlsafc * he unpropitiotts weather did good JB « viw : fc < JrepeDlag' the less < advonturoos , but - even so ( JttWW ^ COtt ld wot &ave been fewer than 25 , 000 persons —^« rwi « rfrth * n double"the entire- population of-the' town

      - _ c « afll 0 etgd -within a very confined space . About six -o ' clock-4 he -rain o * me -down utoifiiercifdlly . Umbrellas -w « re © p « r » ed iU'ldl ^ directioas , but only for a few minutes , -atftfuom ' -every poi * t a w * fer * p » ut descended on somertoddy ' r * Wdc , ' Bho « 41 < ier , ior . sliinfis > nt . ^ As the fatal hour ^ tp ^ m » adhed , tiie clouds partiilly dispersed , while a white . Stftafltv ^ ose ^ Jpwasd ^ fiwn the ^* l t * i renfehed mob . -Per-* a » aCtfcei ! e < in 4 ght *) eex *«) 4 t «< d'M » in « tbing too orach of ftrH « y , * a boo "great t r « a « Knese for i vatiafl » fc laughter , wad OMnflinnATly a * i 8 p *«> ltlonfor profane jesting . But tbere - # « 8 ^« M « tely > no' >« sMH « Ttterit , ; no' thirst for blood , mo ^ t 4 ble « toanl « K > 8 ity > towards the criminal . The ¦ general 4 e 4 ffiftg > i » ee » iddtYatlier to'toe an idle curiosity to behold ttotft&atmtB of-a ; i «« n who had made himself . 80

      -ffGto-« kKi 0 y 4 » a to observe Ws > bearingv 4 * - « i * r last <*« vful * m > - fltttiAt . TJje-jtJgSKO ' ' ^ f his ¦ sentence was fulJy athniUtkl , ^ iBdpf ^ Sost - peopl e were evidently disposed * o endorse O * jMatn Gapta opfoien 4 > f circumstantial -evidence . " Ay , ^* fr'M » aid' that ^ a ^ maiAe oMSaltw * ter < t ciroouistancts MVHito -IM * M * Wfter . One 'drcwinstance is -worth tngtUato . That'I . know < po be' th « law of the realm . < MgM * y -a"m&n ! fe » B' been ' twrnged '< m < ciroumstaaaces ' . " wo-* HM *» ' ¦ w *** <« i * y <* tt « mpta made to wisinaate doubts - *> f ^ be ^ we ^ eh ^ d ^ a ^ e ^ uHt . i Plac&rtto , indeed , thorewere taAMoMMMK ^ feut these w « re « f a rtrligioas ' tenkieHoy ,

      , IJWto *« tetitbelr readers' to prepare to meet their God . 4 | HMt « ir <* r «*« her B followed « ta tlw-flame ¦ s < 5 e » t , . and the ^ BmtWchfcpile ^ rere filled with . wor * Wpper& eager for *« mmik * ll . . > hik ' cbttdreV * f ! Jloinas , < « r ¦ of Altminw ) , tt « t ^*» k trnn ^ le *! « an » ftUn ' ih « lr way . ( The ¦ ¦ theatre iiillOillfiai ^ jiiiWiy ^ pi . Uiu ilijtill . Mini ill liiiiimiini luli ' «^^ f ^<^ i ^ f > ferpere » Ba--Uielrtdltrg the ^ ulhtry—!«^ WlHJW % i ^ % eV «« oer » anty of « 4 nmmB «« ntial « jit * tafce ^^ immfW ^ Mb ^ atik o « nd « mo * ti < Mi of tol « 1 * W H ^ f » ^ «^^' jSWBflpiffitf . ^ w arimoa of lUWt Mwtijiy'M « d" » f » ti ^ rf Wm ntt imitewJititin . '' - ^ v ^ mg * st , oji fW ^ ly «« m » own ^«* i « t » 4 ! ft 6 « rijiJ **« mli » h « m 1 th , 'wUl terepxeaented ' ^ I * e'JP ** i U ?^ i « t 4 *^ ri * « atet »

