The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-19 00:00:00

THE MUR,:

:R. BRIGGS.

Examination of the Supposed Murderer.
BOW STREET.—THIS DAY.
The arrangements of the police to prevent anything
like a display of feeling this morning, as the prisoner
was conveyed from the police-station in Bow-street, where
he has been confined since Saturday, to the Court oppo-
site, were completely successful.
It was, however, generally anticipated that Muller
would leave the station-house bef ore daylight, and as early
as three o'clock this morning more than 100 persons had
collected in Bow-street, in hope of catching a glimpse of
the prisoner. Their patience was sorely tried, for it was
not before a quarter to eight o'clock that any sign was
apparent at the police station. At that hour a number
cf constables left the station, and having strongly guarded
the roadway, Muller was in a few minutes afterwards
brought out, and safely located in one of the lock-ups
attached to the Court. There was no outcry made when
Muller made his appearance—merely a general rush of
the crowd, which at this time numbered over 500 per-
sons. He was afterwards supplied with breakfast, which
he ate with apparent relish, and then, having been sup
plied with a quantity of tracts and periodicals, he cona-
menced reading, and thus he occupied himself until the
arrival of his solicitor and the gentlemen who have in-
structed him. During the whole of yesterday he scarcely
spoke to any one, and he has observed the same reserve
this morning.
Prince Humbert, of Italy, and several persons of dis-
tinction, occupied seats on the bench,
It was not until 11 o'clock that the prisoner Muller was
placed at the bar before Mr Flower, the sitting magistrate.
He wore a dark shooting coat, light trousers, and in his
hand he carried a straw hat. He appeared quite uncon-
cerned.

Mr Burnaby (to the prisoner)—ls your name Franz
Muller ?

