The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-07 00:00:00

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 7, 1864.

- e

" Truth is stranger than fiction" has long been a
recognised saying, and certainly those who analyse
the striking events of life will see much reason to
ratify the force of the observation. The news that
yesterday circulated through the metropolis of the
capture of MULLER was a remarkable piece of intel-
ligence. Had such an incident been introduced into
the pages of fiction it would have been doubtless re-
garded with derision, and we can fancy the cap-
tious critic or matter-of-fact reader declaring that
authors were getting quite beyond the bounds of
probability in their eitravagant assertions. It
has been reserved for us, however, to witness in
real life as strange a tale as any that fancy could
devise, or the sharpest wit develop iu a seuationai
work. There have been many curious incidents
connected with the murders that have startled our

generation from its propriety, but not one has sur-
passed, while few have equalled, the peculiar cha-
racteristics of this case. A dense and seemingly
impenetrable mystery hung over the affair at first
but the clouds seemed to clear away as if by magic,
and the successive proofs accumulated, until at last
from the Atlantic came the tidings that the mur-
derer has been captured. There is nothing astonish-
ing in the report that MULLER denies his guilt, for,
judging from the circumstances of the case, he is
just the man to do it. The intelligence conveyed
in the telegram that "the hat and watch of Mr
BRIGGS were found in the possession of the
prisoner" seem to be conclusive evidence,
and to furnish testimony that nothing can
dispute or gainsay. What could have been the
motive for MULLER'S, retaining the watch it is indeed
difficult to conceive. He had far better have de-
atreyed it or got rid of it in some fashion. The
hat is a strange coincidence and a startling con-
firmation of the adage that " Murder will out."
It is not likely that during this lapse of time
MULLER should not have ascertained that the hat
was not his own, and thence the natural inference
would have been to get rid of such a possession
that could furnish such a damnatory proof against
him. It would seem as if the unhappy man had
been under a delusion that he was perfectly safe,
and that there was no probability of his being in
any way suspected. No other explanation can be
given of the feet that he has gone about his work
in about as senseless a fashion as can well be
imagined. Perhaps part of the surprise that na-
turally is experienced at these affairs, arises from
it being generally presupposed that murderers and
the worst class of robbers are men of great ability
in their vocation. ..`iuch is not ordinarily the case,
although there have been signal proofs to the con-
trary, which have formed the groundwork of the
notion. We may notice in perusing the annals of
crime that the most Extraordinary mistakes have
been made, and that the murderer of Mr. BRIGGS
hee been kept in-countenance in his most extrava-
gant blunders by others of the dark race of crime
who have gene befure him. It would be almost
impossible for the greatest adept in crime to encom.
pass all the dangers and difficulties that are hedged
round his path, end it is a satisfactory conclusion to
arrive at, that there is little chance of a murderer
escaping conviction now-a-days. It must appear
to all who have thought upon the subject,
peobab
that MULLER must have had some secret motive in
his mind that we cannot fathom. It is not in ace
cordance with the evidence of common sense that
a man should incur such frightful risks to pat him-
self in possession of the trifles that he secured. A
watch, however valuable, is a dangerous property
to an unrightful possessor. It must have been most
likely one of two motives that led to the perpetra-
tion of the fearful crime. Either the prisoner be-
lieved that Mr. BRIGGS had a considerable sum
about him, or else he was fulfilling a project of
vengeance. The mystery ev-eich enshrouds the
whole affair may be greatly cleared up at the
approaching trial, but the most important
event has already taken place in the
cpture of the criminal. The American authorities
will, no doubt, afford every facility for the delivery
of the culprit, and there is no reason to doubt that
justice will be satisfied, and that a foul crime will
be expiated in the most effective form which
human laws can devise. It is not likely that in
this case there will arise tae hosts of well meaning