THE POISONER PALMER 5 



extensive local circle. Inasmuch as there will be no 

 further occasion to mention him, it may be remarked 

 in this place that some years after Porter had finally 

 left Rugeley, he was paying his annual visit to 

 the old people, when he had occasion to pass 

 Palmer's surgery gate. The doctor observed and 

 detained him, and, after a chat about Yellow Jack, 

 Coroner, Loup Garou, and other horses in which he 

 was interested, said ' he was sorry to hear that Cook 

 was dead,' and then invited Porter 'to join him at 

 lunch.' John declined the invitation, as he was 

 going for a ride. Thereupon Palmer asked him to 

 oblige him by taking a note to Saunders, his trainer, 

 to inform the latter of Cook's death ; which Porter 

 did. That day at the family dinner the death of 

 Cook was discussed, and John's father expressed 

 4 his belief that there was something wrong.' With 

 this anecdote, by the way, an extract from a letter 

 of Palmer's may be given showing to what desperate 

 extremities the poisoner was at that time driven for 

 want of money. He writes to a gentleman who was 

 well known to the Porter family as follows : ' Will 



you please go with the bearer to Mr. , and ask 



him to send me 5/. if he has it. If not, ask him to 

 please to borrow it. Tell him it is [words illegible] 

 of necessity, as you know. Tell him how I am 

 situated, and also that I will do as much for him in 

 return the first opportunity I have. I know he can 

 borrow it for me if he will. He shall have it back 

 as soon as I have money for you, which I hope will 

 not be longer than a week ; or else I am sure I must 



