Re-examined by Mr. Serjeant Shee: I have known Mrs. Palmer twenty years. I knew her before her husband’s death. I should say she is sixty years of age. William Palmer is not her eldest son. Joseph is the eldest. He resides at Liverpool. He is forty-five or forty-six years of age. I think George is the next son. He lives at Rugeley. He was frequently at his mother’s house. There is another son, a clergyman of the Church of England. He resided with his mother until within the last two years, except when he was at college. There is a daughter. She lives with her mother. There are three servants. Mrs. Palmer’s family does not visit much in the neighbourhood of Rugeley. Her house is a large one. I slept in a room nearest the Old Church.
Mr. Serjeant Shee: Is there any pretence for saying you have ever been charged with any improper intimacy with Mrs. Palmer?—Witness: I hope not.
Mr. Serjeant Shee: Is there any pretence for saying so?—Witness: There ought not to be.
Mr. Serjeant Shee: Is there any truth in the statement or suggestion that you have had any improper intimacy with Mrs. Palmer?—Witness: They might have said so, but there is no reason.
Mr. Serjeant Shee: Is there any truth in the statement?—Witness: I should say not.
Mr. Serjeant Shee: When did it come to your knowledge that there was a proposal for Walter’s life?—Witness: I never heard of it until the inquest.
The Court then adjourned for about twenty minutes, when the proceedings were resumed.
W. Joseph Saunders was then called up on his subpœna, but did not appear.
The Attorney-General said he should be extremely sorry to commence his reply if there was any chance of witness making his appearance.
Mr. Serjeant Shee said he should now ask for the production of a letter written by Cook to Palmer on Jan. 4, 1855.