The Sun.
London, England, 1864-11-15 00:00:00

rHE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EvENING, NOVEMBER 15, 1864.

COURT OF ALDERMEN—This Day.

ALLEGED CONFESSION OF MULLER.

It having been announced that some matters relative to
documents written by the convict Muller prior to hie exe-
cution would be brought before the Court of Aldermen held
this day, the Court was crowded to excess.
At 1 o'clock the Lord Mayor took the chair, and some
routine business having been transacted,
Mr Alderman DAIEIN rose and said—My Lord Mayor,
in handing in the report of the gaols of the City the Sheriffs
are desirous of informing your lordship and the Court, that
on Sunday evening the governor of Newgate handed to
them a paper, written by the late unhappy convict Frans
Muller, containing a long statement connected with the
crime for which he suffered. It was carefully read over
and considered by the Sheriffs, and contained much which
has been already published in the newspapers, and
having for its olject the accounting for his time
on the Saturday night--the cirumst ances under which he
became possessed of the watch and chain and hat so as to
appear consistent with his innocence, but does not contain
any statement suggesting the guilt of any party. As a

confession was afterwards made by Franz Muller, the
Sheriffs sealed up the paper on Monday after-

noon, considering its publication would possibly
answer no useful purpose, but in a matter of so
much importance they wish to avail themselves of the ad-
vice of their brother magistrates.
The LORD MAYOR said he had received a communication
from Dr Cappell, who had attended Muller in his last mo-
ments, in which the rev. gentleman said there were some
documents which Muller had left behind, and which he (Dr
Cappel) requested might be given up to him as his spiritual
adviser.

Alderman and Sheriff BESLEY said we have groat respect
for Dr Cappell, and we desire to thank him for his attention
to this case, and we also desire that our thanks should be
tendered to hin; publicly ; but so far from giving up any
documents which had been intrusted to them, the sheriffs
would pause before they gave up any documents which had
came into their hands officially.

Alderman WILSON said—Before we proceed with this,
there is another thing which I wish to bring before the
Court as this question of the confession is now before them.
A gentleman who understand German, and who came from
Cheltenham, and personally well known to me, made an
application for admission to the gaol, cn the ground that
he could, from his knowledge of the language and the pro-
bably imperfect knowledge of English possessed by Muller,
do some good to bringing him to a sense of his con-
dition, but the Sheriffs had, and so had he, as
one of the visiting magistrates, declined to admit him, on
the ground that Muller was already attended by a German
clergyman. ThAt gentleman had come more than 120
miles for the express purpose, acd had been refused admit-
tance. But much to my astonishment I saw that another
clergyman had been admitted, and his statements published
in one of the public journals. That statement contained
extravagant explanations of the interview with Muller, and
it is my intention to move that this matter be referred to the
Gaol Committee, to know by whose authority the gentle-
man to whom I have referred was admitted to the gaol. It
is not my intention to read the lengthy document to the
court, which occupies nearly a column in the newspaper,
but I shall refer it to the committee, who will see it in detail.
[Alderman Wilson then quoted at great length from the
letter in question ] He continued—This extract was sent
to me by a party who firmly believ,frd in Muller's guilt, but
who, after reading the letter, said to me, "After such a
statement, surely you will not think of executing Muller."
999 persons out of every thousand were satisfied with the
trial—the judges—one of whom was the senior
pon the Bench expressed themselves fully satisfied, an d
almost the whole world were convinced that justice was
done and truth arrived at by the verdict. This statement
has gone through the length and breadth of the land, and
when the sheriffs refused to admit a clergyman— „,_;;;--,=.
Mr Sheriff BESLEI—On the ground that one was already

attending him.
Alderman WlLsox—And was told that no one would be
allowed to see him except the ordinary minister of the
gaol and the German minister who was attending at ➢fuller's
own desire, I think it was one of the greatest breaches of
privileges that could have occurred; and I hope that, it
this matter be referred to the Gaol Committee, we shall
find out who admitted him I therefore move that this
document, and the whole of the papers connected with the
matter, be referred, with the gaol returne presented by the

Sheriffs, to the Gaol Committee.
Mr Alderman COPELAND said that no one could hesitate
to second such a proposition, but he thought it right that

the Court should know that, as visiting magistrate, he had

consented to the admission of Dr Cappell, but only tinder
the condition that Muller wished to see him. Upon Muller
being told what the Doctor desired, he expressed a most
anxious wish to see him, and be (Alderman Copeland) felt
it his duty to carry out the law, which he thought pointed
out the duties of visiting magistrates that no spiritual ad-
viser should be forced upon a culprit unless he wished to
see him. He strictly followed the provisions of the act of
Parliament, and oared nothing for any statements that
might be made as to his conduct as a magistrate, so long as
he felt and knew that be had the approval of his own con-
science, the wry in which he did his duty. He therefore
seconded the motion.
Sheriff BESLEY said that in admitting persons to the
gaol they did that which they believed to be right. As far as
the Rev. Mr Battiscombe was concerned, who had written

the later in question, neiiher himself nor his brother she-
riff had admitted him, and by the publication of that letter
he had committed a breach of coufidence, which, it was
to be hoped, would be ascertained by the committee asked
for. Numerous appiications had been made by various
clergymen, each of whom seemed to have some patent
method of their own for evangelising criminals and finding
out the secrets of crime.
Alderman and Sheriff DAKIN passed a high compliment
to the kind, decorous, and considerate manner in which
Dr Cappell had discharged his duties, and begged to say
that the rev. gentleman accompanied Muller to the soaffQld
by the culprit's own request.
After some observations from Alderman SYDNEY, with
regard to the execution having been fixed a week earlier
than in previous oases,
Sheriff DAYIN said the appointment of the day was after
consultation with the Lord Chief Baron.

