Muller the Murderer Based on the true proceedings of the Franz Muller murder trial of 1864.   July 9, 1864 9:50 PM London                 The day was plagued with dark clouds swirling around the misty air, and conditions worsened as daylight shifted to darkness.  Torrential downpours beset all of the beautiful nature and each crash of thunder carried the eerie cackle of Satan.  Nonetheless, the railroads remained undaunted and the conductors pushed determinedly on.               Down the street an old man named Thomas Briggs bustled through the storm, impervious to the foreboding circumstances of the squall.  There was only one solitary thought on Old Man Briggs’s mind: to return to his wife and children after a grueling day at work.  Upon his boarding of the train, Satan let out another booming cackle, more obnoxious than the last, as it shook the entire locomotive.               The long journey began, and Briggs graciously delved into the realm of unconsciousness; for fatigue had won this battle.  Two cars down, another gentleman, much younger than Briggs, accommodated a seat.  This man, a poor German tailor, contemplated his own plans for this ominous evening.  These plans, as most had imagined were to eat dinner and get a good night’s rest, were thought by nobody to be a devious plot that would change history.               An hour passed and the inside of the train remained peaceful, and the cackle of Satan had not been heard for many minutes.  Mr. Muller stood up.  BOOM!  He took a few steps towards the next car.  BOOM!  He opened the door of the next car.  BOOM!  He progressed to the center of this second car.  BOOM!  He opened the door of the next car.  BOOM!  He stared directly at Mr. Briggs.  BOOM!  BOOM!  BOOM!  BOOM!  Muller’s fist repeatedly cracked down on the skull of Mr. Briggs.  BOOM!  BOOM!  BOOM! Three powerful kicks to his chest were delivered.  CRACK!  With one final effort, Briggs ceased to exist.  BOOOOOOOOM!  Satan let out a mind-blowing cackle from the deepest layer of hell.  The deed was done.  Seconds later a window shattered, and out went the body of Thomas Briggs, and all that remained were the golden spectacles and golden watch and a top hat to tell the tale.               Franz Muller woke early the next day, knowing it was only a matter of time before the word was out and he was a fugitive on the run; therefore, he began his race early.  Moments later, he was on his journey to the promised land, America, eager to walk in the shoes of Ebenezer Scrooge and start anew.  Immediately, he donned his modified hat, and took off mad as a hatter[1] towards the port.  Dreams are meant to be broken, as some might say; for when he exited the ship, he was greeted with cries of hate.  “Muller the murderer!  Muller the murderer!”  The phrase echoed in his ears everywhere he went; there was no escaping the reality.  Muller was confined by the authorities obliged to enforce the reality, and was set before a jury of God.  The final judgment had come, as on November 14, 1864 Franz Muller was led to the dreadful scaffold.               All of the executioners surrounded Franz Muller in the crowd, with their representative operating the rope and trap door.  “Any last words?”  That was the question.  “Ich habe es gethan.”---It is done.  Franz Muller breathed let out one shrill cackle, and then his mangled body hung over the pits of hell.               There was a church on the hill overlooking this scene, and the minister, inspired by Muller’s elegant style of headwear, wore the same hat.[2]  The legacy of Franz Muller lives on.                                                                 

[1] Franz Muller modified the hat of Thomas Briggs into the style of hat that is worn by the Mad Hatter in Alice In Wonderland. It is called the Muller Cut hat. [2] Winston Churchill was known for wearing a Muller Cut hat.