Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1864-12-17
rsun ExEcursoH ou, MULLER.

THE EXECUTION OE' MULLER.
In our foreign news received by the China,
which arrived ut New York last week,
we find full account of the execu-
tion of Franz Muller for the murder of Mr..
Briggs, in compartment of q railroad car.
Although the night had been very rainy,
the sun came out brightly on the morning
of the cxecution--Monday, November ID
and it is supposed that nearly one hundred
thousand people gathered to see the death.
The London Times of the 18th says:
The occupants of "cheap seats" and good
accommodation" were particularly numer-
oss. The windows of several houses in
front of the drop were well filled, whilst
numbers were sitting on the roofs. Preach
ers of various religious sects were scattered
about, and worked with commendable zeal
IN the distribution of tracts. In one part
three jointed fishing rod was employed, to
which was attached a scroll with the in
scription: "Be sure your sins will find you
out" and in another instance party of
men was stationed, one of whom held up II
walking stick with II text attached whilst
the others discoursed ON SCription subjects,
and took part in reading and singing hymns.
Another man, more conspicuous than the
rest, was working his way through the
crowd with bill placed before him as an
apron. calling attention 10 the publication
of pamphlet issued by the City Gospel
Hall, and called should Murders be put to
Death ~ There were great many foreign
ers present, and To them selections from the
New Testament, printed in the German and
other Continental languages, were presented.
But while this was going on in one part,
none but those who looked down upon the
awful crowd of Monday will ever believe in
the wholesale open, broadcast manner III
which garroting and highway robbery were
carried on in another We do not now
speak Of those whom the were wanton mis-
chief Of the crowd led to bonnet as they
passed, or else to pluck their hats off their
heaC,s and toss them over the mob amid
roars and shouts of Laughter, as they came
from all sides and went in all directions, till
sometimes even they fell within the en-
closure round the drop, and were kicked
under the galows by the police. The pro-
priety of such an amusements at such time
admits OF question, to say the least, even
among such ar audience. But even this
rough play falls into harmlessness beside
the open robbery and violence which yes
terday morning had its way virtually un-
checked in NCwgate street. There were
regular gangs, not SO much in the crowd
itself within the barriers along the aven.
ues which led to them; and these vagrants
openly stopped, "Donncted, sometimes gar
roted and always piundcreG; any person
/ dress led them to think him worth the
trouble; the risk was nothing. Sometimes
their victims made desperate resistance
and for few minutes kept the crowd
! around them violently swaying to and fro
/ amid tic dreadful uprCar. in no instance.
! however, could we ascertain that Police
| WAS ever called. Indeed, one OF the solitary
! instances in which they interiered ut all was
where their aid was sought from some
/ houses the occupants of which saw an old
farmer, who after long and gallant strug-
gle with his many as5alants, seemed, after
/ having been robbed, to be in danger of
serious injury as well. This, however, about
the farmer, is mere episode; the rule was
such robling and .iltreutment rs made the
victims only too s lad to fly far from the
spot where they had suffered it, and who if
even then they ventured on giving any in
formation to the police, could hope for no
redress in such q crowd. Such were an open
pastimcs of tise mob from uayiiskt ill near
tie time of execution, when the great space
around the prison seemed choked with its
vast multitude.
Up to the very last moment he denied his
guilt. Shortly before eight O'Clock he was
led from the session house TO the gaol, and
EOm thence to the press room. lie walked
brisGly across the courtyard, followed 10y
the authorities. There he was pinioncd by
the uXccutioncr, and underwent the ordeal
with unshaken courage. While all about
him were visibly touched, not muscle in
lis face movel,, and he showed no signs OF
emotion. lie was docile withal, and re-
spccttul in his demeanor. Again and again
DR.. Cdppel approached him and sought to
sustain him by the use OF encourage in .
words. The convict, repeating the words
after the rverend gentleman, repeatedly suid
in German, Christ, the Lamb of God, have
mercy upon ule" The process OF pinloning
over. Mr.. Jonas, the governor, asked the
convict to take seat, which he declined
and remained standing until the prison bel
began to toll which was to summon him tC
the scallold. As he remained in that atti
tude, one could not help being struck viii
the remarkable appearance OF physical
strength which his figure denoted, and still
,nOrc 10y his indQmiIabiG tOIlitule. TnOugl
shOIt III stature, he was compuctly and sym
metrically made and there wee very sirik
ing indications OF vigor about his chest
arms, hands, aud the lack part Of his mech
in particular His clothes were well made
and he was dressed with remarkable neat
ness. When the eXcCutiDner was rrmovn,
his necktie and shirt Caiar, in arranging
which much care appeared to have been be
slowed. tho ConiiCt held up his head to al
low of hiS dom! IL with more case. Thi!
was about the last vi the preparations. :,
signal was given by tie governor, aud th'
Rev. Mr, Davis, The ordinary, led the va!
To the scaIi'od, reading, as he did so, som,
Of the preliminary verses OF the burial ser
vice. lie was followed by the convict anC
., the Rev. Dr. Cappel, and then by the She
rifS and under sherilis. He assembled tn
scatinld with a firm step, accompanied b.
DR.. Capped, and as lie did so the multitud
on his being confronted with them, raised
/ mighty and indescribable hum. At thi
moment the sun shone brightly though rail
: had fallen more or less all through the night
, After the convict had been placed upol
t the drop, and the rope adjusted round hi
neck, DR.. Capped, his spiritual adviser, aC,
. dressed him with great animation and 50
emnity: Muller, in wenigen Augenblickel
sthen Sic vOr Gort; ich irage Sic nochmals
und zum 'lel2en male: Sind Sic schuldi;
oder unschuldig2 Muler-Ich bin un