      » While-the > wo * ld wagged . < m thus ooerrily without : those prison walls , what was the demeanour of 'the' prisoner Wkhinxhis narrow'Cell ? ^ Previous to his trial , Palmer was a very regular -at--tendantatohapel , . and by his serious deportment made rather -a favourable iinpresaion on the chaplain . . This was nothing < new , however , with . him . At all times . ; he had been careful to render lip-sexviee : to bis Creator , sand seldom . had he miBsed an opportunity of taking the Sacrament . He-kept , as . it were ,-an accotlnt ^ ouiTent -with the registering angel . As a Bet-oflf . against a forgery Ihe took notes of ^ the sermon : -did iie-commitmurdercto-day , per contra < he 'partook -of the LordJa Supper on the

      -morrow . But « afterhis return Xrorn Newgate he xenounead ^ this-transparent hypocrisy , and only twice , could be p « rauaded to attend divine service in the chapel . The Rev . Mr . Goodacre officiated aa usual , in the morning founding his discourse on "the parable of the lost sheep , and in the evening dilating on the text , " JLet -no man deeeive himself . " Hiseloquence -and zeal were thrown 'away . ^ The ^ prisoner only hardened his heart , -and -turned a deaf ear alike to 'his warnings and entreaties . Nor did this arise from iany dislike to the worthy dhap-Jain ' s High Church predilections , though these were sufficiently strongto cause a ; refusal ; of -the holy Sacrament to the unshriven sinner . He had not confessed his nrim « unto man—man therefore withheld from him

      the hope of God ' s mercy . But the Low Church made no greater progress than the High . And even Mr . Wright , the amateur philanthropist , was as much at fault as the regular divines . It was only on Tuesday that Palmer showed . any symptoms of contrition , and even then the ^ feeling was rather one of regret at having failed and being discovered , than of sorrow for having transgressed the laws of -his Creator . On the last morning , iudeed , ; he asked ; the JRev .. Mr . Sneyd if-a sinner could be saved who confessed to God , but preserved silence towards men . The reverend gentleman declined togive a positive answer , lest he should be thought to encroach upon the -divine . prerogative of mercy . But after further : self-deliberation he returned to the

      prisoner ' s cell , and said'to him , " You have asked me-a difficult and abstract question . Your Bible tells you that all liars shall have their part in the lake of fire and brimstone . If you persist in proclaiming your innocence when you know that you are guilty , you will die with * a lie . in your mouth , and you : know the consequences . " The tears stood for < a moment in IPalmeT ? s eyes , -but he . quickly recovered . himself , fand made no further remark . On . the preceding night ,

      when--his-solicitor , Mr . John Smith , of Birmingham , was bidding him a last farewell , the wretched man presented him with a little volume , entitled " -The Sinner ' s Friend . " The fly-leaf bears the inscription in his usual firm , clear handwriting , " The giftx > f TPUliam Palmer , June ^ lSth , 1856 . " Ey way . of prelude are two lines , rather remarkable foiUhe i > iety of , their sentiment than ibr ; the hanooBy of their rhythm : ¦ Oh ! where for refugQiShould I flee , : Jesus had not died for me !

      ' ' " 4 ilr . ' Smith liadddtfte « oWH t > nrp *» scly from London , in compliance with an urgent telegraphic request ftom Palmer . : It was past ten o ' clock before he- reached - ¦ the gaol , where the prisoner ' s brothers , George and Thomas , and his only surviving ' sister , were anxiously awaiting him . They had just taken leave of the criminal , who retained his composure throughout that trying - interview . What passed between Mr . Smith and 'hia client has been differently . narrated . That . gentleman aaya , Palmer used nearly these -words : " I am' innocent ibf poisoning Cooko : by strychnine . All thatJE-bave'ta'ask is ,-that you will have Oooke ' a body exhumed , mid see to my mother and child ? ' It is observable ; that he' does « bt : profess to be I innocent , except with reference toi the use of strychnia . As for his mother , and . child , the former can take ver > 'jtood rare of herself . eapecinll Y ntm

