The Express.
London, England, 1864-11-14 00:00:00

HIS CONFESSION.

The execution of Franz Muller for the murder
of Mr. Briggs, under circumstances that have
attracted so extraordinary a share of public
attention, took place this morning at eight
o'clock, and, although the wretched murderer
down to almost the last moment of his existence
persisted in asserting that he was innocent, it will be
a great satisfaction to the public to know that at
the last moment of his existence he confessed his
guilt, and that no doubt now remains, if, indeed,
any previously existed, that Muller, an Muller
alone, was the murderer.

The evidence was considered most conclusive by
everyone who heard it, but there is no doubt that
the wretched man, actuated by an intense love of
life, determined in his own mind to assert that
he was innocent to the last moment, in the
hope that this might avail him. The knowledge
of the excitement that was occasioned in reference
to the case and the great exertions that had been
made to procure a commutation of his sentence
further induced him to withhold his confession
to the last. It should be stated, however, that
on several occasions when he was off his guard
be made statements that were almost tantamount
to au admission of his guilt. For instance, upon
one occasion when Dr. Cappel, the German Lutheran
minister, said to him that he did not believe he in-
tended to commit murder, and that his object
in the first place was merely to rob the
deceased gentleman; that a struggle and blows took
place, and the deceased was either pushed or
fell out of the railway carriage, Muller replied,
" I believe it was done that way." A similar
observation was made to him by Mr. Davis, who
said that probably he might think, when he declared
that he was innocent, that he was not guilty of the
murder because it was nut premeditated, and that
iu the struggle between them Mr. Briggs was either
pushed or fell out of the carriage. To this Muller
made no reply.
As a goad many observations were made about
the supposed improbability of the culprit, from his
physical structure, committing such a deed, it may
be as well to state that although he is short be is
very muscular, and of extraordinary breadth across
the shoulders. His hands also are very large for
a man of his size and extremely powerful. He
might, therefore, very easily have succeeded in de-
stroying Mr. Briggs without any assistance, par-
ticularly if be had, as was supposed, rendered him
almost powerless by a sudden and violent blow.
Dr. Cappel, who has been almost constantly
with the prisoner since his conviction, was with
him until a late hour last night, and
although he earnestly adjured him to speak the
truth, and reminded him that his end was fast ap-
proaching, and that he could only offer up a few
more prayers and tears for him, and that it
would be better for him to speak the truth, Muller
still persisted in declaring that tie had not committed
the crime, and Dr. Cappel seems to have left him
under the impression that if the culprit was the
murderer, he. was no common murderer, and that
the crime was nut premeditated. Muller does not
seem, however, to have deceived those about
him, notwithstanding his positive assertion of his
innocence.

He slept for several hours during last night,
and at au early hour Dr. Cappel and the Rev.
Mr. Davis were again in attendance upon him.
Dr. Cappel, 615 being acquainted with the prisoner's
language, took the more active part in the pro-
ceedings, and prayed most fervently with the cul-
prit ; but Muiler still appeared unaltered, and made
no admission of guilt. Mr. Alderman and Sheriff
Dakin had previously upon several occasions
earnestly entreated the prisoner not to go out of
the world with a lie iu his mouth, and appear be-
fore God in that condition ; but he merely replied
that be was innocent.

The sheriff's, Alderman Dakin and Alderman
Besley, and the under-sheriffs, Messrs. Da Jersey
and Davidson, arrived at the gaol about half-past
7 o'clock. They were admitted through the yard
attached to the resideutiary houses of the Dean
and Chapter of St. Paul's, in Paternoster-row, as
all the ordinary entrances in the Old Bailey were
barricaded. Mr. Jonea, the governor of the prison,
and the 11.,v. Mr. Davis, the ordinary, soon after-
wards joined them, and shortly afterwards they
proceeded to the gaol

The culprit was brought to the cell appropriated
for pinioning prisoners who are about to undergo
the capital punishment, between two warders. He
walked with a firm step and appeared per-
fectly firm and composed—not the slightest
trepidation was observable in him. After
he had been pinioned he was told that he might sit
down if he pleased, but he declined doing so, and
remained standing until the time arrived for carry-
ing out the sentence--a period of three or four
minutes. Dr. Cappel, who appeared greatly
affected, and exhibited much emotion, then went
up to the prisoner, and laid hold of his band,
and uttered some prayers in German in the most im-
pressive manner, and just before the signal was
given, he again earnestly entreated him to say
whether be was guilty or not guilty, and be replied
in a low firm tone, "I am innocent." There was
only one Lope that now remained, which was that
the wretched man might at the very last moment
make a confession, and happily, for the sake of the
wretched prisoner himself, and for the satisfaction
of the public, this hope was realised.

The culprit walked up the steps leading to the
scaffold with a firm step. He was accompanied
by the Rev. Mr. Davis and Dr. Cappel.
His appearance on the scaffold was the
signal for a tremendous yell, but, with
this exception, the conduct of the crowd
was tolerably orderly and decorous. After
the rope had been placed round the neck
of the culprit, Dr. Cappel took bold of one
of his hands and again prayed with him,
and having done so for some time, he concluded by
addressing the culprit as follows :—" Muller, in a
few moments you will appear before your God. I
ask you now, for the last time, have you committed
this crime r Ho replied, " I am innocent." Dr.
Cappel then said, interrogatively, " You are in-
nocent 1" Muller replied, "God knows what I
have done." Dr. Cappel then said, " Does God
know that you have committed this crime 1"
Muller was silent. Dr. Cappel went on,
"In a few minutes you will be before
God. I ask you now solemnly and for the last
time, have you committed this crime 1" Muller
then said, " Yes, I have data it. No one elm was
concerned in it." Almost at the same instant,
and while the words were upon the lips of the
wretched man, the drop fell, and, after a very brief
struggle, he ceased to exist.