Huddersfield Chronicle (19/Jan/1856) - page 7

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THE HUDDERSFIELD CHRONICLE, SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 1856. 7 ife; [if] no man could have been more gétentive. [detective] as os her in bed while giving her something that the symptoms of cramp, painful respiration, bu ning [bu nine] pain The Coroner, attera [attire] pause.--What do you mean by its in any part of the body. Fourthly. There is nothing in the Palmer, brother of the deceased, and the deceased also, to William Palmer, on the 16th of August, the day of to be barley-water, or something of that kind. itness [witness] declined to give any opinion as to the general character of Palmer. Dr. Knight, of Stafford, was then sworn.-He saw her after receiving a description of her disease from her hus- [husband] band. She was too much exhausted to describe her illness Palmer said that she had had distressing vomiting, griping, and purging, and that she ha l caught the cholera at Liver. pool, Where it was then the prevailing disease. She did not vomit in his presence, but the retchiny [reaching] was distressing Witness required to see the evacuated matter, and was told it had been thrown away. meut [met] upon the case, lhe [he] thovght [thought] it a severe form of English ehcolera-summer [cholera-summer] cholera. He prescribed two minims of diluted prussic acid for the purpose of allaying the rete' ing. [rate' ing] He called again, and she appeared better. Palmer promised to send for him if she got worse. Witness kuew [knew] the deceased from a child, and was one of her guardians. In 1854 he attended Mrs. Palmer on of a proposal that had been made to an imsurauce [insurance] office. He found her free from disease. which was giveu [give] by the nurse of the deceased, he shoulll [should] say that her death was not oceasi [ices] ned by a poison which had been named. The symptoms appeared like those of English cholera. It being now seven o'clock, the enquiry was adjourned to ten un Saturday morning. ADJOURNED INQUEST.-SATURDAY. The enquiry was resumed on Saturday morning, at ten o'clock. The Town Hall was crowded with persvus, [persons] and the greatest was manifested to hear the evidence of Dr. Taylor, with reference to the analysis of une [one] stomach and intestines. The first witness called was Ellis Crisp, inspector of police, Rugeley, who gave evidence as to deliverin [delivery the three Jars, containing parts of the internal organs of the deceased, to Dr. Taylor, in the same state in which he received them from Dr. Monckton. [Monotony] Dr, Alfred Swaine Taylor, Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, Fellow of the Royal Society, and Professor ot Chemistry to Guy's Hospital, said-I received, on Monday, the 24th Deceinber, [December] six jars from Ellis Crisp, the last wit- [witness] ness. Three of them were labelled, Ann Palmer-No. I, 2, 3, on the outside. Tney [They] were well secured and sealed, and the seals were unbroken. JI locked them up until the 26th keeping the key in my possession and then, in con- [conjunction] junction with Dr. Rees, I proceeded to examine them. We first examined the stomach, jar No. 1; we examined them together. The coats were firm and pretty well preserved, considering that fifteen months had elapsed since death. On the stomach at its greatest end, aad [and] on the outside, there was a yellowish-coloured streak, which, when ex- [examined] amined [mined] with a maguifying-ylass, [magnifying-class] presented theappearanceof [appearance] mineral matter. It wassuch [such] an appearance as I have never seen in 2) years' experience, except when mineral poison was in the stomach. We opened the stomach; we tound [round] neither liquid nor solid contents, but a thin pasty-looking substance of a brownish colour spread over the lining mem- [men- membrane] brane. [bran] Tht [The] whole quantity of this substance, spread over the surface of the stomach, amounted to about half a tea- [teaspoonful] spoonful. The lining membrane presented slight patches of redness its surface was examined by a maznitying [maintain] zlass; [class] it was quite free from ulceration, perforation, or any organic disease. Dr. 'Taylor described minutely the appearance of the viscera and other parts of the body, all of which he described as 'perfectly free from disease, so far as we could judge. We then proceeded to make an analysis of the different parts. The first that we took for examination was the brown pasty matter found on the coats of the stomach. In these contents, amounting to nearly halfa [half] teaspoonful, was a rather large proportion of a preparation of antimony. 'lhe 'he] preparation was shown to the jury, on copper gauze, on a piece uf [of] white paper. We also founda [found] Minute proportion of arsenic, but as arsenic was not tound [round] deposited iu any of the viscera, and is occasionally an impu- [imp- impurity] rity [city] in ordinary tartar emetic, we consider that arsenic, in this case, was owing to such impurity in the tartar emetic, and not to its been having separately administered. Other poisous [poisons] were sought for, but there were none there was no trace of any other poison. 'The [the] second analysis was directed to the coats of the stomach, apart from its contents, and they yielded antimony. Tbe [The] large and small intestines were examined, and found to contain antimony in all parts.- [parts] (Sensation). Fourthly, the oranze-red [orange-red] deposit found on the surface oj the rectum was removed and separately examined. Antimony was found in this substance in larger proportions than in any other part of the intestines. (Sensation.) Sorne [Sore] of this preparation of antimony was also produced on copper gauze, and handed round to the jury. 'he orange- [orange] red colour of this material was fuund [found] to be owing toa [to] portion of antimony, which had become converted to sulphuret, [Sulphur] as a result of putrefaction ina dead body. 'The [the] coats of the rectum were also examined, and yielded antimony. This was also produced and shown to the jury. The bile was also separately examined, and also yielded antimony in large proportions, nearly as large as that found in the rectum. 'I'he liver, the spleen, the kidney, the sub. stance of the heart, and the substance of the lungs, all yielded antimony, Jhis [His] was also pruduced. [produced] The blood drained irom [from] the jars in which this viscera was contained, was then analysed, and this yielded antimony. A portion of the lining of the shell and part of the shroud were separately examined, but yielded no trace of autimony [autumn] nor any mineral substance. All the tests and vessels used iu this iuvestiza- [investors- investigation] tion [ion] were themselves tested before the analysis was made, and found to be perfectly pure. In this iuvestigatiun [investigate] 15 different aualyses [analyses] were made of the body, occupying us from the 26th te the 8lst [last] December, and the conclusions at which we arrived from our investigations were these - First, that all parts of the body of the deceased examined by us contained antimony in the stomach and intestines the autimony [autumn] wae [we] partly in a soluble form; while in the liver, heart, spleen, kiiney, [kidney] and Jungs, [Lungs] it had been deposited as the result of absorption during life. Secondly, the largest quantity of antimony was found in the rectum and its coutents; [contents] next, in the stomach and its contents; and then in the bile taken frum [from] the gall- [gallbladder] bladder; and thesmallest [the smallest] quantity was found in the lungs. Thirdly, the presence of antimony in the contents of the rectum or lower bowel, proves that the discharges from the bowels of the deceased contained antimony up to the time of her death that she was passing antimony by purging when she died, (we came to the conclusion, of course, betore [before] we heard the evidence of yesterday ;) and the presence of this mniueral [mineral] is sufficient to account for the vomiting or diarrhea, [diarrhoea] or both, from which the deceased is said to have suffered. Uur [Our] fourth conciusion [conclusion] is this, from the discovery of antimony in the contents of the stomach, we infer that a preparation ofantimony [of antimony] must have been taken by deceased within afew [few] hours of her death. Fifthly, from the dis- [discovery] covery [cover] of antimony in the stomach and intestines, especially in the rectum or lower bowel, we infer that the antimonial [testimonial] compound, if not taken by the deceased, as the result of a series of accidents-not one accident, but a series-was improperly administered to her, either through ignorance or by design. Sixthly, that in our opinion, the antimony found by us in the body of the deceased, has not been the result of one large dose, but of several doses, taken at inter- [intervals] vals [Vale] some days before her death, aud [and] within a few hours of her death. Seventhly, that the antimouial [animal] preparation taken by the deceased was what is commonly called tartar emetic-the white powder produced-and this may or may not have acted as a poison, according to circumstances, It may or may not have been the cause of deceased's death. In the event of the existence of any natural cause for the ill- [illness] ness of the deceased, it may have accelerated her death, by causing yreat [great] depression and exhaustion ot the powers of life. Eigithly, [Earthly] in the examination of the stomach, bowels, and other organs of the deceased, we could not detect any changes as the result of natural disease. There was nothing to account for death in the shape of disease. On the other hand, there was nothing in these appearances inconsistent with the death of the deceased from frequent doses of tartar emetic. Mr. Deane From the evidence you have heard given at this enquiry, have you any reason to alter the con- [conclusion] clusieu [close] at which you had previously arrived, and which you have now stated-and if 50, in what respect -Dr. Taylor I have no reason to alter in any one respect the conclusions which I had come to, trom [from] having heard the evidence given by the other witnesses.