Prisoner—Yes, sir.
Mr Burnaby having formally read the charge,
Mr Giffard briefly stated the facts of the case.
The following witnesses were then examined:—
Mr David Buchanan, of 23, Nelson-square, Peckham,
said my wife is the niece of the late Mr Briggs. On the
9th of July Mr Briggs dined with us. He remained at our
house about three hours and a half, and left at half-past 8.
I went with him to the Nelson omnibus in the Old Kent-
road, which runs to King William-street, City. Mr Briggs
was in good health and spirits when he left me. I know
that he carried a plain gold watch, which I am sure he had
with him on the evening in question, as I saw him look at
it. I can speak mere particularly to the seal and key than
to the chain attached to the watch.
The chain, seal, and key were here produced by Inspector
Kerresey.
Witness—l believe the chain, seal, and two keys to have
belonged to the late Mr Briggs. I identify the seal more
particularly, as a portion of the stone is broken. I had
noticed that many months ago, Mr Briggs had a black
bag with him when he left me. The hag produced is simi-
lar to the one. I know the walking stick produced, it be-
longed to Mr Briggs, On the lunday morning, in
consequence of something I heard, I went up to Clapton-
square, I saw Mr Briggs there. He was then alive.
It was eleven o'clock in the forenoon. I did not remain
till he died. I left about nine in the evening,
Mr Beard, who appeared for the prisoner, said he had no
questions to put to the witness.
William Timms, a guard on the North London Railway,
said—l travelled with a train of empty carriages from Vic-
toria-park on the night of the 9th of July. We left the Vic-
toria-park station about 25 minutes past 10. In passing
the Canal-bridge my attention was directed to something in
the road by the engine driver. The object was lying be-
tween the up and down line. I put on the break and stopped
the train. The driver went towards that which we had
seen, and I followed him. When we came up to it we found
that it was the body of a man. He was at once taken to the
Mitford Castle public-house, and I took the carriages on to
the station. I then returned to the Mitford Case le. A female
servant in about two hours came and identified the body as
that of Mr Briggs. I remained with the gentleman the
whole of the night, and left about half-past five in the
morning.
There was no cross-examination of this witness.
Mr Thomas James Briggs, of 5, Warwick-terrace, North
Upper Clapton, India-rubber manufacturer and water •
proofer, said—My deceased father's name was Thomas. The
last time I saw him to speak to him was on the Thursday
morning the 7th of July last. I next saw him on Sunday
morning the 10th, about half-past 2 o'clock. I first saw
him at the Mittord Castle. He was at that time alive but
insensible. I accompanied him when he was removed from
there to his own house, No. 5, Clapton-square. He died
about a quarter to 12 on the Sunday night. The watch
produced is my father's.
Mr Flower—You have no doubt about that ?
Witness—No, not the slightest. I examined it before I
came into Court.
[The other articlee—the chain, the seal and all belonged
to my father.]
The hat put into my hand I cannot swear to, because I
believe it is somewhat shorter than that worn by him. In
other respects it corresponds with my father's hat, as it
bears the maker's name, " Digance, Royal Exchange,"
of whom he invariably purchased such articles. The
walking-stick was lay father's, and the black bag belonged
to a younger brother of mine. •
By Mr Beard—l did not live at my father's. I dont
know whether he was in the habit of writing his name in
He had not this hat on when I saw him on the Thursday.
When I last saw him with his hat on he wore one about as
high in the body as my own. [The hats were than mea-
sured, and the hat held in the witness's hand (that found
on Muller) was about an inch and a quarter shorter than
that belonging to witness.]
Mr Death, jeweller, of No. 55, Cheapside, said—On the
morning of Monday, the 11th of July last, about 10 o'clock
in the morning, a person came into my shop and offered a
second-hand chain for sale. The chain produced was
handed by me to my brother for him to set a value on it, as
the prisoner wished to exchange it for another. I went
and put it in the scale to weigh it, and as I did so the pri-
soner turned round to see me do it. After weighing it and
closely examining it to judge of its quality, I told him I
should give £3 10s for it, I showed a variety of chains,
and the one nearest to the value of the chain offered was
£3 15s. I cannnt recollect the exact words he used.
11r Flowers—Well, as near as you can.
Witness—l cannot recollect, but I know it was to the
effect that he declined to pay the ss. I looked over the
stock and found a chain, value ss, of which the prisoner
approved. It was then put into a paper box, and I made
a parcel and delivered it to the prisoner. The box had my
name and address on it. I asked him what he would take
for the ss, and he replied, "A finger ring." I showed him
a small second hand signet ring, with a white cornelian
stone. He tried it on, it fitted him. and he retained it on
his finger.
Mr GJfard—You say the prisoner is the man you speak
cf. Have you any doubt about that?
Witness—Not the least.
Mr Giffard—Did you recognise him on board the steam
vessel ?

Witness—Yes.
Mr Giffard—Was he alone ?
Witnes—No, he was one of seven or eight.
Mr Giffird—Had you any difficulty about the identifl
cation P
Witness—No; I walked up to him deliberately and
picked him out.
[The ring spoken of has not yet been found.]
Mr. Beard declined to ask this witness any question.
Jonathan Matthews, the cabman, said I live at No 8,
Earl-street, Paddington. I know the prisoner perfectly
well. I have known him two years and upwards. About
the end of last year he asked me to purchase a hat. I did
so. It was smaller than the one I had bought a week before
for myself. I bought the hat for him at Mr Walker's,
Crawford-street, Marylebone. The prisoner afterwards
wore that hat. I saw him wearing it to within a fortnight
or three weeks previous to the 9th of July.
The hat found in the railway carriage was then shown
the witness.
Witness—That is the hat I bought for the prisoner.
Mr. Giffard—B ow was the hat given to the prisoner
Witness—lt was in the ordinary white hat box, and had
the name of Mr Walker in it. The box produced is like it.
Mr Beard—This hat is not now like the one you put.-
, chased.
' Witness—lt's turned up more the one side than the other,
and prisoner has told me that has been through wear. I
have often put prisoner's hat on. I cannot swear that I
never touched the hat produced. I cannot produce the hat
I bought when the prisoner had the conversation with me
about getting him one of the same description. I don't
know what becomes of my old hate, they sometimes get
thrown into the dust heap. Sometimes I leave my het ht
the hatter's shop ; it all depends whether I want a box.
If so, I take it home in one. I have purchased two or three
hate since I bought that one for the prisoner. I will not
swear that I might have bought three, but I will that I
bought two. I bought my last new hat about three weeks
before this job took place. It was certainly before I had
examined Muller's hat. I bought my last hat in Oxford-
street. I can't tell the name of the person at whose shop I
bought it
Mr Beard—And do you mean to say that you have had
this hat in your possession three months, and that you
never looked at the maker's name on it ?
Witness—Yes, I do. The other hat I purchased at
Downs'. I left the old one in that person's shop, as I did
not want to carry a box about with me all day. The hat I
bought at Dawns' was destroyed by the wheel of the cab
going over it. I don't know the colour of the lining of the
hat I bought at Downs, and if you were to ask me the
colour of the hat now before me I could not tell you. I've
worn it but a very few times previous to my going away,
and this is the first time I've had it on since I've returned.

