The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-05-25

man OF means, while riding in the ears
from Fenchurch street station, London,
to Hackney Wick. was murdered and
his body thrown out Of the car before
the latter place was reached. When
the car was opened a black bag he
longing to Mr.. Briggs and a hat that
was not his were found in the car
The body Of Mr.. Briggs was found
near Hackney Wick, lying as if he
had been pushed from the car Mr..
Briggs hat, chain and watch were
gone. The question of identification Of
the murderer at once depended on who
owned the hat left in the car. The
lining of this hat was peculiar. Prob
ably there was not another hat similar
ly lined in all London. The detectives
diligently took hold of the case. there
being a reward Of several thousand
dollars offered, and finally the halter
was found who had made the hat, as
both he and his wOrkmen identified il
by the lining. But to whom had they
sold it. That they could not tell. FL
nally the detectives learned that one
Franz Muller, a German jOurneyman
tailor. had a hat similar. and it was at
once surmised he was the man. Where
was Muller? He had sailed for Amer
lea. A London detective, accompanied
by a jeweler who knew the chain which
had been exchanged for Mr.. Briggs,
and who had repaired Mr.. Briggs
watch. and a cabman to identify Null
Ter. set sail for New York, and, having
the needful papers, he was brought
back to London. In the trunk of Null
Ter was found the fatal hat which be
yond all peradVenture, established his
guilt It was the hat of the late Mr..
Briggs. He wore very peculiar hats,
was very careful Of them and one last
ed a year. His halter was found, and
there was his name on the band; but
there was one discrepancy. The hat
was an inch and a half shorter than
Mr. Briggs wore A careful examina-
ton disclosed the fact that the hat
had been cut down, but in such way
as no halter would do. IT had been
cut down and seWed on to the crown
with a great many stitches just as a
tailor would likely do. Hatters when
they cut down a hat use gum shellac
and press it down. This last fact,
coupled with the circumstances in re
gard to the watch and chain, sealed the
fate of Muller and though the Prus-
sian government made an effort to save
his life he was executed in the pres
ence of probably one Of the largest and
noisiest mobs that ever graced or dis
graced a London hanging.
In the early history of st. Louis
county, Missouri. along in the thirties
( there lived a man named Femister
( who was sheriff of the county. His
( residence xas somewhat isolated from
/ those of his neighbOrs, and, as he was
! the tax collector as we'll as sheriff, he
/ was supposed to have a large amount
/ of ready money about him. One night
( he was awakened by the noise of two
men in his room. He arose, and
/ scuffle ensued, during which one of the
/ two victims seized d small Ratchet and
! split his head open. His wife and two
! little children lay in bed in the room
and she was bound hand and foot, anc
/ told by one of the villains that if she
breathed a word they would kill her
1 The next day. when the tragedy wa:
! discovered, every effort was made L
/ detect the criminals. Mrs. Femistel
I felt sure she could identify the MAJ
( who had threatened her.
A number of people were arrested
and brought before her, but being {
! conscientious woman and unwilling t.
I wrongfully or under a mistaken I'M
/ preston accuse anyone, she would say
1 No, that's not the man. Finally the!
/ brought up a man whom she scTuti
nized eagerly. Still she was not salts
fed that he was the person. Did h
have on hat?" asked the sheriff o.
4 officer in charge. Yes" replied tn
woman. Put on your hat" The maj
did so with a scowl. At this Mrs. Fe
/ mister cried out: "Oh. take him away
/ that's him. / know that Scowl," and
sure enough, she was correct. tn
fellow was tried. convicted, confesse'
to the crime and was executed.
A merchant from Lucca was travel
ing to ROuen, in Normandy, when hi
servant (they being in a lonely spot
fell upon and murdered him, hiding hi
body in a vineyard close by. A bin,