Cook, John Parsons, -1855; Palmer, William, 1824-1856 -- Trials, litigation, etc.; Trials (Murder) -- England -- London
said he felt pretty comfortable, and had slept well since twelve
o’clock. Upon the Sunday a large breakfast cup of broth was brought to
the Talbot Arms by Charles Hawley. I took some of it up to Mr. Cook’s
room in the same cup in which it was brought. I tasted about two
tablespoonfuls of the broth before I took it up. It was between twelve
and one, before my dinner, that I tasted this broth. About half an hour
afterwards it made me very sick, and I vomited violently all the
afternoon till about five o’clock. I was obliged to go to bed. Up to
that time I had been quite well. I had taken nothing that I am aware of
that had disagreed with me. In the evening and on the morning of the
Sunday I saw Mr. Cook several times. He appeared to be better during
that evening, and to be in good spirits. The last time I saw him on the
Sunday night might be about ten or a little after that. I saw him
between seven and eight on the Monday morning. I took him up a cup of
coffee. He did not vomit that. Palmer was there that morning about a
quarter or half-past seven. I saw him coming downstairs as though he had
been to see Mr. Cook. Mr. Cook got up at one o’clock on that Monday. He
appeared a great deal better, and he washed and dressed and shaved
himself. He said he felt exceedingly weak. On the Monday Ashmall, the
jockey, and Mr. Saunders, Cook’s trainer, visited him. As soon as Cook
got up at one o’clock I gave him some arrowroot, which he retained in
his stomach. I believe he had a cup of coffee about four or five. About
eight o’clock that night Miss Bond, the housekeeper, gave me a pillbox
to take upstairs to Mr. Cook’s room, which I did, and placed it on the
dressing-table. It was wrapped up in white paper. I do not know whether
the box contained pills or not. After I had placed the pillbox on Cook’s
dressing-table Palmer came, and went into Cook’s room. I saw him sitting
down by the fire between nine and ten. I retired to rest between ten and
eleven. About a quarter or ten minutes before twelve Lavinia Barnes, the
waitress, called me up. I heard a noise of violent screaming whilst I
was dressing. The screams came from Cook’s room. My room is on the
floor above Cook’s room. I heard the screams twice, and went down to
Cook’s room. As soon as I entered the room I found him sitting up in
bed. He desired me to fetch Mr. Palmer directly. I walked to his
bedside, and I found the pillow upon the floor. There was one mould
candle burning. I picked up the pillow and asked him would he lay down
his head. At that time he was sitting up and was beating the
bed-clothes, with both his arms and hands stretched out. He said, “I
cannot lie down. I shall suffocate if I do. Oh, fetch Mr. Palmer.” His
body, his hands, and neck were moving then--a sort of jumping or
jerking. His head was back. Sometimes he would throw back his head upon
the pillow, and then he would raise himself up again. This jumping and
jerking was all over his body. He appeared to have great difficulty in
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