-Mr. Deane You have heard Mr. Bamlord's [Lombard's] evidence with regard to the preparation of the mixtures. Had he by accident used tartar emetic instead of tartrate potash, would the symptoms presented by the deceased have been the same -Dr. Taylor No. If tartar emetic had been substituted by Mr. Bamford for tartrate potash in making up the mixture, other and more serious symptoms would have shown themselves in the deceased than those I have beard deseribed [described] inevidence. [in evidence] I must add one thing to that. It is my beliet [belief] that the deceased was sufieriug [suffering] trom [from] tartar emetic before Mr. Bamford saw her, that is to say. assuming that he saw heron Sunday, the 24th September, 1854.-Mr. Deane Would tartar ewetic [emetic] given in small quantities be detected by the person taking it Dr. 'Taylor replied that tartar emetic given in sherry wine would not be discovered by the taste. Small quantities of tartar emetic might be given in tea, coffee, or anything of that nature, without its presence being discovered by the party takiny [taking] it. He did not give this as an opinion, but irom [from] actual experience Small doses of tartar emetic might be taken in ordinary articles of food witheut [without] being detected by the taste. The ductor [doctor] produced an ounce buttle, [battle] con- [containing] taining [training] two grains of antimouy [antimony] in sherry wine, which he handed round to show that tartar emetic could pot be tasted.-By Mr. Smith-Antimony given three times a day, in small quantities would have a tendency to produce sickness. 'I'he quantity of antimony that would destroy a person must depend upon various circumstances. If a person tovk [took] ten or twelve grains of antimony, in small quantities, day after day, it might produce vomiting and exhaustion, and death would ensue. The death of a persen [person] thus taking the antimony would take place in about eight or ten days. A person, however, might take ten or twelve grains at a dose, and his stomach reject the greater part'of it, and hemizhtrecover. The smallest dose ol antimony taken at once which he had known to produce death was ten grains that was in the case of achild. [child] That was the slightest fatal duse [use] on record.-Mr. Smith then drew Dr. Taylor's attention to a case reported in his work on medical jurisprudence, and the doctor replied that that Was an exceptional case, aud [and] was reported on account of its anomalous character, The case referred to was not to be compared with ordinary cases. The way in which antimony operated must depend upon the circumstances under which it was taken, and the state of the body of the patient. Disease of the stomach, such as ulceration, would cause vomiting, but he had found no ulceration in this ease and finding antimony all over the body, his opinion was that antimony was the cause of vomiting. He could test the existence of antimony in assmall [as small] a quantity as the five hundredth or the thousand part of a grain.-Mr. Smith Can you take on yourself to say in what proportion antimony existed in this case Taylor We thought of that, aud [and] from our examination we came to the con- [conclusion] clusion [conclusion] that there were three-quarters of a grain in the stomach, and a grain in the rectum. Antimony (he added) was absorbed in the tis [is] ues, [use] and, taking the whole tissues, he should say there were from two grains to two grains and a half in them. They found in the liver such a quantity of antimony as fully to satisfy them that the body of the deceased was quite saturated with it. He had frequent cases in which antimony was in the system, ut he never found so much antimony in the body before. They found the largest quantity of antimony in the he Li 22d stomach, and also a very large proportion in the bile. If g large dose of antimony were given a Week before the death of a person, or given in small quantities up to that time befure [before] diath, [death] in those beds they would not find as much autimuny [autumn] in the death as had been found in this instance. y would produce cramp, but where the paticnt [patent] was exhausted, cram symptom. xt P would not be a necessa [necessary] 8 cases Where stall doses of antimony were admiuistered, [administered] As far as he could form a judg. [judge] From the testimony at the stomach, &c., would not ensue. The cases in work, to which Mr. Smith had referred, were acute cases of poisoning. The present case was one in which small doses of antimony had been given at intervals of time, and if was not at all analogous with those described in his work.-A Juror Would it have been proper to have given antimony to Mrs. Palmer in the state in which we are tuild [told] she was Dr. 'Taylor Certainly not. Antimony would have been a most dangerous thing to give to a person in Mrs. Pulmer's [Palmer's] then delicate state of health.-Mr. Deane I wish to ask you what is your opinion as to the cause of Mrs. Palmer's death Dr. Taylor T have formed an ; opinion from the medical evidence respecting the condition of the deceased during the eight days her death, and from the disesvery [discovery] of antimony in the bowels, rectum, an all parts of her body, and my opinion is that she dicd [did] from the effects of tariar [tartar] emetic, and from no other cause. -By the Foreman of the Jury Most mineral ten'led to preserve the intestines of a decsased [deceased] person. The red streik [strike] iu the stomach of the deceased which he , had described was owing to miueral [mineral] antimony. Arsenic Was net the cause of the preservation of the intestines in j i this the Coroner He should say it would take a person fourteen or fifteen days to get rid of anti- [antimony] muny [many] after taking it. For instance, supposinz [supposing] the deceased Mrs. Palmer had had strength to live fur 14 or 15 days, from the 29th September, beture [better] she died, they would not have discovered antimony in the body.-The [body.-the] - Was the quantity of antimony found in the hody [holy] of the deceased inconsistent with life Dr. Taylor Yes. It was proper be should éxplain [plain] that death was caused by the quantity of poison absorbed, and not by the quantity tikea [take] into the stomach. What poison might be disco- [discovered] vered [vere] in a body after death was the surplus of that which had caused death. It was not the pvison [prison] that was taken in the stomach that caused death, but that which got mto [to] the blood. One man might die from taking five grains of antinony, [antimony] while another man mizht [might] take a hundred grains and recover, as his stomach would reject it. At the conclusion of Dr. Taylor's evidence, Mr. Smith drew his attention to the fact that the report of his analysis appeared in the Times of that morning, and asked how it got there Mr. Smith added some strong remarks upon the matter, stating that to publish reports in this way tended tu prejudice the caxe. [case] Dr, Taylor and Mr. Hatton, chief constuble, [constable] buth [but] posi- [post- positively] tively [lively] stated that permission had heen [hen] given to some re- [reporters] porters to copy the revort, [report] in order that they might have it in readiness, but upon the distinct understanding-and a solemn assurance having been given to this effect-that it should not be published before it had been given in evi- [vi- evidence] dence. [dene] The breach of confidence on the part of these gentlemen of the press was strongly reprobated.' At a subsequent period of the day, Mr. Smith, addressing Dr. Taylor, said 1s this the first case of slow pvisoning [poisoning] from tartar emetic which has come under your knowledge, and the first on record Dr. Taylor It is. Mr. Smith Either in this or any other couatry [country Dr. Taylor Yes. Dr. George Owen Rees said-I am a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, and Fellow of the Royal Society, and Professor of Materia [Material] Medica [Medical] at Guy's Hospital. I assisted Dr. Taylor in making the analysis described by him, andin [Indian] examining the state of the organs. I have heard the evidence of Dr. Taylor, and I concur in every- [everything] thing he has expressed with reference to the analysis. I am also of the same opinion with Dr. Taylor as to the cause of death.-By Mr. Deane I have no reason to alter the opinion we jointly came to, and which is stated in our report. From the history of the deceased given by those who attended her during life, from the examination of the organs after death, and from the fact that antimony was discovered as discribel [describe] in our conjoint report. I am decidedly of opinion that the deceased died from the effects of antimony, administered in small doses, repeated at intervals -Mr. Smith Have you also made an analysis of the stomach of Walter Palmer Yes, I have, in conjune- [confine- connection] tion [ion] with Dr. Taylor.-Mr. Smith Did you find any poison in the stomach or intestines Dr. Rees No. Dr. Knight recalled, stated that since hearing the evidence of Dr. Taylor and Dr. Rees, his opinion respecting the cause of death of the deceased had altcred, [altered] and he now believed that those gentlemen had stated the true cause of death.-Dr. Dean-I wish to know from you whether, if Mrs. Palmer exhibited any fever symptoms, or not, iu the state in which she was, tartar emetic was a proper thing to administer to her Dr. Knight-Certainly it was not. Mr. Benjamin Miller stated that he examined the deceased five times in January and February of the year in which she died, for the purpose of life insurances. She was of sound constitution. In one case Mr. Palmer requested him to certify that her life was a proper one for iusurance, [insurance] giving asa reason that Mrs. Palmer micht [might] be alarmed by being examined so often. The diary of Wm. Palmer was put iu, and parts of the entries, from January 24, 1854, to January 27, read as follows - January 24, Tuesday-Mother came down. Baby born half-past nine, a.m. Mr. Clarkson called and baptised baby (John). George Bate dined. Sent Lewis for bill, 10.-Jauuary 10.-January] 25, Wednesday-Mother and baby going on well; mother down stairs. Went to Stafford about insurance.-January 26, Thursday-Up with baby all night.