The motion was carried.
The name of the writer of the letter was stated as the
Rev, H. Battiscombe, Blackheath, Kent,

The Price of Gold.

The quotation of gold at Paris is about 3 per mille pin., and
the short exchange on London is 25.25 per Ll sterling. On
comparing these rates with the English Mint price of £3
17s. 100. per ounce fbr standard gold, it appears that gold is
at about the same price in Paris and London.
By advic7s from Hamburg the price of gold is 423 per mark
and the short exchange on London is 13.4 per .£1 st(rlin...
Standard gold at the English Mint price is, therefore, about
7-hths per cent. dearer in London than in Hamburg.
The bourse of exchange at New York on London for bills at
60 days' sight is 237 t 3 233 per cent., and the premium on
gold is 1171 to 118 per cent. At these rates there is no profit
on the importation of go'd from the United States.

TYBURN TREE.—The dread "Tyburn Tree,"
" The fatal retreat for the unfortunate brave,"
was for a long time a fixed gallows of triangular form, and
was called, in derision, the " three-legged mare," or the
",three-footed stool." Hogartb, in his execution print of the
" Idle Apprentice," gives a view of it, and enables us to judge,
besides, of the motley and ruffianly crowd which gathered
together on such occasions. The place of execution was
subsequently a little further down the Edgeware-
road, opposite Upper Bryanston-street, where a gallows was
erected on the morning of execution, consisting of two up •
right posts and a cros..beam. Fur some years this gallows
was kept in a house at the corner of the street just named;
it had curious iron balconies' to the windows, from which
the sheriffs used to witness executions. After the place of
execution was changed to Newgate the gallows was bought
by a carpenter, and made into stands for beer butts in the
vaults of the Carpenters' Arms public-house, hard by.—
Chambers' a Journal.

twice ?

SOUTHAMPTON, Nov. 12. A handsome new
paddlesteamer, named the Brittany, Capt. J. Good•
ridge, 52.5 tons burden and 250 horse power, built for the
South Western Company by Messrs. Ash and Co., of
Cubitt-town, and engined by Mr J. Stewart, of Blackwell,
was officially tried at the measured mile in Stokes Bay on
Friday. Immersed to her fall seagoing capacity, and with
very strong winds blowing, she realised an average speed
of 14 knots, or 16 statute miles per hour ; after which she
was taken for a run out into the Channel, ten miles beyond
the Nab Light, during which an accelerated speed was ob-
tained of 17 miles per hour. The Brittany is built in several
compartments, which adds to to her safety in case of any
portion of the ship filling with water, and is supplied with
all the latest improvements in steamship building. The
Brittany will leave on her first voyage to the Channel
Islands next Wednesday night, and will work that station
generally with the Normandy and Southampton. The com-
pany's steam fleet now comprises ten vessels, severally en-
gaged in the service between this port and the Channel
Islands, Havre, &o.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.--This day.

MARLBOROUGH• STREET.

ATTEMPTED MunDEß,—William Jessemer, an engineer,
living in Wardour-street, Soho, was charged beforo Mr
Tyrwhitt with stabbing with a knife Leonard Arthur
Blackburn, a blacksmith residing in Black Lion-court,
Berwick-street, St. James's, at the City of London public-
house, No. 104, Berwick-street, St. James's.
On the prisoner being placed at the bar, Inspector Draper
said—The injured man is not able to attend, and the con-
stable in the case has a certificate from the Middlesex Hos-
pital.
Edward Coningham, a boy employed as waiter at the
City of London public-house, 104, Berwick-street, said—
Yesterday evening, between 7 and 8 o'clock, the prisoner
and Mr Blackburn and another man came into the house.
Mr Blackburn was leaning against a partition and the other
person named Orford was talking to the prisoner. The
prisoner stood with his hand under his coat, and suddenly
drew out a knife and stabbed Mr Blackburn twice, and tried
to do it a third time, but my master jumped over the coun-
ter and prevented him, and took the knife from the prisoner.
If my master had not done so the prisoner would have
stabbed Mr Blackburn again?
Mr Tyrwhitt —Did the prisoner say anything ?
Witness—Yes. He said he was glad he had done it.