I paid 5s 6d for the hat I bought at Down's. I can't tell
what has become of that hat. I can't fix the date of the
purchasing of the two hate.
MI Beard—You can tell me surely when you bought
both hats.
Witness—l cannot further than I've told you.
Mr Beard—But you must.
Witness—l cannot.
Mr:Flower—The witness cannot tell you if he does not
recollect, and that he has said.
Witness—l cannot give you the time when I purchased
the hats nearer than I have done already. It might be
about June when I bought the hat at Down's. I can't
recollect whether any person was present when the con-
versation between me and the prisoner took place relativ e
to the purchasing of the hat,
Mr Beard—When did you first hear of the railway
outrage ?
Witness—l heard of it about the middle of the following
week.

Mr Beard—Didn't you see the placards about before
that?
Witness—No.
Mr Beard—When did you tell your wife about it
Witness--I can't say.
Mr Beard—Had you seen Muller between the Saturday
and the day you first heard of the murder.
Witness—No.
Mr Beard said he had several more questions to put to
the witness, but the information he wished had not arrived,
and therefore he hoped he might be allowed to recall him.
Mr Flower—Yes, certainly.
Mr Giffard—Then I will wait to re-examine him until
you have completed your cross-examination.
Ellen Blythe, of 16, Park-terrace, Old Ford, said—My
husband and I know the prisoner. He lodged at our
house, and had done so for about seven weeks. On Satur-
day, the 9th of July, the prisoner had not returned home
when we went to bed. He had a latch key with him. I
saw him the next morning between eight and nine in the
kitchen. He slept up stairs. I heard him come down
before I saw him in the kitchen. He paid 4s a week. He
last paid his rent on the Wednesday previous to his leaving
on the Thursday after the 9th. I cannot recollect when he
paid his rent previous to this. He paid mere than one
week's rent on the last occasion. On Sunday, the 10th, he
remained in doors all day. He went out in the evening
about six. I recollect Superintendent Tiddy coming to our
house. It was on the Tuesday after Muller had left on the
Thursday. I saw him take away a piece of rag out of the
grate in the room Muller used to occupy. I gave a hat box
to the police. The one produced is the same. Muller
brought it when he first came. It had the name of Walker
on it.