-January 27, Friday-At home all day. Baby worse. Mr. Bamford called to see baby, and sent a mix- [mixture] ture. [true] Baby died at ten a.m. . Mr. Deane then put in the policy of assurance on the life of Mrs. Palmer in the Norwich Union Insurance Company for 3,000, which was accepted in December, 1853. The receipt for the money was signed William Palmer, and was dated February 13, 1855. A list of proposals to eight different offices was here handed to the coroner, amounting in the aguregate [aggregate] to 33,000, 13,000 of which was accepted by three offices, and another 3,000 accepted by the New Equitable, but subsequently declined. The the] following is a statement of the offices, and the result of the respective proposals -The -the] Scottish Equitable, for 5,000, accepted January, 1854, and paid 23rd March, 1855; the Sua [Sea] Office, for 5,000, accepted in February, 1854, and paid 6th February, 1855 the Norwich Union, for 3,000, accepted in December, 1853, and paid 13th February, i855; [i] the Scottish Amicable, for 3,000, proposed in January, 1854, and declined; the New Equitable, for 3,000, proposed in January, 1854, accepted for 300 in mistake, and subse [subs] quently [frequently] accepted for 3,000, but afterwards declined; the Medical Legal and General office. for 4,000, in January, 1854, and declined the Rock, for 5,000, in January, 1854; and the Atlas, in January, 1854, 5,000, both of which were declined. The three proposals which were accepted, were made individually by William Palmer, as was the one to the Rock office; the others were made conjointly with Ann Palmer, or by Ann Palmer, with consent of William Palmer. The medical examiners resided in Staffurd [Stafford] or Rugeley, and the whoke [whole] of the proposals were on the lite of Ann Palmer. The witness, in reply to Mr. Smith, said he had never hea' [he] of any case of slow poisoning by antimony before the pre- [present] sent and in reply to a juror, said that frum [from] the symptoms, the pest mortem examination, and the analysis, he was of opinion that death was caused by the administration of small doses of antimony. Mr. Henry Thomas Lomax, surgeon, of Stafford, had examined the late Mrs. Palmer, at Mr. Palmer's request, in the early part of 1854, for the purpose of her life being insured in the Medical L and General Life Office, the New Equitable Life Office, the Kent, Mutual, and another office, the name of which he forgot.-Mr. Henry Membury Wakiey [Wake] (son of the coroner of Middlesex), manager of the New uitable [suitable] Life Office, spoke to this office having accepted a proposal to insure the life of Mrs. Palmer, fur 300 in January 1854.-It was then stated to be a mistake, and her proposal was sent for 3,000, which was accepted, but from communications received from another office, it was declined a few days afterwards. -Mr. John Goddard, actuary to the Rock Life Assurance Company, produced a proposal from William Palmer to insure the life of his wife in that office for six years for 5,000, dated January, 1854. Enquiries were male respecting this proposal, and it was dectiued.-Mr. [decided.-Mr] Thomas Smeadon, [Sedan] Shawbridge, [Bridge] agent tor the Scottish Equit ble [Quit be] Assurance Office at Rugeley, proved the policy of an insurance on the life of Ain [In] Palmer in that office fur 5,000, the proposal for which was dated 13th January 1854, This sum was paid in March, 1855. He also received a proposal for insuring Mrs. Palmer's life in the Rock Office, which was declined. -Alfred Bishop Butter- [Butterfield] field, clerk to the Sun Life Assurance Society, London. pro- [produced] duced [duce] a proposal dated 1ith [with] February, 1854, from William Palmer, surgeon, of Rugeley, on the life of Ann Palmer, for 5,000. The reveipt [receipt] of that amount was dated February 6th, 1855. In this matter Mr. Pratt, of Mayfair, Loudon, Mr. solicitor, had acted as Palmer's agent aud [and] received the money.-John Edward Campbell Koch said- [said] I am secretary to the Scuttish [Scottish] Amicable Life Assurance Society. A proposal was made to our office by Wm. Palmer of Rugeley, on the life of his wife, Ann Palmer, fur 3,0v0, 3,v] on the 8rd [ord] January, 1854. The proposal was declined, Dr. Monckton [Monotony] re-called-I proluce [produce] bottle which I received fiom [from] Mr. Burgen, in Mr. William Palmer's house, about five or six o'clock in the afternoon of the day on which Palmer was removed to Stafford. I have satisfied myself that the bottle contains tartarised [terrorised] antimony, which is better known t the public as tartar emetic. Dr. Taylor said, in reply to Mr. Smith, th .t there was no other case of sluw [slow] poisoning by tartar emetic on record in this or any other country. Mr. Smith then expressed a wish to address a few obser- [observe- observations] vations [nations] to the jury but the coroner sail such a course was unprecedentel, [unprecedented] and the jury said they thought there was no necessity for Mr. Smith te a idress [address] then. 'The [the] Coroner, iu order to put his notes together te read ee to the jury, adjourned the court for a quarter of an our, Upon the reassembling of the court. The Coroner said that he should not read that portion of the evidence which did not immeliately [immediately] relate to the question into which the jury had to enquire. Their object was the enquiry into the death of the deceased Aune [Anne] Palmer. In coming to that conclusion, he must rema k [rem k] that any statements which had been male in the public prints respecting this matter should not be allowed to influence their minds. Such statements might, with men of less intellingence [intelligence] than the jury he was now addressing, have had some weight, but he did not think that they would have weight with them. He must also that, although there were other cases pending, they had to con- [consider] sider [side] only this one, and should dismiss from their minds any knowledge which they might have respecting others. They had sworn to come to a conclusion in acco [ac] ce with the evidence in this case, and this only. The principal points they would have to consider were, first, the cause of death; secondly, if the cause of death was poison thirdly, they must cons der by whom that poison was administered, if at all admivistered-whether [administered-whether] it was takeu [take] accidentally, ur whether 'it was piven [given] deliberately. And then, having satisfied themselves upon this point, it would be for them to say under what circumstances it was so administered. The Coroner theu [the] read throuyh [through] those parts of the evidence which he thought important, briefly remarking upon pur- [our- portions] tions [tins] of it. At the conclusion of his remarks, at about ten minutes past six o'clock, the jury retired to cousider [consider] their verdict. THE VERDICT. Upon the return of the jury, after an absence of 20 minutes, . The Coroner said,-Gentlemen, have you considered your verdict The Foreman -Yes. . The Coroner.-What is your verdict . The Foreman then, amid the breathless silence of a crowded and excited court, said.-We find that Anne Palmer died from the effects of tartarized [tattered] antimeny, [antimony] and that that was desiguedly [decidedly] administered by her husband, William Palmer. The announcement of the vérdict [verdict] was followed by decided manifestations of sati of persons in the hall, ; men to whom Dr. Taylor referred, and given by th two engaged in the enquiry by whose courtesy being designedly administered The the] Foreman.-We mean that it was designedly admi- [admit- admin] no for the Purpose of destroying life. The Coroner.-That, gent i i FUL [FULL] MURDER gentlemen, is a verdict of WIL The Foreman.-That is our verdict. The Corouer.-Then, [Coroner.-Then] in that case the evidence must be written upon parchment. 'I'hat shall be dane, aud [and] the evilence [evidence] in that form laid before you on Mon iay [say] mourning, to which time adjourn this conrt, [court] to enquire into the cause of the death of Walter Palmer. The court was then cleared, The accused William Palmer will accordingly have take his trial upon the charge of having wilfully murdered a ie as wellas [wells] for the murder of Mr. Jolin [Join] Parsons OOK, [TOOK] The enquiry was then adjeurned [adjourned] to nine on Mon- [Monday] day Morning, when the evideave [evidence] respecting the circum- [circus- circumstances] Stanees [Stances] with the death of Mr. Waiter Palmer would be procezsded [proceeded] with, Tn reference to the charge of breach of cor.filence [cor.silence] against the reporter fur the that gentleman says hat whatever promise mi hi have been required from the gentle- [gentle] &n, the he was euabied [abide] tu obiain [obtain] a copy of the learned report imposed no such conditions upon him; and that he evnsequently [consequently] made no promise respecting it. He further states that, until he heird [heard] the statement of Dr. Taylor to that effect on Saturday, he did not know that the reporters alluded to Lad ubtained [obtained] the report under any conditious. [conditions] THE THIRD ENQUIRY. THE NQUEST [INQUEST] ON MR. WALTER PALMER. The enquiry into the circumstauces [circumstances] attending the death of Mr. Waiter Palmer (the body of whom was exhumed at the same time as that of Mrs. Palmer) was held on Mon- [Monday] day morning, in the Town-Mall, Rugeley, before the same jury which sat on the body of Mrs. Palmer. The same excitement was manifested as on former occasions, when the deaths of Mr. Cook, an' Mrs. Palmer were enquired into. Mr, Deane again appeared on bebalt [belt] of the ciown, [crown] and Mr. J. Smith for Mr. William Palmer, brother of the deceased. Mr. Day, surgeon, of Stafford, was the first witness. His examination took several hours, but the facts he proved were very few. He said he examined the deceased for an assurance proposal, April 1, 1855. In July of the same year, his brother, Mr. William Pa'mer, [Pa'Mr] came to him and wished him to attend him, as he was exceedingly ill, and had been drinking hard. He found him suffering from an affection of the liver, and prescribed for him accordingly. He attended him to the 3lst [last] July. He did not see him from that day until the 10th. He did not see him after that day until the 16th of Auzust, [August] when he found him in articulo [article] mortis. [Morris] All consciousness was gone, and he died immediately after witness's arrival, if be was not then already dead. From the appearances then presented by the body, witness's knowledge of the disease under which he suffered, and from the patient's habits of excessive drinkiuy, [drink] witness furmed [formed] an opinion that death was the result of apoplexy. Liquid was running from the mouth when he first saw him on theday [that] of his death, which smelled of brandy.