The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-12-16

After recovering, he repeated in English
IN the presence of the sheriffs and under
sheriffs, and tho representatives of tn,
newspaper press, of whom there were four
what had just passed between him and tn
convict, precisely as it has been relates
above. 'r'
Another account gives the following a
full report of this curious conversation,
| When he stood under the gallows will
Muller, Rev. Mr.. Davis being with him
he spoke as follows: . .
DR.. Cappel--Muller. In wenigen Angen'
blicken stehen Sic vor Gott /; ioh frage Sic
n0chmals, und yum letzten male, Sind Sic
schuldig oder unschuldig9 Muller-Ich
bin unschuldig.
DR.. Cappel-Sie sind unschuldigs Null.
ler-Gott weiss was ich gethan hsbe.
DIR. Cappel-Gott weiss was Sic gethau
haben. Weiss er auch das Sic dies Yer
brechen gethan haben? Muller-Ja; ich
babe es gethan? Ee ,a
The words translated are as follows:
Dr.. Cappel said: Muller, in a few mo.
nents you will stand before God. / ask
you again, and for the last time, are you
guilty or not guilty, Muller answered
Not guilty. ~ r...... ...s.
DR.. Oappel: You are not guiltys Null
Ter: God knows what have done. -sn
DR.. Capped: God knows what you have
done. Does he alsO know that you have
committed this crimep Muller: Yes;
have done it. ... ..:.
There is strong probability that if the
executioner had not been so terribly
prompt in Withdrawing the fatal bolt,
Muller would have made q much fuller
confession, 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. 1t was only by
the very narrowest chance that the cul.
prit had time to say what he did; for the
important words were almost choked in
the uttering. 1t 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
performed this task while the two minis
tering clergyman-the Rev. Mr.. Davis,
the ordinary of Newgate, and 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
bis legs with the usual strap, all of which
he did with remarkable quickness, he sud-
denly left the platform. Tho two clergy
men, who were standing Immediately In
front, and as close to the prisoner as pos.
sible, were not able to converse with him
during the time the hangman was engaged
in this Office; but when these terrible de-
tails were finished, the Rev. DR.. Capped
spoke to Muller with the greatest solem-
nifty, 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.. Capped bent
forward with outstretched hands and with
his face close to that of the unhappy crmi-
nal. Through the white cap, which hardly
came even with the jaw, the lips could be
seen moving, and while DR.. Capped was
thus listening, the drop fell with sud-
denness that must have greatly startled
that gentleman. DR.. Oappel was actually
leaning forward when the body went down.
The two clergymen were left for the mo-
ment in dreadful contiguity to the dying
man. st.s.- raf .., ..r.i ,.. III
MULLKR's LAST MOMKNTs. III.
DR.. Cappel writes to London paper the
following account of Mullers last mo-
ments: ..
Soon after entering bis cell on the last
morning asked Muller again whether be
was guilty ofthis murder. He denied it
then said, "Muller, the moments are
precious; we must turn our minds wholly
to God; l shall question you no more
about this, but my last words to you will
be, "Are you innocent7" He remained
silent for a minute or two, but presently
exclaimed, his eyes full of tears, an6
olasp!ng his arms around my neck, "De
not forsake me; stay with me to the last.
I was so struck with this that consulted
with Mr.. Jonas, the governor, whether th,
final question should not be put in tn,
pinioning room or on the scaffold. W.
decided for the latter. ...
My own conviction, derived from tn
closest personal intercourse with the pris
oner, is that the murder was not premedi
tated; but that Muller, in want of money
and yielding to sudden temptation, at
tackled bis victim for tho sake of robbery
and finished, in the despair of the moment
by killing him either with his own hands
or causing his fall from the railway car
riage. recollect particularly on one oc
casion, when represented to him th
crime as likely to have taken place in thi
way, be answered not, but gazed at me in
teptly, and impressed me at the time wit
.he belief of the correctness of my ,suppo
sition. '
! have generally observed that Mule
was most earnest in protesting his inno
cense when directly charged with murder
Statements such as never having been i
" a North London railway train he mad
only in answer to pointed questions, and
it seems, in order not to contradict pre
vious similar assertions. His manner
simple, gentle and apparently open an
+ruthfnl-was such as eas;1v IN do,o;u