      . that ie * i 5 ^ . « . t' -i »" pfovented : tfrom causing ^ errrwrther asnoyance ; and the child has relatives quite -as affectionate as the Jmost aealons attorney . The governor , tBfajor ^ Fulford , tells- the talewith some variations . On entering the ' cell , whither his duty compelled "him to accompany Mr . Smith , the governor assured Palmer that anything be might say on family matters would be kept . strictly secret . IThe other declined the confidence , and hoped tfeat ' his words would be published to . till the ^ world . All th » t he wished ! to -do'wws to expresa his gBAtltode to - the okaplain , and 1 the offloera of the prieon f « r their u » M » rm ikiodnoss to > him , and to protest his inoooenoe oChavlnlg oawsed Go 6 ke ' s < de » th by strychnia . « VItru » t , 'V 8 » id ) the ' Governor , " that in the « wful position ' in 'Which you are 1 placed , » you are not « p » tbbling . The question In , > lA , y' or * No , ' did you murder Oooke ?"

      " iL «»« l ! Oanipb * U , " replied : t * o ; prisoner , " summed tip Ibri poisoning ! by strychnine /' " Are you guilty of the murder ? " reiterated' th < j Major . u Itis of ve » yi little importance how thedeetl was done . " "^ Iifcwveinothing ' morei to add ;"> wmwor « d the -othor . l il « m'jqulte easy ln ^» ny << j < Hi 6 elenco"andih » ppy \ in : iny ynind . " Mx . i Smitjli and frrisoner * fcafd « ttawn some ^ oon rerafttlon ^ ooncemingtfMnlly tw * U « ra - of rio putilic - Interest . HiJfi «^ lK « rJ « ftt ««^« U ; it *^ 'ft ) nsier geotUoMui took his

      departure , wath-every 'demonstration of mental anffuiah . # Eabaier : then diank a little bmuidy-and-wat « r , and ^ bont midnight sank ( into a refreshing sleep . Athalfi-pasttwo he was awakened by the chaplain , who rexnMned by , his bedBide in prayer until five o ' clock , . when -a tumJkev entered with * cup of tea and asked the prisoner "how he . felt . " "I ^ am quite comfortable , " ' . was the . careless reply .: About-half-past six , Mr .: Goodaore resumed , his devotional exercises , in which Palmer mechanicall yjoi ned Occasionally tears came into , his eyes , but hastily brushing them away , he instantly mastered the rising emotion " in reply to the . reverend gentleman ' s urgent entreaties that he should confess his guilt , the prisoner only repeated his ambiguous asseveration that " Cooke did not die of strychnine . "

      At twenty minutes to eight a tall , grey-haired , respectable-looking man , in a long white carter ' frock appeared at the door of the cell . This was the executioner , Smith , of Dudley , originally a nailer , and now a higgler by trade , and for sixteen years maitre des hautex oeuvt-es ^ foij . the county of Stafford . Even thisungracious apparition -was received by Palmer with characteristic civility . While his arms were being pinioned , he merely uttered 0-request that the cord might not be drawn too tightly . This operation over , the high sheriff , ; lieut .-Colosel Dyott , entered the cell , accompanied by the chaplain , and asked if he . had anything to say—if he

      did not acknowledge the justice of his sentence ? "No !" exclaimed the prisoner , with unwonted animation ; '' there are certain persons , whose tnames I will not mention , who are . guilty of my . murder . . 1 am -a murdered man . I will never acknowledge the justice of my sentence . " Whea these gentlemen had retired , Palmer turned to the officers of the gaol and remarked : "You see I have never changed from what I first- said . All I have to ask of younow isvto pray for nry child . " Again did the high , sheriff , and the chaplain visit the cell , in the hope that the advent of the last moment might shake the constancv of even that most obdurate criminal . And