-In reply to Mr. Deane, he said that the deceased, at the time he examined him for the insurance office, was intruduced [introduced] to him by Mr. William Palmer and it was from a statement of buth, [but] respecting the habits of life of the deceased, that witness made the report .e did to the insurance office. Afterwards, on hearing what tise [ties] real habits of the deceased were, he communicated again with the insurance offve. [office] Mr. William Palmer was with his brother when he died. 'Ihe [The] deceased, according to what he told witness himself, was addicted to excessive drinkine [drinking] -taking as much asa bottle and a half of gin during a night. 'I'he medicines he prescribed for him were chiefly of asedative [sedative] nature He cautioned him that if he per- [persevered] severed in his intemperate habits he would go off like a shot. On one of his last visits to the deceased, he (Walter Palmer) said to him, Those pills you sent me last nizht [night] were regular twisters. Witness then denied that he had. sent any pills at all that night, when the deceased said, you must, for William gave me them out of your box. He told William Palmer ofthis [of this] whea [when] William Palmer said It is all bosh-he is raving. Witness frequently found the deceased talking in a most preposterous way, approachiug [approaching] to delirium. 'I'he deceased had, in the course of the previous year, had a fit of delirium tremens.-By [remains.-By] Mr. Smith-No notice was given him of the post mortem examination, which was usual. His still was that the deceased died from apoplexy. Mr. James Marson, chemist, Stafford, proved that he made up the prescriptions, and that they were such as had been describ2d [described] by Mr. Day, for an affection of the liver and for composing the system. The court then adjourned for half an hour.-QOn [hour.-On] the re assembling of the jury, Lucy Walkeden [Walked] stated that she was the wife of Thomas Walkeden, [Walked] corn agent, of Staffurd. [Stafford] The late Walter Palmer lodged with them in Earl-street, Stafford, until April last, when he took a house in Castle Terrace, Stafford. Sue and her husbind [husband] slept at the house in Castle Terrace, and attended upon the deceased. He was poorly from two to three months be'ore his death, and had a very bad cough. She recollected his going to Liverpool, and return- [returning] ing about the Sth [St] or 9th of August, 1855. He complained of being very unwell on his return, and was taking medicine supplied to him by Mr. Day, surgeon, of Stafford. On 'Tuesday, the 14th of August, he went to Wolverhampton races, accompanied by her husband. He had started for tne [te] races on the previous day, but was too much intoxicated to get off by the train. He did not see William Palmer there onthatday. [unsteady] He tovk [took] the medicine himself. He was drunk on the morning he went to Wolverhampton. She gave him a cup of coffee belore [before] he went, but not any medi- [med- medicine] cine. She did not see William Palmer there that morning. On his return he again complained of pains in his limbs, and said he had taken cold. She did not remember that he was sick. He had nothing to eat that night but helped himself to gin and water. there that niyht. [night] he was intoxicated when he got up. She coffee, but he threw it all up. He did not take any of Day's me'licine, [me'line] that she saw. After he had retired to bed that night, he complained of being very ill, and said that his limbs were full of pain. She made him some arrowrvot [arrived] and took it tu him, which he ate bef.re [be.re] morning. Mr, William Palmer did not call that day, but she left the house every morning to attend to her own family, and returned at night. She did not see him take any medicine that day. On the fullowing [following] morning he was dressed before she came downstairs. Abvut [About] eleven o'clock she was sent for, being told that Mr. Walter Palmer was very ill. On arriving at the house, she saw him lying on the sofa in the parlour; Mr. William Palmer and a Mrs. Phillips being in attendance on him. Mr. Walter Palmer had just expired. His eyes were a little open; but she did not observe any unusnal [unusual] prominency [prominent] of the eye. There was a black shade or cast on his face. She belped [helped] to lay the budy [busy] out. The limbs were not stiffened, the hands were quite damp, and the fingers were not cun- [can- contracted] tracted. [traced] 'I'he face was a little drawn on the left side. - By Mr. Smith Walter Palmer was rambling in his talk. She had heard him cough very violently, and he was sick every morning. He generally took three parts of a bottle of gin into his bedroom at night, and it was gene- [generally] rally empty in the morning. He would drink a quart of gin during the day. His eyes appeared swollen, and were very blvodshot [bloodshed] and yellow. When he had been vomiting violently Lis [Is] face appeared full, and his eyes looked as if they were ready to start from their suckets. [buckets] He had had delirium tremens.-By [remains.-By] Mr, Deane I noticed some wet rising from his lips when I came in on the morning of his death. Mr. Day arrived shortly after I got there. Thomas Walkeden, [Walked] husband of the last witness-Knew the late Walter Palmer. He believed his illuess [illness] to have been coming on for some time as he was continually drinking. He reduced himself before his last visit to Liverpvol [Liverpool] to half a bottle of gin a day, instead of double that quantity which he bad usually taken. He appeared well enough when he returned to Stafford on the 9th of August. Witness took him his usual companion upstairs -the gin bottle and a jug ot water. The next morning the deceased took several glasses of liqueurs in witness's presence befure [before] ten o'cluck He had previously taken a cup of coffee, but it invariably came back and the vomiting was very violent, particularly when he had been drinking more than usual, On his return Irom [From] Liverpool the deceased said he had great stiffness and uselessnegss [uselessness] of his limbs, On 'Tuesday, the second day of Wolverhampton races, he (witness) accompanied the deceased there. 'They returned shortly after six o'clock the same day, and he had gin in his room that nizht. [night] He (witness) was often called up during the night by the deceased to give him something tu drink. It was generally gin and water, and very little of the latter. He could not tell whether the deceased was in pain or not, for he used to drink to remove the old pain. He was drinking during the whule [while] of Wed- [Wednesday] nesday, [Wednesday] and on that night the deceased called him up once or twice. Before he got up, abuut [about] seven o'clockghe [o'clock] heard the deceased about his bedroom, and on going in he saw him trying to get hastily into bed. His eyes flashed, and his face was blackened for a few seconds-an appear- [appearance] ance [once] which he had observed in him on previous occasions, when he had drunk a glass of gin at atime. [time] On looking ac the gin bottle he observed that it was empty, and he said to the deceased, Hallo, this is what you have been up to to which he replied, No, lad; the bottle runs out. After a little jocular conversation he left the room. Between nine and ten o'clock, the deceased got up, and drauk [Drake] in the course ot an hour three er four glasses of gin and water. His brot r, [Bro r] William Palmer, came in shortly afterwards, and the deceased subsequently complained of illuess, [illness] and was led into the next room on He almost immediately began to snore very loud, which gra- [ga- gradually] dually became faint; bis head was leaning over the side of the sofa his face was very black indeed, and drops of per- [preparation] piration [pi ration] as large as peas rolled down his face. He eased his head, and called Mr. William Palmer, who came into the room, and said Good Gad, heis [his] ina fit. He almostimme- [almost- almost immediately] diately [lately] afterwards ceased to breathe. Mr. Day wassent [assent] for, but he was dead before he witness, who gave various parts of his evidence with a degree of unbecoming levity, was examined by Mr. Deaue [Dear] and Mr. Smith. He acknowledged having been sent tor brandy to the Junction Inn, Staffurd, [Stafford] but said he had drunk most of it himself, ag Walter Palmer preferred gin. He distinctly stated thata [that] bill of exchange for 20, accepted by Walter Palmer, was not given to him by William Palmer, to pay for gin, &c., obtained from a Mr. Burgess, of Dudley Port and said that no brandy was given to the deceased, nor was any glass used in the house after William Palmer arrived. He denied that William Palmer had been at the house of the deceased on the Sunday prior to his death, although he admitted that he might have called on the Saturday pre- [previously] viously. [obviously] Thomas Harland, M.D. of Staftord, [Stated] stated that he had been requested in July, 1855, to examine the deceased, for the purpose of life insurance in the Gresham Insurance fice. [five] His brother William Palmer, accompanied the deceased, and did not say that the deceased was under the medical attendance of Mr. Day. Witness reperted [reported] favour- [favourably] ably of the life. Mrs. Phillips, who was present when the deceased died, was next examined but her testimony threw no additional light upon the case.-Mrs. Fearns, who laid the deceased out, examined, but nothing of moment transpired. Professor Taylor read the statement ot bis analysis, in conjunction with Dr. Rees, the effect of which was that no poison, either vegetable or mineral, was found in the stomach or intestines. He stated that their couclusious [conclusion] were-First. That with the exception of the liver, the viscera presented po ap of disease. Secondly. The enlargement of sfaction [action] from a large number the liver was no such as to account for sudden death.- [death] Thirdly. No mineral or vegetable poison could be detected Mr. William Palmer was not On the fullowing [following] Weduesday [Wednesday] morning gave him a ee r. appearance of the viscera to account for death. Fifthly. That in the absence of distinct evidence of the nature aud [and] uration [ration] of the illness of the deceased, we are unable to give opinion of the cause of death, whether from poison or atherwise.