The Execution and Confession of Franz Muller, Franz Muller, for the Murder of Mr. Briggs, November 14th, 1864
At two o’clock on Saturday afternoon Sir George Grey returned an answer to the memorial presented to him, praying for a respite of the convict Muller, by the German Legal Protection Society. Previous to the delivery of his decision he had a long conversation with the Lord Chief Baron Pollock and Mr. Baron Martin, which terminated in his arriving at the conclusion that the memorial did not warrant his interfering with the verdict of the jury.
Immediately upon the receipt of the letter, Mr. Beard, with Alderman Wilson, proceeded to communicate to Muller the result of the efforts that had been made on his behalf. They were received by Mr. Jonas, the governor of Newgate, who conducted them to the condemned cell. They found the prisoner engaged in writing. He immediately rose, and extended his hand to Mr. Beard, who asked him how he was. The convict said, “I am very well.” Mr. Jonas then informed the prisoner of the efforts that had been made to save his life, and that Mr. Beard had just received a reply from the Secretary of State, which he read to him. At the conclusion the convict said, in a low voice, “I did not expect anything else.” Mr. Beard then said to the prisoner, “Did you know that any efforts had been made on your behalf?” The prisoner replied, “Yes, I did think so.” Mr. Beard then said, “Have you any statement that you wish to make?” The prisoner, “No, nothing.” “Because,” continued Mr. Beard, “now that all has been done that can be done for you, and there is no hope in this world, if you have anything to acknowledge, you had better do so.” In reply to this Muller said, “I should be a very bad fellow if I had done it. I have no other statement to make than that which I have already made.” Mr. Beard then asked him if he had made his peace with God. The prisoner said, “Yes;” and in every respect appeared resigned to his fate. Mr. Beard then shook hands with him, and said, “Good-bye Muller; God bless you;” The prisoner returned the pressure of his hand, and was left to himself.
The prisoner on Sunday attended Divine service in the chapel, both in the morning and the afternoon, and listened apparently with deep attention to the discourse delivered by the Rev. Mr. Davis, the Ordinary. He was visited in the evening by Dr. Walbaum and Dr. Cappell.
Preparations for the Execution
Up to Sunday night Muller preserved the same quiet, firm demeanour, and although he occupied some of his time in writing, he did not lie down till considerably after his usual time, and slept but little. He rose at five o’clock on Monday in good spirits, and was soon afterwards joined by the Rev. Mr. Davis, the chaplain of the gaol, and the Rev. Mr. Walbaum. He in every respect appeared calm and resigned to meet his fate. He joined devoutly in prayer with the rev. gentleman, and otherwise conducted himself in a manner becoming his awful position. A little before seven o’clock he was visited by Mr. Jonas, the governor of the gaol, to whom he extended his hand, and feelingly thanked him for the kind attention he had received since his incarceration. Calcraft arrived at six, but was not recognised by the mob, and thus escaped the usual hooting.
Although the fixing of the scaffold was completed by four o’clock, still the clang of hammers in putting up barriers continued till day had dawned.
At five o’clock a heavy drenching rain set in, which had the effect of driving the majority of those who during the night had taken up positions, from their strongholds, and to hastily beat a retreat to the now open public-houses and coffee-shops, as well as to other places offering anything like shelter. At this time there could not have been more than five hundred people actually upon the scene. But at six o’clock the rain abated, and from this time the crowd was recruited by an increasing flow of new comers.
At six o’clock the main body of police, under Mr. Inspector Duddy, was stationed at the approaches to, and in the Old Bailey, and preserved throughout the morning in the strictest order.
Soon after seven o’clock, Mr. Alderman and Sheriff Besley, Mr. Alderman and Sheriff Dakin, and the Under Sheriffs, Messrs. Davidson and De Jersey, arrived at the Sessions House, where they remained until summoned to the prison by the governor. About twenty minutes to eight they were informed that the condemned man would soon leave his cell. Upon receiving this intimation these officials left the Sessions House. A few minutes after this, the procession reached the door which opens into the chapel-yard. Here they awaited the arrival of the culprit.
The Execution
While the officials were on their way from the Sessions House to this spot, Mr. Jonas had gone to the cell of the prisoner, and informed him that it was time for him to leave. The prisoner, who was deadly pale, trembled with emotion, but sought to bear the awful announcement with all the fortitude possible. He rose up, shook hands with the gaolers who had been principally with him since his incarceration, and with a firm and rather quick step left his cell, accompanied by Mr. Jonas, followed by two or three other officials. As soon as they left the cell the shouts and cries of “They are coming,” “They are coming,” “Hats off.” At this moment the most intense excitement and confusion prevailed, in the midst of which terrible din reverberated the echoes of the solemn knell, which, from its increased rapid tolling, indicated that the mournful procession had gained the steps of the hideous, cloth-draped gibbet. A moment afterwards Calcraft, the hangman, made his appearance on the scaffold, and then withdrew to see that all was right. He had no sooner disappeared than Muller, accompanied by the Rev. J. Davis, chaplain, and Dr. Cappell, followed by other officials, made his appearance. This was a signal for the renewed excitement and clamour of the swerving multitude, who had largely, and as it were imperceptibly increased, and whose upturned anxious faces met the gaze at all points.
The culprit ascended the scaffold with a firm step, and placed himself under the drop. He cast his eyes once up towards the beam, and his lips quivered with emotion, but this he evidently sought to check. After the cap had been drawn over his head and the rope put round his neck, Dr. Cappell took hold of his hand and again prayed with him. This he did for some minutes, and concluded by addressing the following words to the now fast dying man:—“In a few moments you will be before your God. I ask you, for the last time, are you innocent or guilty?”
Muller: I am innocent.
Dr. Cappell: You are innocent?
Muller: God Almighty knows what I have done.
Dr. Cappell: Does God know that you have done this deed?
Muller was silent.
Dr. Cappell: I ask you now, solemnly, and for the last time, have you committed this crime?
Muller: Yes, I have done it.
Almost at the same instant, and while the words were upon the lips of the wretched man, the drop fell, and Muller died without a struggle.
Dr. Cappell nearly fainted.
Immediately after the execution the sheriffs despatched a communication to Sir George Grey, informing him that the culprit had confessed. A similar communication was made to Sir R. Mayne, at Scotland-yard.
The following despatch was immediately after the execution forwarded to the Home Secretary:—
“Gaol of Newgate, 14th day of November, 1864.
“To the Right Hon. Sir George Grey, Bart.
“Sir,—By direction of the sheriffs I have the honour to acquaint you that the prisoner Muller has at the last moment, just before the drop fell, confessed to the German minister of religion attending him that he was guilty of the deed for which he suffered.
“I have the honour, &c.,
“Septimus Davidson, one of the under-sheriffs.”
London: Printed for the Vendors.