The Sun.
London, England, 1864-11-16 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SI7N.

Dr. Donovan bogs to inform the Editor of 17ic Sun that
he received special permission from Sheriff Dakin to take a
cast of the bead of Muller after his execution. To Dr.
Donovan the cast has no direct petuniary value, for he
does riot sell casts. During the last 25 years Dr. Donovan
has only in two instances been refused permission to take
such casts, of which there is a collection preserbed at New-
gate. The cast of Muller, which Dr. Donovan sends for
the Editor's inspection, shows the mark of the rope and its

genuineness.
Nov: 14, 1864.

C. DONOVAN, Ph. D.

If Muller's confession at the last moment had not set the
question of his guilt at rest, the doubt would not have been
wholly removed by such testimony as is offered to the
phrenological eye by his cerebral organisation. For
though there are ugly points in the development, the head,
as a whole, is by no means of the low criminal type.
Wish such heads as those of the burkers—Burke,' Hare,
Williams, Bishop ; or the heads of Rush, Palmer, Mrs.
Manning ; or those of the class feeble, such as Bellingham,
Stevenson, Taylor of Manchester, and Mullins—this
head of Muller refuses to be classed. Still the head,
seen by the experienced eye, has repulsive features.
Had not facts borne so stongly on the side of guilt, the head
would admit of serious doubts. It is certainly indicative
of deep craftiness—the most unsafe of characteristics—and
of the capacity to act a part with accomplished dissimulation.
It indicates also much covetousness of property. That
cruelty and the killing propensity are in the lower animals
associated with craftiness is certain. It cannot be said that
man is an exception. Gauls paribus, the more craftiness
the more cruelty may be affirmed of human beings, as is
testified by the savage races. Muller was crafty, and
under this disguise lay hid the savage that under tempta-
tion predominated. But even if the head were free from
the dangerous points, even if it were what could be called
really well formed, no one understanding the duetrines
of phrenology would venture to assert that there would be
a necessary exemption from the liability to fall into vicious
courses, and ultimately to commit a crime of the deepest
dye. Organisaton of brain is very influential for good, or
for evil. But so are external influences ; a, e., education in
the widest sense of the term. Muller was naturally sym-
pathetic, conscientious, affectionate. obliging, regardful of
reputation, humane. But to what extent did outer in-
fluences tend to nourish such dispositions " When,"
says the late Archbishop of Dublin, "Thurtell, the mut,
derer, was executed, there was a shout of derision raised
against the phrenologists for saying that his organ of
Benevoleneelwas large. But they replied that there was
also a large ' Destructiveness,' and a moral deficiency
which would account for a man goaded to rage—by having
been cheated out of almost all he had by the man he
killed—committing that act, It is a remarkable
confirmation of their view, that a gentleman
who visited the prison where Thurtell was con-
fined, shortly after the execution, found the gaolers, &a.,
full of pity and affection for him. They said he was a kind,
good-hearted fellow, and that they never had a prisoner
whom they i egretted so much. And such seems to have
been his natural character when not influenced at once by
desire of revenge and of gain."—Annotations to Bacon.
Like Thurtell, Muller was not a badly organised man ;
far from it. By what infelicitous influences, internal and
external, he came to be capable of committing so horrid a
murder, who can say ? The head on the posterior region
is strongly animalised, but the moral region, per se, is well
developed superficially, though somewhat deficient in
height us compared with its width. 1 have remarked in
most of the heads of foreigners executed in England within
the last 25 years a coarseness of skin approaching to the
grain of the pig's skin. This is very visible in Muller. I
have not seen the like in English heads. It suggests an
inference affecting the quality of the brain, the general
mental condition, and the brad of the man. The
Lead is positively large, and is indicative of much
bodily strength. Altogether, it is a study for the
phrenologist, and it should serve as a caution
against drawing hasty conclusions for or against from
the celebral developments only. Phrenology affords
to the adept in the science a most important basis for the
study of character. It supplies facts of great value, and
proclaims natural laws which before Dr. Gall's discoveries
"lay hid in night." But the flippant presumption of many
of its early amateur students has done more to give rise to
misconception and distrust of the science than any opposi-
tion it has met with. That Muller should have gained the
good-will of his acquaintances, and imposed on his re-
verend compatriot by professions of innocence, are facts in
harmony with his organisation. The physiognomist would
find in his mouth and chin au expressi,n more positive of
its kind than his head presents. The strong love of appro-
bation and the love of children ascribed to him are borne
out in his organisation, which indicates also a tendency
to temperance in eating and drinking. Had he been
brought up a soldier or sailor, it is probable that his in-
born capacity for deeds of violence would never have been
illicitly manifested. He had that within him which admitted
of a different career than the brief one so tragically ended.
That Muller had an intellect of no mean sort is certain. So
far as evil can be well done, it served him well all through.
During his fearful voyage home it enabled him to allay by
reading his fearful consciousness. He kept his counsel
well, and was led into the error of giving the jeweller's box
to the child by a social virtue—the inborn love of children.
Hope buoyed him to the last moment of existence; when its
whisperings ceased, the "still small voice" made itself im-
peratively audible, triumphing for the first time, though,
doubtless, it never had ceased to exercise its sacred functions.

The Explosion at Erith.

THE VERDICT.

Yesterday, the inquiry into the deaths caused by the
explosion at Messrs Hall's stores in Erish marshes, was
brought to a close atter many hours' inquiry, with the
following verdict : _

" We find that the death of the persons (named in the
inquisitions) was caused by an explosion of gunpowder,
which originated on one of the barges belonging to Messrs
Hall and Sons, which was unloading at the jetty of their
magazine at Erith ; but how that explosion originated
there was not any evidence to show."
The Foreman (Capt. 1TKillop) said—Mr Coroner, the
jury desire to make this addendum to their verdict:—
" From the evidence that has been adduced before the
jury they would respectfully call the attention of her Ma-
jesty's Government to the many serious omissions and im-
perfections of the present Acts of Parliament relating to
the gunpowder trade, and would call attention to
a few of the points on which immediate legislation is re-
quired. Firstly, the quantity of gunpowder stored in nay
one place or neighbourhoo I, or any one powder magazine
or railway train. Secondly, the construction and situa-
tion of magazines, their proximity to populous districts,
to river walls, and other situations of danger, and to licens-
ing the same. Thirdly. The construction of barges and
other vessels for the conveyance of gunpowder, and to the
necessity of their having better distinguishing marks.
Fourthly. The shipping and discharging of gunpowder
generally. Fifthly. The importance of Government in•
spection and supervision—the storing, placing. and convey-
ance of gunpowder. Sixthly. The practices relating to
the infringement of the Acts of Parliament relating thereto
The jury also expressed theirappreciation of the services of
Sergeant Cox, and begged the coroner to forward their
views to the proper quarter, which Mr Carttar said he
would do.
The inquiry then terminated.