      again they asked him if his sentence was not a just one . " It is not just , " he answered , in a firm and emphatic tone . " Then , " exclaimed the minister of peace and charity , " your blood be upon your own head !" It now wanted only ten minutes of the appointed hour . The . bell began to toll . The note of preparation roused-the weary watchers round the scaffold . A suppressed'murmur ran through the crowd like an electric shock . Then silently , with outstretched neck and unswerving eye , every man looked anxiously ^ r that dread procession which was . to conduct a fellow-toeing to the

      portal of the unknown world . The pigeons that had gathered round the : tall stack of chimneys in the pr isonyard , sheltering themselves from the rain ,, and curiously eyeing the assembled multitude , now rose into theairas if to-Bean the meaning of that uneasy movement ; and circling slowly round ami round , again alighted on the side of the stack looking , towards the scaffold . Still the bell ' tolled on , making one ' s blood creep and the brain reel -aa the purport of its cold , stern , monotonous voice pierced through every nerve— : for every nerve became an organ of . hearing . the

      : Thte ' dbbr 6 f the cell was thrown open : prisoner set out on his long exile . An ornamental iron staircase of at Jeast a dozen steps leads down to the basement stoiy . Dowiv these he tripped as lightly as would « schoolboy escaping . to the playground . The distance he had to traverse was not less than a hundred and fifty yards . With a jaunty 3 tep he made the " running "—as ho himself would -have said—^ and reached tho foot of the ladder two or three minutes beforo tho appointed time . All thistiino the chaplain read aloud the impressive serviw for tho Burial of the Dead ; but his voice faltered and his frame quivered with emotion . And now every head is uncovered , from every lip escapes a stifled exclamation ; and then tho ear throbs with the unnatural silence . On the centre of the drop , right beneath tho unmoved

      beam , thero stands William Palmer , erect and . "His face , indeed , ' i * ashy pale , but there is a smile upon his lips . Is it defiance ? or rather is it not the shadow of his iancient civility— 'a trick those- lying lips have not yet forgotten ? Tho eyes look puzzled , as if uncertain whether to regard the strange scene as a reality or u fiightftil plumtasmu . At each corner of tho HoartoW stands » n dfliciul , clothed in black , and bearing -a lon tf wandimhishand . The chaplain at tlio foot of tiro ladder prays audibly for the departing sinner . Ihe Del tolls on , sad , but inexorable . ' I'hopeoplo bend lonva rj with , throbblngl hearts * nd straining , oyea , and deem eacu minUto * n . iiour . The pigooos on the ahirnnoy-top plun »« thein feathers , or murmur soft amorous notes—Loo low in tluasenlo of creation to praotiso fraud , forgery , seduction , » uirder , . nnd the other , pastimes incidental to uouig *

      endowed witin reason . . And-now the hangman grasps tho rope—Palmer uenw hts-iawd—thc « ooso is elippucl over— his face kiowb ye more 1 ghastly—his throat throbB spasmo . li ' aliy—™ movoa hiaineedc round , as a man with a > tight ^{ J ^ rT tho haugmaniia hurrying off 1 tho ttrop- ^«« » udd « niy " « think * him of the . cap-turnH b » 6 k- ^ cl « trhos at UJ criminal ' right band , « s if asking «> r pawl © " -- " bleBfl > jt » u ,. « oodby , " . a 43 ' «» ^ ho ^ prisoner , -in ^ a How , _ tUu , t <* toe -. th « mft . or . white -tohg , is pulled orer ^'" boid ^ the poaki blows out from his ^ hin by U 10 vioien aucLw » id » re 8 p 4 rfttion- *« nothflr «« condv tho *» lt > 4 a utaw t

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  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), June 21, 1856, page 582, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2146/page/6/