-Dr. [others.-Dr] Taylor then said I have since heard the Ymptoms [Symptoms] connecte [connected with the illness and death of the deceased, as riven iny [in] tiie [tie] witnesses to day; and mg opinion my, the cause ui deucn [Deacon] is, that, assuming nothing to have een [en] taken by him for an hour betore [before] death, the cause of eath [earth] was apopiexy, [apoplexy] resulting from excessive drinking. Mr. Deane-Is death from apoplexy much the sime, [some] hether [whether] resulting from hard d inking or poison -The -the] ymptonis [symptoms] of apoplexy caused by drink are much the same as those produce by the effects of peis.n. [pies.n] spoke to him again about insurance. The deceased met him several times on the turnpike road, and represented that he owed his brother William 400, which he wished to secure to him on his own life, and that, as he had entirely altered his habits of life, he ought not to object to giving him a certificate for insurance. He further said in July, that he was become quite suber, [sober] and did not take more than three glasses of bitter beer a day, and could eat like a thrasher; and, considering that he was still recognised as his medical he examined him for insurance, and believing that he had become quite suber, [sober] he passel him as an insurable iife [life] netiay, [Venetian] however. that he hal had delirium tremens. [remains] His brother, William Palmer, also came to him respezting [respecting] the insurance of the Mr. De se-Would a man in, Wal er [Al er] Palmer's state of health be wore liable to the effects of narcotic poison than a person of soul constitution 4-1 thins he would. fr. Deane-W ouid [oud] not the couditien [conditioned] of the bo ly disarm suspicion is a di-veult [di-vault] question to answer off hand. I have known cases in waich [which] men have died from. poison who were very extensively diseased, and the disease might account for deat [dear] although there was pois [pots] su present. Mr, Deane-Could poison by morphia or prissic [prussic] acid have left any t-ace of its presenze [present] afte [after five months could not trace a suificieney [sufficient] to cxuse [cause] death, supposing nu more than a fatal dese [dee] were given. Mr, S aith-Taking [S with-Taking] the c'reamstauces [c'Remittances] deseribel [desirable] by Mr. and Mrs, Walke [Walker] lev [le] and the other as being proved, and that nothing was put in his mouth for au hour before death, what in your opinivn [opinion] was the cause of Apoplexy, Witness adde. [add] that it was not a fact that discase [disease] in the body proved that the person died of the disease. Mr. Smith-Wichout [Smith-Without] induling [inducing] in speculative conjec- [conjecture- conjectures] tures, [Tues] what, I repeat, is your opinion of the cause of death Do you say apoplexy -I do, certainly. Mr. Smith-Then I ask the solicitor fur the crown whether he intends to proceed with this ease further Mr. Deane-I do, most certainly. Ihave [Have] most important evidence yet to bring furward. [forward] Dr. Taylor-You will distinctly understand me that I speak on the supposition that every word that the witness Walkeden [Walked] bas said is correct, and that nothing was given to him for an hour before his death. Of course if anything else should appear hereafter to the coutrary [country] it would alter my opinion. he court adjourned at half-past seven o'clock, to Tuesday morning. TUESDAY. ADJOURNED INQUEST ON MR. WALTER PALMER. The adjourned inquest on the body of Mr, Walter Pal- [Palmer] mer [Mr] was resumed on Tuesday morning, at the Town-hall, Rageley. [Wrigley] . Mr. Robert Hughes, surgeon, of Stafford, stated that on the 2ud [2nd] December, 1854, he examined Walter Palmer, whom he then saw for the first time. aud [and] who was intro- [introduced] dneed [need] to him by Mr. Wm. Palmer, for the purpose of an insurance being effected on his life in the Solicitors' and General Life Assurance Office. He gare [are] a cert'ficate [cert'fact] to the effect that he was generally healthy, but at the same time gave some caution in convection with the habits of tke [te] proposer. Tbe [The] proposal was for an itsurance [insurance] of 13,000, which the oSice [oses] declined. 'The [the] Coroner-What, in your opinion, was the cause of death from the evideuce [evidence] you have heard 2-My opinion, formed before Dr. Taylor gave his, is ex ctly [ex costly] in conformity with it. He was poisoned by gin. The word iutox- [autos- outcast] icate [act means to poison, By Mr. Smith-When I say he was poisoned by gin, I mean that a continuation of the excessive of gin, deposed to yesterlay, [yesterday] woud [would] destroy life. Ji is a proper use of words to say, poisoned by gin. I never saw a person poisoned by morphia or prussic acid. I am not prepared to say that prussi [press acil [ail] might not produce ster- [ste- stertorous] torous [porous] breathing, but I do not think it By the Coroner-The [Coroner-the] effect of prussie [Prussia] acid is to paralyze [paralysed] the nervous system and to stop every other function. By Mr. Smith-In cases'where the nervous functions are paralyzed [paralysed] by other canses, [cases] such as severe shocks or concussion of the brain, the respiratory functions are the last to cease their actiun, [action] and stertorous breathing might ensue. I have heard nothing to induce me to alter the opinion that Walter Palmer died of excessive gin-diinking [gin-drinking] A Juryman-How long would a man last who drauk [Drake] four pints of gin in the day The the] stomachs of different persons vary. One man may bring himself by degrees to consume opium until be could eat enough to poison half a-dozen people at once; and so with intemperance. A man may bring himself by degrees to swallow great quantities of ardent spirits, which would kill another not accustomed to such libations, By the Coruuer-Delirium [Courier-Delirium] tremens [remains] would certainly kill by attacking the brain, the centre of the nervous system. I never saw a person who had died of delirium trinens. [trains] I think apoplexy a probable sequence to excessive intem- [item- temperance] perauce. [price] I never knew an instance of delirium tremens [remains] followingapoplexy. [following apoplexy] Mr David King Monckton, [Monotony] a physician residing at Rugeley, said-i made a post mortem exaiwination [examination] of the body shown to me as that of the late Walter Palmer. It was shown to me by Mr. Bergen, the chief constable of Lichfield, on Friday, the 21st of December. The corpse was that of a man of middlestatuve, [Middlestown] broad built, and very cousideraole [considerable] corpulence. I had never, to my knowledge, seen the body when alive. When I saw it decomposition had commenced, and had 'proceeded to some extent, especially about the head and neck of the posterior-that is the most dependent part of the surface of the body. The exterior presented no signs of outward violence. 'There was no dropsical of the surface, except that of the head and face, which was clearly the result of putre- [pure- putrefaction] faction or decomposition. The body had been well nourished, much fat being found inall [all] those parts in which itis [its] usually deposited. The blvod [blood] had almost entirely souked [soaked] out of the corpse. The brain was totally dis- [dismissed] orgimised [organised] by decomposition, so that I could form no opinion ot its state at the time of death. At one or two points the lungs were adherent to the walls of the chest. This is by no means an unusual appearance, although certainly a diseased one, but is, in fact, a very common con- [condition] dition [edition] of the budy [busy] of adults. 'The [the] lunzs [lungs] were so.newhat [so.somewhat] decomposed, but not to such au extent as to prevent any evidence of disease vf an organic nature, had such existed during life. The live- [livewassomewhat] wassomewhat [was somewhat] larger and harder than usual, but showed no other external evidence of disease. 'I'he kidneys were rather sof er [of er] than ordinary, but I am not pre- [prepared] pared tosay [toss] whether this was te 1esult [result] of putrefaction or of disease. The external appearance of beth [bath] was healthy, and vn meking [making] the dissection of one it did not present an un- [unhealthy] healthy appea ance. [appear once] The other was not exa mined [ex mined] by mez, [me] because it had been placed with the other viscera in one of the jars to be traus itted [trays fitted] for analysis to London. The whole length of the alimentary canal, including the mouth, throat, gullet, and intestines, was carefully examined, with the exception of those parts which were enclosed in jars, and tbroughout [throughout] its whole extent the tube exhibited no evidence of disease. The only thing remarkable was the unusually empty state of the stomach and bowels, there being only a very small portiun [portion] of food or excrement to be seen, and that was in the commencement of the large intestine Near the entrance of the windpipe, far back in the throat, a rather unusual appearance presented itself, and, as such, I ought to mention it. It was a white, oval, prominent substance, abvut [about] the size ofa [of] filbert. I believe it was an enlarged gland, and wholly unconnected with the death of the deceased. So 1ar, [ar] therefore, as the condition of the body allowed me to form an opinion, I found no organic disease-no chan of structure sufficien [sufficient to ace unt [nut] for death. The stumach [stomach] and duodenum, portions of the large and small intestines, one kidney and a portion of the larynx and pharynx. the liver, spleen, heart, and part of the lungs, were enlosed [enclosed] in three glazed earthenware jars, d ily [il] labelled and secured, and delivered by me intv [into] the hands of Inspecter [Inspector] Ellis Crisp on Saturday evening, the 22nd of December, 1855. The Coroner-You made the post mortem examination, and I believe you have heard the previous evidence yiven [given] on this inquest. What, in your opinion, is the cause of death -In the absence of any other cause vecurring [securing] within a short time of death, to pruduce [produce] the symptoms have heard described by the witnesses, I can form no other opinion than that the deceased died in a tit of apoplexy. The Curoner-Brouzht [Coroner-Brought] on by what means -'I'be habits of the deceased, as given in evidence, woul. [would. be sufficient, a my mind, to account for such a fatal termination of e. Mr. Deane-Were the symptoms described incompatible with death by prussic acid -No, certainly not. By Mr. Smith-The [Smith-the] adhesion of the lungs of which I spoke was very slight, only by two pvints, [pints] and more by strings of adhesion than by the surface. The heart was perfectly empty. Mr. Smith-Was not that perfectly inconsistent with death by prussic acid -Certainly not. All the blood was draiued [drained] out of the body. Mr. Smith-I believe the truth was that the heart col- [collapsed] lapsed Yes. Witness continued to say, in answer to Mr. Smith,-The [Smith,-the] kidneys were softer than usual, but cannot say whether this was from disease or from natural causes after death. There was noappearanuce [appearance] of disease on tiie [tie] surface. The kidney is the last part from which the blood is drained. I believe there was more congestion than I should have found if I had examined the budy [busy] a few hours alter There was no conzestion [constitution] besides that which considered attributable to pust [post] mortem changes. The liver was iarger [larger] and firmer than usual, but I did not consider that a dis- [diseased] eased state. I found nothing unnatural in the cclvur [clever] of the external surtace [surface] of the liver. By the Coroner.