Mr Beard—Were you in the habit of going into his room
whilst he lodged in your house.
Witness—Yes ; I know he had a pair of patent leather
boots. I don't know what he cleaned them with. I believe
it was a piece of rag. During the time he lodged with us
he was a well conducted young man. I saw him go out on
Saturday the 9th. I did not notice his clothes particularly,
but I know on Sunday he wore the same suite. I observed
no difference in his manner that day. On the Sunday the
prisoner walked out with my husband ant myself as he had
been accustomed to. He had told us he intended to go to
America. I don't know how he was placed as to money. I
have known Muller altogether more than a twelvemoath.
On Monday the 11th of July he showed me a chain.
Mr Giffard—Would you know the chain again?
Witness—No, I don't think I should.
Mr Giffard—Look at the chain before you (the one given
in exchange).
Witness—lt was something similar.
Mr Giffard—When you all three walked out did you all
three return ?
Witness—Yes, Muller did not go out any more that
night.
Mr Beard—Had Muller been out in the morning before
he showed you the chain ?
Witness—Yes, he went out at about 10 o'clock.
Elizabeth Sarah Repseh—l reside at 12i Jewry-street,
Aldgate. My husband is a tailor. I have known the pri-
soner for nearly two years. Ile formerly worked for a friend
of my husband—Mr Wilde. He afterwards took a room of
his own. I think that would be about six months past. He
occupied it until about four months ago. He told me he
had taken the room, I saw him on the 9th of July last. I
first saw him in the morning about 12 o'clock. He re-
mained with us all the afternoon, ana last recollect seeing
him at our house about half-past 7. I went out
and left the prisoner there with John Haffa. I re-
turned home about half-past 8, and Muller had
gone. I next saw him on Monday morning
between ten and eleven. When he came in he sat
down on the shop board, and produced a chain from his
waistcoat pocket. He said he had bought it in the docks, and
had given £3 108 fir it. He also showed me a ring with a
white cornelian atone, which he said he had also bought.
He had the ring on his finger. Ho said he had given 7s 6d
for it. I told him I did not think the chain was gold. and
he took up my husband's shears and rubbed it on them,
saying, " That's the way ycu test it." He told me it was
while going down to the docks in the morning, to get his
passage ticket for New York, that he had bought the things.
I noticed he had a different hat on than usually worn by
him. He had his old hat on on the Saturday when I saw
him. I remarked to him that he was extravagant in having
a new hat, when he said his old one was smashed, and he
had thrown it in the dust hole. I should be able to recog-
nise the hat. [The hat found in the carriage shown wit-
ness.) That, to the best of my belief, is the hat the pri-
soner wore when I saw him on Saturday.
John Haffa—l reside at 16, Park-terrace, Old Ford, Bow.
I have known the prisoner for about five months. For three
nights before he left England he slept in my room. I was
with him at Mr Repsch's house on Saturday the 9th July.
Prisoner left there between seven and eight in the evening,
and told me he was going to see his sweetheart, and from
what he recollected he said she was a girl on the town. 1
once wrote a letter to her by his direction, and directed it
either No. 2or 10, tieo"ge-street, Stockwell. The
name was Miss Eldred. I bought a pawnbroker's dupli-
cate of the prisoner on the Wednesday. He had
seen him (Muller) wearing a gold Albert chain. When
Muller gave him the duplicate he said it was for the chain
I had seen him wear on the Monday.
Mr Beard—When he left Mrs Repsch's house was he
lame ?

Witness —Yes. Ho had a slipper on the foot he was
lame with.
George Clarke. sergeant in the detective police, said—l
boarded the ship Victoria on tint 24th of August, in com-
pany with an officer of the New York police, named
John Tiernan. The Victoria was then lying in Staten
Island, about 9 miles from New York. The prisoner was
in the atterpart of the ship or saloon. I took hold of him
by his arm, and Tiernan said, "I am an officer of the New
York police, and you are charged with the murder of Mr,
Briggs, in England." I further told the prisoner that it
was on the North London Railway, on the 9th July, between
Bow and Hackneywick. He said, " I know nothing about
it ; I never was on the line." Tiernan searched him, and from
his right hand waistcoat pocket he took a key. Prisoner
said, " That's the key of my box." From what the captain
told me I went to No. 9 berth and got a box, which I took
into the saloon where the prisoner was standing. Prisoner,
on seeing it, said " That's my box." I unlocked it with
the key taken from the prisoner, and in one corner I found
the gold watch sewed up in a piece of rag, which he said
was his own, I then found the hat (produced) in the box,
with the maker's name, Digence, 18, Royal Exchange. I
asked him if he had had the things long, and he replied,
" I've had the watch about two years and the hat about 12
months."
Mr Beard declined to put any questions to this witness.
Mr Giffard—At this point of the case I have to ask you,
sir, to remand the prisoner.
Mr Flower—Certainly.
The prisoner was then formally remanded until eleven
o'clock on Monday next.

