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

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SEN.

Sin,—By the gasping, sobbing gratification that his so
generally followed Muller's supposed confession, I may
fairly conclude that very many others besides myself either
felt that he was innocent, or that (as the Scotch term it) his
crime was "not proven," and that there really was a doubt
about it, which ought, and perhaps would, have been given
in Muller's favour, but for a sort of panic all society had
imbibed from the nature of the deed—a murder—and an
escape against time—in a railway first-class carriage, with
only two minutes or so to do it all in. Your paper and the
/Imes appear to have given the most probable version of
this confession.

For myself, Sir, I do not believe in the confession of
Muller. Ido not mean that Dr Cappel misstated, but
only misunderstood what Muller actually said just as the
drop fell. _ _ _

Muller had said, in reply to Dr Cappel, " God Almighty
knows what I have done."

The doctor's next question was— " He knows if you have
done this particular deed f" and he makes Muller say—
" Yes, I have done it."
Now, I consider Muller's answer more likely to have been
—" Yes, if I have done it ;" meaning, evidently, that " of
course God knows whether I did the murder or not." And
this is consistent with all that had gone before, especially
the declaring his innocence after he had taken the Sacra-
ment.

The point, however, that I wish further to call your at-
tention to, on behalf of all eondemned felons in future, is,
that Muller, being convicted on a Saturday night, was
hanged in just a fortnight and a day, because the three
Sundays elapsed in that period. Had his trial been carried
over to the Monday, he would have had three week for re-
pentance. I trust you will animadvert on the above incon-
sistency, or haste; and that by no possibility in future such
a boon should be shortened by a mere chance, as occurred
with this most unfortunate foreiner.

I remain, Sir, ono of your constant readers,

15th November, 1861.

We beg to direct the attention of our correepot-
dent " W." to the following conversation that took
place between Dr Capel and the convict on the
morning of the execution :
The final asseverations and confession of the unhappy
man who was executed on Monday have been reported with
some slight variation of phrase, although the import was in
most instances the same. The actual words made use of are
subjoined in the original German. One hour before the time
appointed for the execution the Rev. Dr Cappel in the con-
demned cell exhorted Muller to confess to him if he had
been guilty of the crime for which he was so soon to suffer.
The prisoner was si'ent, but in a moment, overwrought, ho
laid his,head upon Dr Cappel's shoulder, weeping bitterly.
He only said, " Oh, don't forsake me I Stay with me to the
last I" Hitherto the declarations of the prisoner had been
to maintain the plea that he was innocent, and inferentially,
though never directly, to deny his commission of the crime.
The appeal he now made, and his abstention from any pre-
varication or assertion, gave Dr Cappel a hope that he
would at last confess, and he determined that his final ap-
peal should be OR the scaffold. 'When he stood under the
gallows with Muller, the Rev. Mr Davis being with him,
he spoke as follows :
Dr Cappel—Muller, in wenigen Augenblicken stehen
Sio vor Gott ; ich frage Sie nochmals, and znm letzen male,
Sind Sie schuldig oder unschuldig? Muller—lch bin
unschuldig.
Dr Cappel—Sie sind unschuldig P Muller—Gott Weiss
was ich gethan habo.
Dr Cappel—Gott weiss was Sie gethan haben. Weiss er
auch dams Sie dies Verbrechen gethan haben ? Muller—
Ja ; ich habe es gethan
The words translated are as follows :

- _
Dr— Cappel said— Muller, in a few moments you will
stand bolero God. I ask you again, and for the last time,
are you gal), or not guilty Muller answered—Not
guilty.
Dr Cappel—You are NOT guilty ? Muller—God knows
what I have done.
Dr Cappel—God knows what you have done. Dues He
also know that you have committed this crime ? Muller—
Yes ; I have clone it.
There is a strong probability that if the executioner had
not been so terribly prompt in withdrawing the fatal bolt,
Muller would have made a much taller oonfession, and that
his tenacious hope of reprieve having at last given way, he
would perhaps have made some statement as to how the
struggle took place which resulted in the murder. It was
only by the very narrowest chance the culprit had time to
say what be did ; for the important words were almost
cb eked in the uttering. It is usual at executions for all
those whose painful duty takes them actually upon the
scaffold to retire before the executioner draws the bolt of
the drop; but on Monday morning Calcraft actually per-
formed this task while the two ministering clergymen—the
Rev. Mr Davis, the ordinary of Newgate, and the Rev. Dr
Cappel—were standing close beside the unhappy convict,
listening with intense anxiety to the hurried words which
bore the scant but conclusive confession. After Calcraft
had drawn down the cap, tied the rope round Muller's
neck, and secured his lags with the usual strap, all which
he did with remarkable quickness, he suddenly left the
platform. The two clergymen, who were standing im-
mediately in front and as near to the prisoner as possible,

were not able to converse with him during the time the
hangman was engaged in his office ; but when these terrible
details were finished the Rev. Dr Cappel spoke to Muller
with the greatest solemnity, and with peculiar earnestness
of tone. The spectators who were near the gallows appeared
to be greatly impressed. Only the little group under the
beam could hear what words were uttered. It appeared as
though the last counsel of the German minister was received
by Muller with an intensity of feeling. Dr Cappel bent for-
ward with outstretched hands, and with his face close to
that of the unhappy criminal. Through the white cap, which
hardly came even with the jaw, the lips could be seen mov•
ing, and while Dr Cappel was thus listening the drop fell,
with a suddenness that must have greatly startled that gen-
tleman. Dr Cappel was actually leaning forward and listen-
ing when the body went down. The two clergymen were left
or tho moment in dreadful contiguity to the dying man.

Phrenological Examination of Muller's

Head from the Cast.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Dr. Donovan bogs to inform the E litor of 2hc 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 pecuniary value, for he
does not sell caste. During ►he last 25 years Dr. Donovan
has only in two instances been refused permission to take
such casts, of which there is a collection rreserved at New-
gate. The cast of Muller, which Dr. Donovan sends for
the Editor's inspection, shows.the mark of the rope and its

genuineneBs.
Nov. 14, 1804.

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.
With such heads as those of the bunkers-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. Ceteris partbus, 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 predqininated. 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 doetrines
of phrenology would venture to assert chat there would ba
a necessary exemption from the liability to fall into vicious
courses, and ultimately to commit a crime of the deepest
dye. Organisation of brain is very influential for good, or
tor evil. But so are external influences ; i, a., 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 cf Dublin, "Thurtell, the mur.
derer, was executed, there was a shout of derision raised
against the phrenologists for saying that his organ of
Benevolencelwas 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, &0.,
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 r 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 an'malised, but the moral region, per se, is well
developed superficially, though somewhat deficient in
height as 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 Al 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 Erich marshes, was
brought to a close after 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 Erich; but how that explosion originated
there was not any evidence to show."
The Foreman (Capt. M'Killop) said—Mr Coroner, the
jury desire to make this addendum to their verdict :
" FLOM 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 any
one place or noighbourhool, 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.
'['ho inquiry then terminated.