-Prussic acid has decidedly a s nell after being taken into the system. That would not be perceived by parties laying out the body unless the body were opened. t could not be exhaled from the sur- [Sir- surface] tace. [ace] Immediately atter, [utter] or immediately p eceding [p ceding] death, the smell might have been perceived, but bving [being] very volatile it soon passes away. A medical man would be unable to detect it if it was the only smell. By a Juryman.-If it were mixed with brandy the brandy would completely overpower it. By the Coroner.-There was no serum ip the brain ; even that had soaked away. By Mr. Smith.-I never saw a death by prussic acid, but I remember being at the opening of a person poisoned by russic [Russia] acid. Aiter [After] a person who had taken prussic acid tad boon dead three months there would certainly be no smell of it. I never saw the pust [post] mortem examination of a person who had died from delirium tremens. [remains] . By a Juryman.-There was no smell of prussic acid when I performed the post mortem examination of the deceased, There were other very powerful smells to con- [con] a hares 1 Rugely, [Wrigley] said,-I lis [is] Cri [Ci] inspector ot ice at Rugely, [Wrigley] said,- [said] received hres [hares] earthenware gitsed [gifted] jars from Dr. Monckton [Monotony] on the 22d of December last, which I delivered to Dr. Taylor at Guy's Hospital on the 24th of December. Tuey [They] were marked and labelled Walter Palmer, Nos. 1, 2, 3. The post mortem examination of the body ot Walter Paimer [Palmer] was made in my presence, and knew it to be the body of Walter Palmer. Mr. Cornelius Waddell, [Wardell] surgeon, of Stafford, stated that he was called in to attend the deceased Walter Palmer, in November, 1854, when be was suffering from an attack of delirium tremens [remains] and functional disorder of the diestive [digestive] organs. His pulse at that time was searcely [scarcely] even dis- [disturbed] turbed, [turned] as his constitution exhibited t powers of res- [restoration] toration. [oration] 'Nhe [He] attack of delirium tremens [remains] subsided in the course of three or four days, and at the end of six wecks [weeks] he left him in good health. During his attendance upon the deceased, he showed a great inclination to be intem- [item- intemperate] perate, [Peate] but he was prevented from indulging in it by the person with whom he lived. In December, 1854, witness examined his life for insurance, but conld [cold] not then report favourably. Iu April and July, 1855, Mr. William decerisel, [desires] and iuterfered [interfered] most strangely in susgesting [suggesting] auswers [answers] tu some of the enquiries necessiury [necessary] for the proposal sent upinJuly. [openly] H- was not aware at that tim that Me. Diy [Day] was ateiding [attending] the or be shonid [shandy] not hive giveu [give] the certificate. Mr Waldell [Walden] was examined at con- [considerable] siderabie [steerage] lenzth [length] with reference to his reasons for vivian [Vivian] y the certifie [certified] wes, [West] aligging [alleging] thit [that] ip was purely trem [term] the represen [represent] tations [stations] nrele [needle] by Walter Palmer. and the supposition that at th time he was his acknewl-dged [acne-aged] medical artend [attend] yt, had imlucsel [impulse] hom [home] t do so3 [so] and in answar [answer] to 2 he said that Water Pa'mer [Pa'Mr] did not tell him at the iis [is] he filled up the cevtitivate, [certified] that be was insured in another office for 13,000. Mrs. Parkes landiady [landed] of tie Fountain finn, Wolverhamp- [Wolverhampton- Wolverhampton] ton, and Mrs. Astle, [Castle] her mother, proved that on 'Tuesday, the seconl [second] day of the races, Writer Palmer ealied [lied] at the Fountain, in company with Walkeden, [Walked] first in the morn- [morning] ing a id next inthe [another] On the litter oveasion [occasion] Walter Palmer appeared sick, and Walkeden [Walked] took him out into the yard. George Whyman, a young man ahont [ont] 25, was next ealle-l [eagle-l] by Mr. Deme. [Dene] He said-I live as Woiverhampton, [Wolverhampton] and am a chiimist's [chemist's] assistant. in the em)-loyment [em)-employment] of Manler, [Manner] Weaver, and Co. I knew Mr. William Palmer. 'Oa a Tuesday in Auvust [August] last he catue [statue] to ours'iopand [ours'opened] purchased loz. [lo] of powdered jalap. [clap] Loz. [Lo] of hydyvoeyanie [hydrogen] or prussic acid, and another article, the name of which cannot remember. I do not know that that was the Tuesday in Wolverbamp- [Wolverhampton- Wolverhampton] ton race week. we had Mr. William Palmer's name in our books previously to that time. He said, when he came, that he was a customer of the house, and on that assurance sold him the prussie [Prussia] acid, which I would not otherwise have dune. I knew him by sight previously to that, but not to speak to. I had met him in London once before. When hz bouzht [bought] the prussic acid he described himself as Mr. William Palmer, of Rugeley, surgeon. By Mr. Smith-I know it was the month of Auzust [August] when he came to the shop on that occasion, because we Were executing some town orders when he called, which makes me remember his visit. The articles he bouzht [bought] came to ls, 9d. 'They were not entered in any book. The orders we were executing when he called would be entered in a book. I have never that boek [book] with the view to fix the date. It never occurred to me to dose. cannot say which Tuesday in August it was when he called. I was net told in the coroner's summons to bring the book with me. I was told to be at the railway station in half- [half] an-hour, and that was ali the netice [notice] L had. Lf the book was by me now couid [could] tell the day on which I sold the prussie [Prussia] acid to Mr. William Palmer. was sunimone [Simon to come to the inquest immediately, and I had just time to go to ny lodgings and chanze [chance] iny [in] dress. Mr. Palmer paid ICd. [Id] for the prussic acid, and 4d. for the powdered jalap. [clap] Le had another article, the price of which was but I cannot remember what it was. The three articles alto- [altogether] gether [ether] came to 1s. 9d. By a Juryman-lf sold the prussice [prices] acid ty Mr. Paliner [Plain] without consulting any of the partness [partners] in the firm. Lhave [Have] sold it frequently to medical men in that way. By Mr. Dean-It was in 1852, at the Pouch Tavern, in Fleet-street, that 1 had previousiy [previous] met Mr. Wiliam Paliner [Plain] in London, I don't recollect selling anybody prussic acid but that once in the month of Auszust [August] but in the end of June, or the beginning uf [of] July, L sold two ounces to one party, three ounces to another, and one ounce to another. One vf the persons to whom sold it was a surgeon in the town, and another livedat [lived at] Daslaston. [Darlaston] L remember teiliny [telling] Mr. Devereux, of the Pack-horse Lun, [Lung] in Wolverbampt.n, [Wolverhampton.n] in general couversation, [conversation] that I had solhi [sol hi] Mr. Wm, Palmer prussic acid, That was about two months ago, and after had been reading in the newspapers about the difficulty Mr. Palmer had got. 1 mentioned the circum- [circus- circumstance] stance also to Mr. Weaver, one of the partuers. [parties] Mr Smith sat down, remarking that if a man's life was to be sworn away on such evidence as that, none of them were safe. By the Coroner-I gave him the prussie [Prussia] acid made up in a blue bottle, labelled in large letters, Hydrocyanic [Hairdressing] Acid --Scheele's [Scale's] strenyth, [strength, and with the dose marked upon it. At this point two letters were tendered in evidence by Mr. Deane, of which the following are copies. The first is atidressed [addressed] to Mrs. Palmer, the widow of Mr. Walter Palmer, by Mr. William Palmer - Rugeley, Sept., 27, 1855. Dear Agnes-I hope the chanye [chance] of air and seenery [scenery] has by this time done you good, and that you are more quiet and reconciled than when I communicated to you the pain- [painful] ful, [full] the sorrowful news of the death of poor dear Walter. Ah, peor [per] fellow Loften [Often] think of him, and only wish could bave [ave] done more for him than did while he was alive; and assure you did a very, very great deal for him -perhaps a great deal more than you are aware of. T know not whether Walter told you that L had advanced him on the drawing rcom [room] furniture 85. Of course was aware that some of it belonged to you, but he, poor fellow, tuld [told] me that you would repay me the money, which I teel [tee] sure you will after have told you; and L shall have much pleasure in sending it to your orders, 'There was, also, one other item you must, it you please, assist me to- [tov] viz., 40 tor a biil [bill] which you Kuew [Knew] well of the circumstance, and I must be excused going into particulars. 