“I have paid you this day £100. £75 you will pay for renewal of £1,500, due on the 9th of November, for one month, and £25 on account of the £2,000, due the 25th of October, making £1,325 paid on that account.”
I had received a cheque for £75 on Messrs. Weatherby, but they refused to pay it. On the 26th of November Palmer wrote to me:—
“(Strictly private and confidential.)
“My dear Sir,—Should any of Cook’s friends call upon you to know what money Cook ever had from you, pray don’t answer that question or any other about money matters until I have seen you.
“And oblige, yours faithfully,
“William Palmer.”
There was a bill of sale on Polestar and another horse of Cook’s, called Sirius. I did not know Cook. I never saw him. The bill of sale was executed at the beginning of September. The prisoner had transacted the loan. [The bill of sale was read.] On the 26th of August Palmer wrote to me on the subject:—
“Now, I want, and must have it from somewhere, £1,000 clear by next Saturday without fail, and you can raise it on the policy (viz. the policy for £13,000 on the life of W. Palmer) if you like, and it must be had at a much less rate of interest than I have hitherto had, because the security is so very good; and if you cannot manage it, you must let me have the policy, because you have plenty of security for your money.”
On the 30th of August he again wrote:—
“I have undertaken to get the enclosed bill cashed for Mr. Cook. You had the £200 bill of his. He is a very good and responsible man. Will you do it? I will put my name to the bill.”
In this letter was enclosed Cook’s acceptance for £500. On the 6th of September Palmer wrote:—