MEYERBEER'S AFRICANE.”—M. Emilie Perrin,
director of the French Opera, has addressed a letter
to the editor of the ig aro- Programmo, contradicting a
statement recently made in that publication respecting
Meyerbeer's " Atricane." The director asserts that the
opera in question has not been read at the Opera, and that
not one of the al ti6tes or persons employed at the theatre
have any knowledge whatever of the work, and cense-
quoit ly cannot be in a position to express an opinion as to
its score.

An Irish paper asserts that the Marquis of Done-
gall has replied to the official communication of the Grand
Masonic Lodge of Ireland, in reference to the observations
made by the noble marquis, reflecting on the absence of the
Mayor of Belfast from that town during the first two
days of the riots. The Irish Times says that "in his reply
Lord Donegall candidly admits his error, and expresses his
regret at having selected that occasion to make observa-
tions, whose tendency and character the Masonic body had
reason to complain of. His lordship's reply will be formally
laid before the Grand Lodge on the first Thursday in Oc-
tober, and will then be fully considered."
A VICTIM TO KLEPTOMANIA.—At the Hull Police
Court on Thursday a young and respectable-looking
girl, named Eliza Foster, was placed at the bar charged on
remand with stealing na locket and other trinkets, the pro-
perty of her mistress, Mrs Cockayne, Osborne-street. The
prosecutrix, a Quakeress, said that a short time ago she
engaged the prisoner as a domestic servant. She was to
come a month upon trial, and during the period of
prisoner's engagement prosecutrix found many small
articles out of their usual and proper place. On Sunday,
the 4th September, Mrs Cookayne noticed that the prison-
er's pocket.was very bulky, and she followed her upstairs,
where the girl went to change her dress. She noticed her
take some articles out of the pocket of the dress she had
taken off and put them in the one she was then wearing,
and afterwards prosecutrix examined this pocket and found
them. She sent for a policeman and gave her into cus-
tody. When Whitelam made the charge, prisoner said in
prosecutrix's hearing, " I am guilty ; I have a propensity
for gee ing, and cannot let anything pass me." prosecutrix
recommended prisoner to mercy, believing that she had
suffered sufficient punishment already. Mr Foster, the
prisoner's father, gave his daughter,an excellent character,
and she was discharged on finding two sectuitiee for her
future good behaviour, •

gkr:#7
ht./.
0311111

HER MAJESTY.

BALMORAL, Sept. 16,

The Queen, accompanied by the Duchess of Sax°
Coburg and Princess Louise, drove yesterday to
Alt.na-Guithasach.

Her Majesty received from Potsdam yeEterdsY
the gratifying intelligence of her Royal Highnesi
the Crown Prince of Prussia's safe delivery of a
prince at twelve o'clock that morning.
Princess Helena, attended by the Hon. Mrs
Bruce and the Hon. Sir Frederick Bruce, drove to
Invercauld.

SF pt. 17.
The weather prevented any of the royal family
from going out in the morning of yesterday.
In the afternoon the Qucen, accompanied by the
Duchess of Saxe Coburg, walked and drove.
The Hon. Sir Frederick Bruce had the honour of
dining with her Majesty and the royal family last
night.
The Duke and Duchess of Saxe Coburg took
leave of her Majesty this morning, to return to the
Continent, attended by Baron de Schhinitz.