THE INQUEST 307 



of the contents of the stomach into the body. Palmer 

 was smiling at the time. The viscera with their contents 

 were placed in a jar, which was covered over with two 

 bladders that were tied and sealed. Palmer was moving 

 about the room, and presently the jar was missed from 

 where it had been placed. Dr. Harland called out, ' Where's 

 the jar ? ' and Palmer, from the other end of the room, 

 said, ' It is here ; I thought it would be more con- 

 venient for you to take away.' Dr. Harland, continuing 

 his evidence as to the post-mortem at the trial : ' I called 

 to Palmer, Will you bring it here ? ' I went from the 

 table, and met Palmer half-way coming with the jar. 

 Since I last saw it, it had been cut through both bladders. 

 The cut was hardly an inch long, done with a sharp instru- 

 ment. Palmer, Devonshire, and Newton said they had 

 not done it. The strings were then cut, the covering 

 altered, each corner re-tied, and re-sealed with Dr. Harland's 

 seal. During the post-mortem Palmer remarked to Dr. Bam- 

 ford, and also made the observation to other persons in a 

 loud voice ' They won't hang us yet.' The proof that Palmer 

 purchased strychnia on two separate occasions immediately 

 before the convulsive attacks of which Cook died, rested 

 on the evidence of two druggists' assistants at Rugeley. 

 On the day after Cook returned from Shrewsbury with 

 Palmer to the * Talbot ' at Rugeley, Cook dined with 

 Palmer. Early the next morning (Saturday) Palmer was 

 in his bedroom, and sent for a cup of coffee for him. Cook 

 vomited the coffee. Then the soup followed, and the 

 victim's drive to his death was accelerated as has been 

 recounted. Palmer made a second attempt on the jar 

 which contained the contents of the stomach. Myatt, the 

 postboy, said that Palmer offered him 10/. to upset Mr. 

 Stevens and his solicitor's clerk, who were to take the jar 

 to the Stafford Station en route to London. 



Whilst the analysis was being conducted in London, 

 the coroner opened an inquest at Rugeley. Palmer sent a 

 hamper of fish and game to Ward the coroner, writing the 

 direction himself, but not otherwise revealing from whom 

 they came. To Cheshire, the postmaster, with whom he had 

 long been on friendly terms, he on December 2 hinted the 

 importance of his knowing anything that might pass through 

 the post between Dr. Taylor (the analyst) and the local 

 solicitor. On the Wednesday following, he was told by 