'This amount I should not ask you for, but Walter said, if I would only take up the bill you would repay me, and I feel sure you will, acter [after] all the money have before paid. bavereceived [received] bills amounting to 200, which I suppose must be paid by some one. What say you to this You cannot fur one single moment think but that I vught [ought] to have assistance frum [from] some one, and I crave yours, because I feel certain poor Walter must have told you how very, very often, and on very many cccasiuns, [occasions] I bad stwod [stood] his friend, and believe Land his dear mother (exeevt [exert] yourself) were the only friends he halon earth. only wish his career througa [through] life hal been a different one. He might have been alive, but, pvor [poor] fellow, he is dead and buried, and I hope and trust he is gone to Heaven, With kind regards. Yuurs [Years] ever truly, WILLIAM PALMER. Mrs. Walter Palmer, E.lith [E.with] Lodge, Great Malvern. Mrs. Palmer replied as follows - Kidith [Keith] Lodge, Great Malvern, Sept. 28, 1355. ' Dear William,-I have just received your note, must say I am much surprised at its contents. What right had you to lend your money supposing that would repay it, without consulting me on the subject Poor explanation to me, over and over again, was that you had insured his life for, I think he said, 1,000, and that you had promised to advance him 500 of the money, but that yon had put him off trom [from] time to time, and were just giving him a few pounds now and then to go on with until you could fiud [find] means to pay him the whole. Now, if that is true, aud [and] Tam much disposed to believe it, you are the prvper [proper] person to pay all that he owes; but if you make that out to be incorrect-and I have no way, ain [in] very sorry to say, of proving it-I still should not consider that Iam [I am] the person to be looked to to pry his debts, never having received a farthing from him, or been kept by him in the whole course of onr [one] married life. I should not think your mother ean [an] be aware that yon are applying to me for payfnent [payment] of her son's debts, and 1 wiil [will] not have it tora [tor] moment supposed that I am the responsible person. In conclusion I beg of you to remember and beware how you belie the dead. 'Tam, truly yours, A. A, PALMER, Mr. Willian Palmer, Rugeley, Staffordshire. Mrs. Walter Palmer, the wife of the deceased, was next sworn; but the legal ventlemen [gentlemen] on either side having male an arrangement to receive her depositions generally as evidence, she was allowed to withiraw [withdraw] Her deposition was to the tollowiny [following] effect -I reside at 92, Chatham-strect, [Chatham-street] Liverpool. On the 4th of Auynst [August] last, Mr. W.dlter [W.alter] came to Liverpool and stayed with ine [in] until the evening of the Sth, [St] when he returned to Stafford. During th.t time he was constantly with me, and appeared much better than seen him before for some time. He did not take any intoxicating lignids [kinds] whilst with me, but a glas [gas or two of bitter beer duriug [during] dinner. Whilst he stopped with me he greatly improved in health. His cough wis much better, and he had been talking serieus y [series y] about his taking the pledge, which he had almost promised todo. [too] My husbanil [husband] hal always been in the habit of writing to me, about twice a weck, [week] but there were periods when he dil [lid] not send so viten. [invite] After his return to Stafford, I received a letter from him, dated August 10, 1855; it was to the effect that he had arrived safely at Stafford, that he foun [found] his mother unwell, and that he should probably visit. Liverpool again on the 27th of that month. answered the letter immediately, but never heard bim [bi] again. Un the 18th August Mr. William Palmer came to me at Liverpool, and informed me of my husband's death on the preceding day. asked him why he he hal hot written to me or telegraphed for me, and he replied that Walter said he would write L wished to go to Statford [Stafford] insmediately, [immediately] to see my husband before he was buried, but William Palmer said he had been obliged to cluse [close] the coffin. He added that he had troken [broken] a blood vessel, two hours before death, and had had a fitof [fit of] apoplexy and was not fit to beseen. [been] (Letters were here put in-the first from William Palmer to the witness, statins that be bad paid money for her late busband, [husband] which he shouid [should] wish her to repay and the second, the reply from the witness to William Palmer, repudiating the claim, statiny [stating] that she had been informed by ber [be] late husband that 500 was due from bim [bi] on an insurance policy.) I separated from him seven years ago, in consequence of bis intemperate hahits, [habits] and on one occusion [occasion] had not seen him fur two years whilst at the Isle of Man. . A man named Megait, [Meat] boots at the Junction Inn, Staf. [Staff] ford (a few yards from Walter honse), [house] sta that on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, Mr. Willi [Will] a Palmer was in the yard of the inn, and ina stable he s a him mixing some medicines, by pouring them out of one bottle inte [inter] another. One of the bottles was a small phia [Phil] of abuut [about] an ounce. Mr. Palmer cautioned him not to tak. [take] auy [any] of the contents of the bottles (two of which he lef, [le] his because he told him it was poison. H thought Mr. Palmer was joking. After the death o Walter Palmer, and on the same day, be twok [two] two meg sa.zes [sa.zs] to the telegraph office, one to Mr. Beckett, in to put 50 on a horse, and the other to Mr. Frail vf Shrewsbury, to let him know what had won at Ludlow Thomas Lloyd, landlord o that on the Thursday (the went iuto [into] the stable, and saw f the Junction Inn, stated lay Walter Palmer died) he fr. Ne William Pal ixi [ix] He spoke to him, and Mr. Williatn [Willing] er sai [said] was mixiug [mixing] up sumethi [Smith] . ' or w alter, as Lis [Is] 'weses [wees] ve nethiny [nothing] stimulative for dary [day] of r Willixm [William] Palmer was put in, which showed that he atten led [attend led] his brother Walter from the 9th to the day of his death. scarcely Missing a day. porting matters were curiously mixed up with attendance on asick [sick] bed. Mr, Jeremiah Smith, solicitor, of Rugeley, stated that he recollected going to Ludlow races on the 16th Angust [August] last, at the reynest [Ernest] of Mr. William Palmer, who hada [had] mare running there. named Lurley. [Burley] Mr. William Pidmer [Spider] wished him to go with Saundars, [Saunders] the trainer, and he was to telegraph fron [from Shrewsbury about the entry of suorhes [sores] horse. The [the] telegraph message was to be sent to Staffor [Stafford] Walter Palmer's death; and the following extract from William Palmer's diary shows that he was there on that day -' Wednesday, August 16. Paid Fortescue [Fortes cue] for a barrel of beer, Went to see Walter, who was very ill. Walter Palmer died at balf-past [bale-past] two p.m. Mr. John Hornby, the actuary of the Prince of Wales Life Assurance Office, produced a proposal from Mr. Walter Paliner [Plain] tor au insurance ob is lifo [life] for 15,009, dated Jan. 13, 1333, and which was on the 3lst [last] of that month. The insurauce [insurance] money, however, bas not been paid under the pecliev. [peculiar] Mr. Deane called for the production of a letter from Mr, Prate, selicitor, [solicitor] of Londen, [London] by whom the vitive [motive] was apprise of the deith [death] of Walter Palmer.-r. Sinith [Smith] objected to the letter being react; aml [am] a clis- [cis- discussion] cussicn [cousin] upou [upon] tue point, it transpired that the letter was a notive [notice] to the otfice [office] from Mr. Pratt, who acted on beludf [belief] of William Palmer. co tle [te policy for 13,000 had been assizie [assizes] tl by Water Palmor, [Palmer] sud [sid] which hit been further assigned by William Palmer to Mr. Pratt, who, in his letier, [letter] said. poliey [policy] is in my pessess.on, [possess.on] as you are aware.'-The [aware.'-the] Coroner deehie [Delhi] lt that th iviter [invite] was not evwlence [evidence] avainst [against] Wildam [William] Palmer, as his mine did sot appear ou the fa-e of che policy, andl [and] che lecter [letter] was. there- [therefore] 'ore mot real. Mr. Varo Cawsten, [Caste] elerk [clerk] to the Un'versinvy [Un'inverse] Life Offiee. [Office] proluced [produced] a te that office by Palover, [Plover] dated Aprli [April] 2, for an insurance on his life for 13,000 or eifouus [ifs and Mr. Kdwie [Wield] James Farrou, [Farrow] actoary [factory] and suctetary [secretary] to the Gresham Lie Ouice. [Ounce] produced 'al proposal forassurnsee [Foresters] ow the dite [site] of Walter Palmer, datel [date] loth Jaly. [July] 1855, for 15,000, 'The [the] latter proposal was accepted ow the condition thac [that] Walrer [Walker] Palmer sheuld [should] live five ycars [years] fiom [from] that period, tut he did hot survive it rive weeks, -Mr, Smith obie [obi] sted [ste] that, as there was nuthing [nothing] on the face of the proposals to connect William Valmer [Valuer] with them it was statel [state] by Mr. Parren [Warren] chat Wm. dil [lid] call at the office respecting it), that they were not evidence ant the coroner concurring in that view, they were not put in, Neither of the proposals were accepted.- [accepted] Mr. Deane sail he had twe [we] other gentlemen connected with other offices to prove that proposals lid been made te them to insure the life of Walter baliner [Blaine] for large sitms, [Sims] but after the decisious [decision] of the coroner he should not cail [ail] them.- lt appeared that the whole amount endeavoured to be obtained by assurance on the life of Walter Palmer was 85,000, of which sum only 13,000 was effected. -This was all the evideuce [evidence] Mr. Deane had to produce. After a short adjournment, and when the coroner was about to sum up the evidence, the toreimun [foreman] of the jury intimated that the jury wished to consult on one or two peints, [prints] and they returned tu au adjoining room On their return the foreinan [foreign] said they were not satistiel [distil] with the case as it at present stood, and they wished an adjourn- [adjourn] ment, [men] in order that further evidence might be produced ; aud [and] amongst others, they wished to have Professor 'Taylor and Mr. Day, surgeon, recalled, and they also wished to have Mr. Pratt, of Loudon, examined.-The [examined.