An official copy was made of Palmer's diary for the year 1855 which was used in the trial.

A selection of interesting entries in Palmer's Private Diary for the Year 1855:
Taken from an official copy made for the purposes of the Crown and reproduced in the Illustrated Life and Career of William Palmer of Rugeley, published in 1856.

Monday 6th August: Went to Stafford to pay Willie's schooling. £12 18 shillings

Re: Eliza Tharme
Tuesday 26th June: Eliza confined of a little boy at 9 o'clock at night.
Tuesday 3rd July: Eliza came down stairs.
It is interesting that there is no mention of the death of Alfred, Eliza's son, on the 17th November 1855.

Re: Walter Palmer:
Friday 10th August: Went to see Walter who was taken ill. Paid Walter Palmer £7.
Saturday 11th August: Went to see Walter twice, and returned home at night by fly.
Tuesday 14th August: Went by Stafford to see Walter.
Wednesday 15th August: Went by Stafford to Wolverhampton, and returned by Stafford to see Walter, who was very ill.
Thursday 16th August: Went to see Walter, who was very ill. Walter Palmer died at half-past two, p.m.
Friday 17th August: Went to Liverpool to tell Agnes, Eliza and Joseph of Walter's death.
Monday 20th August: Went to Stafford to get Walter's certificate from Mr. Day.
Monday 27th August: Went to Stafford with George and Tom, to follow Walter to his grave at Rugeley.

Copied from the Life and Career of William Palmer of Rugeley, published in 1856 - A page from Palmer's diary from Monday November 19th to Sunday 25th November 1855. Shows Palmer going to London to pay the money-lender Pratt £700 on the Monday and he returned to Rugeley and sat up with Cook all night. On the Tuesday he attended Cook all day and was up with him all night. On Wednesday he recorded that 'Cook died at 1 o'clock this morning'. Friday Cook's friend and Jones came & I dined with them at Masters (I assume Cook's friend was Stevens, Cook's stepfather, Jones was Cook's friend and doctor and Masters was the landlord at the Talbot Arms). Saturday Mr. Stevens came at ½ p. 7. Sunday - Church Hamilton preached.