Being in Williamsport, Pa., in the month of May, I was invited by James Armstrong, Esq., prosecuting attorney of Lycoming County, and Mr. Lloyd, high sheriff of said county, to examine the head of a William Miller, who was then in prison awaiting his trial for the murder of a German pedlar by the name of Hoffman. On entering his cell, I found a good looking, not to say a handsome young man, about twenty years of age, in irons, exhibiting no peculiar marks of intelligence, yet a vacuity of expression, a mysterious, reserved appearance, with a countenance somewhat downcast but rather sullen. On proceeding with the examination, I found it one of the most painfully interesting cases that had ever fallen under my observation. The developments and their combinations struck me at once as extremely unfavourable; and, upon this account, I took particular pains to obtain precise and accurate admeasurements. They were taken in the presence of the above named gentlemen, before the trial, and in the absence of all knowledge concerning the prisoner’s real character, except that he was charged with murder.

It is to these measurements, rather than to any statements of my own, that I wish to call particular attention. They are as follows, including the integuments. The allowance generally made for these, is two-eighths of an inch; but, as his integuments were unusually thick, three-eighths of an inch should be deducted in the present case. This will give very accurately the measurements of the skull itself.

Measurements of the Head

Inches
Circumference of the head around Philoprogenitiveness, Secretiveness, and Eventuality,21⅞
From Occipital Spine to Individuality, over Firmness,12⅝
” Destructiveness to Destructiveness,7
” Combativeness to Combativeness,6½
” Ear to Firmness,6⅜
” ” Benevolence,4¾
” ” Individuality,5

The general configuration of the head was not less interesting than the particular developments. Whilst the heads of highly moral and intellectual men generally measure from one and a half to three inches more from Individuality to Philoprogenitiveness than from Destructiveness to Destructiveness, his head was nearly round. The coronal region was poorly developed. The sides of the head were bulged out to an extraordinary extent, whilst it was flattened behind, evidently indicating deficient social feelings. The cerebral fibres were very short from the ear to the organs in the anterior lobe of the brain, as well as from the ear to Adhesiveness and Philoprogenitiveness. His head was somewhat above the average size. His body was strong and well built, yet the quality of his organisation was rather gross. His temperament was principally lymphatic bilious, with some of the sanguine, but scarcely any traces of the nervous.[3] Such a temperament is much more favourable to the exercise of physical than mental power, and to the manifestations of the animal propensities than of the moral sentiments and the intellectual faculties.

Having observed the organisation of the body, and of the general form of the head, I commenced a minute comparison of the relative size of the respective organs. The result is as follows:—

I shall describe only the extremes of development, and the general result of their respective combinations in activity. The organs located in the sides of the head were the first to arrest my attention. It was the development, not of any one of these organs (selfish propensities), but the immense size of the whole of them, acting without the restraints of either the intellect or the moral sentiments, which would constitute the leading features of character. Acquisitiveness, Secretiveness, Destructiveness, Self-esteem, and Firmness, were all “very large;” Combativeness and Cautiousness were “large,” with Benevolence, Ideality, and Adhesiveness, “moderate.” Any well informed phrenologist can easily predicate the effects resulting from such combination.

His predominating Acquisitiveness and Self-esteem would render him supremely selfish, and incline him (Conscientiousness being deficient) to appropriate things to himself, without regard to the principles of justice or the right of others. His Secretiveness, Destructiveness, Firmness, and Combativeness, with average intellect, would enable him to devise and execute plans with tolerable success for gratifying his selfish feelings. Still he had not sufficient Causality to plan on a large scale, nor to adapt means to ends successfully in the long run. He would deal principally in “little things.” Conscientiousness and Benevolence would but feebly remonstrate against any measures, however unjust or cruel, which his other faculties might devise and carry into effect. Having weak Adhesiveness and Benevolence, and very large Secretiveness, he would be unsocial, almost destitute of friendship, spend most of his time by himself, would have few intimates, and no confidants among his acquaintances or even relatives. Few persons would know any thing concerning him; a mystery would hang over all his affairs and conduct.