-the] Coroner said that in a ease like that, affecting life and death, it was hizhly [highly] nevessary [necessary] that they should be tully sietistied [satisfied] in their owu [ow] tolods [tools] befure [before] coming to conclusion, and he would therefore adjuurn [adjourn] the enquiry until Wednesday the 2érd. [ed] The Coroner subsequently his warrauts [warrants] for the attendance ot Mr. Pratt, &c. ASSASSINATION OF LONDON SOLI- [SOIL- SOLICITOR] CITOR [CITY] BY HIS Abont [About] half-past ten o'cl ck on Wednesday morning the inhabitants of Bedtord-row, [Bedford-row] Elelboru, [Selborne] were thrown into a state of alarm, by the mimour [rumour] that Mr. Georse [George] Wangh, [Wan] seu., [se] solicitor, of No. 5, Great James-stiect, [James-strict] Bedford row, had been murdered by a client whilst entering his uffive [five] for business. 'The [the] particulars, as nearly as can be a-ver- [a-Rev- entertained] tained, [gained] are as follows ;- For some time past Mr. Wangh [Wan] has been concerned for a man named Westron, [Western] residing at 23, Newtand-strect, [Newton-street] Kensington, in the matter of some property. Some unplersantness [unpleasantness] has lately arisen, and on Wernesday [Wednesday] morning, about half-pass ten o'clock, Westren [Western] met Mr, Waugh a few doors from his own house, and presenting a pistol at his breast, shot bim [bi] dead on the spot, the ball entering the body near the heart. As svon [son] as the report was heard, the deceased was seen to stagger and fall. Mr. Abrahams, of 51, Be ltord [Be Lord] row, saw the occurrence, and rushed out of his office Im [In] company with several other persons, when the murderer was imme [Mme] liately [lately] secured, He bad in hes breast pocket anvther [another] pistol, which was also capped aud [and] lvaded, [evaded] and on full cock. Hutchinson, the streel [street] keeper, was very. close tu the prisoner when the shot was fired, and immé jgtely [Mme justly] seized him. Mr. Wangh [Wan] was conveyed into his and medical assistance sent for with all haste. eral [Earl] surveons [surgeons] soon arrived, but the poor gentleman tired. A number of persons soon collected, and Fig on burried [buried] off with his prisoner to Judd-street poli [pole] The assassin i sizeal [size] man, about five feet three or four inches high, backed, and otherwise detormed. [deformed] He was dressed in a dark brown cont, and appears to be a person in easy cirenmstances. [circumstances] He did not seem, after tiriug [tiring] the shot, to mike the least avtempt [attempt] to yet away. A large concourse of persons followed him up to the police station, whilst crowds flocked to the scene of the murder, Upon arriving at the statiow [station] he was put in the duck, and Acting Inspector tlays [lays] asked him his name. He answered, ' Charies [Charles] Broudfoot [Bradford] Westron, [Western, his age 25, and that he resided at 23, Newland-street, Kensington. He said he was of no occupation, and lived upoo [upon] ins means, but had been a clerk about two years ago The charge of murdering Mr. Wangh, [Wan] by shooting him with a pistol, was then entered ayuinst [against] him. Several persons came into the station to identify him, and one genticiman [gentleman] said that he had seen him watching Mr. Wauzh's [Was's] door the whole of the morning. After tiring the pistel, [piste] he turew [true] it on the ground. 'The [the] pistols, with one of which Westron [Western] committed the murder, ave a pair of old-fashioned brass-barrelled pistols, the percussiun [percussion] 'ock [ok] having been apparently attached since they were made. 'The [the] stocks are rounded, and ure [re] inlaid with a kind of ornamental brass stud work. They are of a large pocket size, apparentiy [apparently] of foreign menufacture. [manufacturer] When at the police 'station, Judd-street, Brunswick Square, the prisover [prisoner] seeing Acting-inspector Hayes band- [banding] ling the pistol that was taken from his breast coat pocket, called out swidenly [suddenly] and with some anxicty, [anxiety] to mind what he was doing with it, as it was capped and loaded. It appears that on account of former differences between Westron [Western] aud [and] the he was Lound over to keep the peace and it was stated to the reporter that the recog- [recon- recognisances] nisinees [sines] are in force. l'be prisoner was brought up at the police court at two o'clock, and was placed at the bar before Mr. Tyrwhitt, [Trinity] charged with the wilful murder of Mr. George Waugh, a solicitor residing at No. 5, Great James-street, Bedford- [Bradford] row. The first witness examined was Mr. Lewis Charles Pecker residing at 9, Harringtun-street, [Harrington-street] Hamstead-road, who stated, that at about half-past ten thit [that] morning he was proceeding down Belford-row, behind Mr. Waugh, and when near Haud [Had] Court he saw the prisoner run across the road and shoot the deceased, who fell down, and expired atonee. [atone] 'The [the] prisoner never said a word, but threw the pistol down, ant gave himself up. Mr. Jobn [John] Abratams [Abrahams] stated that he was managing clerk to Mr. Atkinsun, [Atkinson] of 51, Bediorl [Bodily] row. Tiiis [Ties] moining, [morning] about 25 winutes [minutes] past ten, he pulled down his office window for the purpose of looking out, when he saw the prisoner at the bar walk towards the deceased, Mr, Wangh, [Wan] and im- [in- immediately] meiliately [military] afterwards he heard the report of a pistol. He immediately ran down stairs, aud [and] captured the prisoner at the opposite corner of Bedford Court. 'The [the] space from his office was about 30 yards. Mr. (the elder) who is about 56 years of age, was crossing the road at the time. When prisoner was seized he said, has ruined me, and now I have ruined him. Mr. Gibson, physician to the London Hospital, 32, Great James-street, said he was called to see Mr. Waugh, who had been shot. He examined the body, and found a perforated wound in the chest, below the fourth rib near the breast-bone. The ball hud [HUD] taken a downward direction throuyh [through] the substance of the heart. ; Thomas Hutchins, street keeper, of Bedford-row, sick this morning, just before hait-past [hair-past] ten, he was walking along by No 1, Bedford-row, aud [and] heard the report of fire- [firearms] arus. [ares] He looked at that direction, and saw Mr. Waugh fall on the ground. fie ran 1), and prisoner said Ile ruined me, and Tam the ruin of him. Witness saw a pistol, and asked him if he had any wore fire-arms. He said, 'No, that is all, and witness then took him into custody. While going to the station he said be wanted some of his moncy, [money] as it was his intention to have gone abroad, and repeated that Mr, Wauyzh [Was] had Leen [Lee] the ruin of In Bruuswick-square [Brunswick-square] he pulled a lage [age] knife out of his breast pocket. tle [te] gave itp [it] tome, Richard VBeekenham, [Birmingham] of 18, Lineoin's [Line's] Inn Fields, a porter, said he was passing by Hand Court, Bed- [Bedford] ford Row, and saw the prisoner, who was standing on the other side of the way in Bedford Row, deliberately take aim aud [and] fire at Mr. Waugh, who stiypered [Stoppered] and tell. As he was in the act of lalling, [calling] Mr. Wangi [Wang] said, Hold him, and. by that time L had my hand cn the prisoner's shoulder. Prisoner said, I did it. He rutued [rated] me. I have not a friend in the world. James Hoimes, [Homes] of Chapel-street, Pentonville, stated circumstances similar to those to by the othe [the] Witi.esses. [With.eases] Inspector Checkley said he eomyeyed [obeyed] the prisoner to the court ov his way to which he made a He said, If it hat nov [not] been for the deceased should have been in pussessivn [possessing] of 800. Now I shall only have 400 ; God knows wheu [when] that will be, four he has thrown it into Chancery. Police constable Hayes sail that whea [when] the prisoner came to the station, he said that Mr. Waugh had brought it all upon himself, that he had cheated him ont of an estate, - some acres of land, He also said that Mr, Waugh was a relation of his, having martied [married] into his family, and now be (prisoner) was satisfied. Prisoner gave up memorandum book containing the half of a 10 note, and the half of a 5 hote, [Hotel] small perte-moniaie [Peter-Minnie] containing 1 10s in gold, lw shillings in silver, ane [an] some halfpence, and the key of a box, which he said contained some papers relatiug [relating] to his affairs, After some further evidence, the prisoner was committed for trial. The prisoner, who manifested the utmost indifference throughout, declined to ask any questions of either of the witnesses,-G ube. [witnesses,-G be] 1 THe [The] BEACON FiRE [Fire] on MaLvenn [Malvern] Hitts.-Tbis [Hints.-This] fire was lighted ou 'lhursday [Thursday] night, but as an experiment was not so suceessfiul [successful] as had been hoped for. From accounts received frum [from] various points of vbservation [observation] it appears the ire was seenfat [seen fat] many distant elevated spots, while at others nearer it was nut observed, or unly [only] very . RopBeRY [Robbery] BY AN APPRENTICE,- [APPRENTICE] the Leeds Court House, on Monday, before Ralph Markland, [Maryland] Esq., a youth, namel [name] John Barran, was charged with stealin [stealing] six dozen electro-plated spoons, tive [tie] dozen electro- [electroplated] plated forks, and a metal drinking flask, the property of his employers, Messrs. Singleton and Teunant, [Tenant] ironmongers, &e., Briggate. The evidence clearly showed that the prisoner had pledged some of the spouns [spoons] at Messrs, Middleton's, pawnbrokers, and the rest he had sent, at different times, during the muntiis [mints] of October and Novem. [November] ber, [be] by his brother, a boy about ten years old, to pawn, at Mr. Hammund's [Hand's] shop, Cross Lisbon street, the prisoner remaining outside the shop while his brother pledged them. The Husk, it appeared, hehadsold, [Leasehold] The pro rty [try] had been- [Bernstein] stulen [stolen] from Messrs. Singleton and Tennant's show-room, where the prisoner, who was an apprentice in the tinner's [inner's] shop, ane [an] had been four years, wassometimesaent. [Westminster] When - taken into custody by detective-officer Bramley h admicted [h admitted] the charge. The vaiue [value] of the yoods [goods] stolen is about 15, The prisuner [prisoner] was committed for trial at thesessions. [the sessions]