Part 3

One intrigue of illicit gallantry, which began probably in the lifetime of Mrs. Palmer, and was certainly going on at the time of Walter Palmer’s death, has a sinister connection with the death of Cook. It is not mentioned in any account published of Palmer. Jane Burgess, a young woman of respectable position living in Stafford in 1855, left, at the house where she resided, a bundle of thirty-four letters written to her by Palmer. They show that a practitioner in Stafford, chosen by Palmer, and described by him as one “who would be silent as death,” had performed an illegal operation. On the 13th of November the day notable in the trial, when “Polestar,” Cook’s racehorse, won at Shrewsbury, there is a letter to her from Palmer, which shows that she had made a demand for money as a condition of returning his letters. He was surprised, he wrote, to learn that she had never burned one of his letters. He says, “I cannot do what you ask; _I should not mind giving £30 for the whole of them_, though I am hard up at present.” Another letter is dated the 19th November, the day on which Palmer was accused of administering strychnia for the first time to Cook. He offers £40 “to split the difference.” On the 21st, the day on which, in the early morning, Cook had died, he sends the halves of eight £5 notes, and on the 24th the remainder. The letters were probably never returned, because the trouble threatened about Cook’s death became common talk in Rugeley and Stafford.

Shortly after his marriage began a series of suspicious deaths which were attributed to Palmer after investigation started into the circumstances attending the death of Cook. An illegitimate child he had by a Rugeley woman died after it had visited him. Mrs. Thornton, his mother-in-law, was persuaded to live at his house, and she died within a fortnight. Palmer acquired property from her by her death. In 1850 a Mr. Bladon, a racing man, stayed for several days with Palmer, who owed him £800 for bets. Bladon died in circumstances very like those attending Cook’s death, and Palmer buried him with the haste he attempted in the case of Cook, and he narrowly escaped a similar accusation.

In 1854 Palmer effected insurances to the amount of £13,000 on his wife’s life. Within six months she died much as Bladon had died, and as Cook was to die. Dr. Bamford, a medical man of eighty-two, whom Palmer seems to have hoodwinked into serving his purposes, certified the death of Mrs. Palmer, as he had done the death of Bladon, and as he was to certify a year later that of Cook. Palmer drew the insurance money from the offices concerned. They were influenced by the popular suspicions and rumours in Rugeley and in the sporting circles Palmer frequented, but they paid after some hesitation and suggestion of inquiry, and Palmer was freed from the most pressing of his liabilities. His diary contains this entry--“Sept. 29th (1854), Friday--My poor, dear Annie expired at 10 past 1.” Nine days after this--“Oct. 8th, Sunday--At church, Sacrament.” Nine months after his maidservant, Eliza Tharm, bore an illegitimate child to him. Within three months of his wife’s death Palmer, with the assistance of Pratt, the moneylender, whose claims had been met by the insurance on Mrs. Palmer’s life, was making proposals to various offices, amounting to £82,000, on the life of his brother Walter. Ultimately an insurance for £13,000 was effected, and the policy was lodged with Pratt to secure advances. After this the rest of Palmer’s life-history is directly connected with the story of the trial. The account we have given will suggest the, perhaps unprecedented, interest with which the trial was anticipated throughout the Midlands, and afterwards with what absorbed attention it was followed by all England as well as on the Continent.

I conclude this sketch by quoting a characteristic description by Sir James Stephen, who knew Palmer, had studied the criminal type, and himself presided at one of the most famous trials for poisoning. He says of Palmer--“His career supplied one of the proofs of a fact which many kind-hearted people seem to doubt, namely, the fact that such a thing as atrocious wickedness is consistent with good education, perfect sanity, and everything, in a word, which deprives men of all excuse for crime. Palmer was respectably brought up; apart from his extravagance and vice, he might have lived comfortably enough. He was a model of physical health and strength, and was courageous, determined, and energetic. No one ever suggested that there was even a disposition towards madness in him; yet he was as cruel, as treacherous, as greedy of money and pleasure, as brutally hard-hearted and sensual a wretch as it is possible even to imagine. If he had been the lowest and most ignorant ruffian that ever sprang from a long line of criminal ancestors, he could not have been worse than he was. He was by no means unlike Rush, Thurtell, and many other persons whom I have known. The fact that the world contains an appreciable number of wretches, who ought to be exterminated without mercy when an opportunity occurs, is not quite so generally understood as it ought to be--many common ways of thinking and feeling virtually deny it.”

Leading Dates in the Palmer Trial.

1855.

August Walter Palmer, William Palmer’s brother, dies. Payment of policy on his life for £13,000 assigned to William Palmer, and held by Pratt, moneylender, as security, refused by insurance office. Negotiations about it continue up to Cook’s death.

Nov. 6. Writs issued by Pratt against Palmer and his mother for £4000, Mrs. Palmer’s acceptance being forged. Writs not served, for Palmer to have opportunity of raising instalments.

“ 13. (Tuesday) Palmer and Cook go together from Rugeley to Shrewsbury Races. Cook’s mare, “Polestar,” wins Shrewsbury Handicap, and he has in his possession, in consequence, £700 or £800, and is entitled to stakes of £350 and bets, to be paid at Tattersall’s the Monday following, of over £1000.

“ 14. (Wednesday night) Cook ill at the Raven, Shrewsbury, where he and Palmer stayed. Palmer is alleged to have dosed his drink.

“ 15. Palmer’s horse, “Chicken,” beaten in his race, and Palmer loses heavily.

Cook and Palmer return to Rugeley, and Cook puts up at the Talbot.

“ 16. Cook dines with Palmer and Jeremiah Smith. Cook apparently in usual health.

“ 17. (Saturday) Cook ill in bed, with the same symptoms as at Shrewsbury.

“ 18. (Sunday) His illness continues, and during the two days Palmer is in constant attendance, and orders and administers food, drink, and medicine. Dr. Bamford called in.

“ 19. (Monday) Palmer goes to London and arranges 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.

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On being called upon the prisoner pleaded not guilty.

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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.

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[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.

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[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.

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[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.

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[Sidenote: E. Mills]