Richard D.lpb, 61 C, here produced tho knife, a pocket
clasp knife, with a long and sharp blade.
Mr Tyrwhitt—The prisoner actually stabbed Blackburn

Witness—Yes; but made a third attempt.
Prisoner—Did not Blackburn call me a humbug,
and a butcher ?
Witness—l did not hear him,
Prisoner—That's all I wish to ask you. If you did not
hear him I did,

Charles Orford, of No. 3, Tyler's-court, Wardour-street,
said—Three of us were in the City of London publichouse
together and talking. There was no quarreling. The pri-
soner put his hand under his coat, and then struck Black-
burn on the breast, eaying at the same time, " Take that."
I thought the blow at first was given with the fist, but
directly after Blackburn said, "I am stabbed," and at the
same moment I saw blood spurt from the wound. I then
put my hand on the wound to prevent the flew of blood--
Mr Tyrwhitt—Had anything been said by the prisoner
'o the injured man?
Witness—l do not think there had been any words be-
tween the prisoner and Blackburn at all. The landlord
jumped over the counter and held the prisoner by the arms
and took the knife from him. I kept my hand on the wound
till a cab cause, and I then went with Blackburn to the
Middlesex Hospital, where I left him in charge of the
medical men. I was smothered with blood.
Prisoner—You did not see the landlord take the knife
from me. I gave it up to him. Blackburn called me a
dog or devil, and something more.
Richard Dolph, 64 C—l was yesterday evening called to
the City of London public-house, Berwick-street, and
found Blackburn bleeding very much from a wound on the
breast. I sent for assistance, and on another constable
coming I took the prisoner and asked him why he had used
the knife, and ho replied, " I shall not tell yeti just now."
The knife produced was given to ice by the landlord of the
house. The injured man was taken to the Middlesex Hos-
pital in a cab.
Mr Tyrwhitt—Have you been to the hospital this morn-
Delph—l have. The injured man is unable to leave his
bed. I received this certificate.
The certificate was as follows :

- _
"This is to certify that Leonard Arthur Blackburn was
brought to this hospital last night suffering from an incised
wound in the neck, and he is unable to leave his bed.
3. A. Smart, House-surgeon.
" Middlesex Hospital, Nov. 15."
Mr Tyrwhitt—The prisoner will be remanded for a week
on this very serious charge, as he will find it to be.
The prisoner was then removed.
While the charge was being taken against the prisoner
last night he said, "Yes, I stabbed him, and I will do it
again if he tells lies about me, and I will be hanged for
him, like Mullen!'

Destruction of the Confederate Ram Albe-
marle by a Torpedo Boat.

We have already published the official report
received by the last steamer from New York of the
destruction of the Confederate ram Albemarle by a
Federal torpedo boat. As the torpedo boat em-
ployed on this occasion, though of wooden con-
struction, was fitted with its torpedo battery on the
same system as that which has been applied to the
ironclad torpedo vessels, a number of which are
being constructed by the Federal navy, two—the
New Era and Stromboli, being already launched
and ready for sea—the following particulars, fur•
nished by the naval reporter of the New York l ri-
Lune , as to this recent and etriking instance of the
manner in which an enemy's ships, however formid-
able, are speedily and effectually disposed of by the
❑ew armament, will be read with interest, espe-
cially as they uLdoubted'y confirm what has been
said ab lit another new era being commenced by
the applir...aticn of this new engine of war to iron

ships:—
" The Confederate ironclad ram Albemarle, re-
ported to have been destroyed on the 28th ult. by
the United States Picket Boat No. 1, was built in
the Roanoke River for the purpose of clearing the
waters of North Carolina of our naval vessels, and
driving off the United States troops who were
located at various posts, On several occasions
she has spread terror throughout that depart-
ment, and has caused serious annoyances to our
forcer, both naval and military. On the sth of
May the United States naval forces, consisting
of the wooden gunboats Massachusetts, Sassacus,
Wyabusing, Miami, Whitehead, Ceres, and Cora•
modore Hull, engaged the Albemarle and her con-
sorts Cotto❑ Plant and Bombshell, and, after a ter-
rible conflict, the Albemarle was forced to retreat,
having been seriously damaged by the fire of our
gunboats, but principally by the Sassacus.
" The Cotton Plant escaped, but the Bombshell,
which had been captured a short time previous,
was recaptured. From that time until a few
weeks since the ram has been quietly receiving
repairs, and has been strengthened with a view
to accomplishing her abject with a fatal cer-
tainty. Lieutenant Wm. Cushing, of our navy,
was anxious to have her come out, so that he
might test the merits of the torpedo arrange-
ment. It is, perhaps, proper to state that
the Albemarle was constructed upon the general
principles of the Merrimac and Tennessee class of
vessels, and was, perhaps, much stronger than either
of those vessels since she was repaired of late.
" She had the ordinary casemate, in which were
placed four heavy guns; she was probably shot-
proof egainst any projectiles thrown by our vessels,
and the only hope of destroying her, before the
advent of the torpedo affair was by running her to
death—but with the torpedo boat the matter was
easily accowplished, provided always she could get
close enough to do the work without being observed
before the guns could be trained and fired upon
her. In case the little torpedo boat did its duty,
and but for a shot from a shore battery, she would
now be ready to perform a similar feat.