By the Attorney-General—The jury made very strong observations as to the necessity for further questions.
Objection to statement of these observations allowed.
Anne Brooks
Mrs. Anne Brooks, examined by the Attorney-General—I live in Manchester, and am in the habit of attending race meetings. I was at Shrewsbury races in November, 1855. About eight o’clock in the evening of Wednesday, the 14th, I met Palmer in the street. I had some conversation with him as to horses that were running during that week at Shrewsbury. About half-past ten the same evening I went, along with some friends, to the Raven, where I knew Palmer was staying. I had been there frequently before. I left my friends downstairs and went upstairs to go to Palmer’s room, which I knew. As I approached Palmer’s room a servant called my attention to Palmer himself, who was standing at a small table in the passage. When I first saw him he had a glass tumbler in his hand, in which there appeared to be a small quantity of liquid like water. I did not see him put anything in the glass. I saw him shaking up the fluid that was in it. There was a light in the passage. It was nearer to me than to him. He held up the glass as if he were looking at the light through it. He then said to me, “I will be with you presently.” He noticed me the moment I got to the top of the stairs. After he made that remark to me he stood for a minute or two holding the glass in his hand up to the light once or twice and shaking it now and then. The only observation he made was about the fine weather we had. After this he carried the glass into a sitting room adjoining his own. The room, I imagined, was empty, as I heard no one speaking. He remained there two or three minutes, and came out with the glass still in his hand, and carried it into his own sitting room, shutting the door after him. Three or four minutes afterwards he came out to me, bringing me a glass—it might be the same one, it was very like it—with some brandy and water in it. I took the brandy and water, and it produced no unpleasant consequences in me. We had some conversation regarding the next day’s racing, and he said he should back his own horse “Chicken.” “Chicken” lost. Palmer never told me afterwards whether he had won or lost on the race.
Cross-examined by Mr. Serjeant Shee—I am a married woman, and am in the habit of attending race meetings, but my husband does not sanction my going when he knows about it. Several people were taken ill in Shrewsbury on the Wednesday. One of my company was dreadfully ill, and there was a wonder what could cause it; we made an observation. We thought the water might have been poisoned. We were all affected the same way by sickness.
Can you tell me in what way it affected persons?
By the Attorney-General—Any person you saw. Whom did you see yourself affected in that way?—There was a lady that came to meet me there; she was one; and there was another party in my company who was so ill that he could not go to the races on Thursday.
By Mr. Serjeant Shee—They were affected by sickness and purging.
You saw Palmer with the glass in his hand?—I did.
Anne Brooks