Did you not see William Palmer write this upon the counterfoil of his cheque-book [cheque-book handed to witness]?—Witness, with hesitation: I cannot positively swear that I did.
Did you not, sir, see him write it?—That is William Palmer’s handwriting [referring to the cheque-book].
Did you not know that you got a five pound cheque for attesting that signature?—I may have got a cheque for £5, but I may not have got it for attesting the signature of the document.
You say you got £200 for Cook—£100 from Mrs. Palmer and £100 from William Palmer?—Yes, and he gave £10 for the recommendation.
To whom?—To William Palmer.
Do you not know that the £200 bill was given for the purpose of enabling William Palmer to make up a sum of £500?—I believe it was not, for Cook received absolutely from me £200.
Did he not have the money from you in order to take up to London to pay Pratt?—No, he took it with him, I think, to Shrewsbury, to the races.
Who was the bill drawn in favour of?—I think William Palmer.
What became of the bill?—I do not know.
Witness: I was not present at the inquest on Cook. I can’t say who saw me when I went to the Talbot Arms and went into Cook’s room. One of the servants gave me a candle—either Bond, Mills, or Lavinia Barnes.