The above letters have been in our possession now for some months, and we had intended ere this, to have presented them in the pages of the Journal. But by this delay we have recently and very opportunely received, by a gentleman from Williamsport, the dying confession of William Miller. Whilst on the one hand we were surprised, in its perusal, to observe the striking coincidences between Mr. Fowler’s statements and the individual’s own confession of his private history, on the other we were shocked to read such a long series of youthful vice and crime. We doubt whether a similar instance can be found recorded in the annals of history. The facts in the case of this unfortunate young man involves many important principles in jurisprudence, education, morals, &c. &c.; but our present object is simply to present the facts in the case.
The general facts connected with the murder are contained in the letter of Judge Lewis. But as his confession relates the particulars more in detail, preceded by a continued series of vicious and criminal conduct for fifteen years, showing the gradual process by which he became so hardened and cruel, we are induced to present the entire confession, notwithstanding its length. It is undoubtedly similar in some respects to that of many others much older than Miller, yet less experienced in crime, who end their days in the prison or on the gallows. Though young in years, he had emphatically grown old in the school of vice. We earnestly request every reader to notice the following facts in his melancholy narrative, which undoubtedly prepared the way for the number and enormity of his crimes.
His mother died when he was quite young. He was subject to little, if any, parental restraint and government; received, comparatively, no education, nor moral and religious instruction; early gave way to his “evil passions;” was greatly encouraged by bad associates; was not restrained by the ties of family affection, nor influenced much by any relations to friends and acquaintances, either in regard to his business or his character; first commenced stealing little things, then lying; persevered constantly in such offences for nearly fifteen years, till he finally committed robbery and murder. But it appears that he had planned several murders, and even that of his own brother, before the execution of his last fatal deed.
Let every reader observe, that Miller grew up with his intellectual faculties uneducated, his moral sentiments unenlightened, his domestic feelings but little exercised, and his selfish propensities and sentiments unrestrained. We need not say, that these facts involve important principles in the true physiology of the brain and the science of mind.
The facts in the confession should also be compared with the statements of Mr. Fowler’s letter. It is due to state, that Mr. F. has never seen this confession, nor the letter of Judge Lewis—that he knows nothing of the contents of either, and there is no reason to doubt his statement concerning his knowledge of Miller’s real character. A phrenologist will readily perceive that, from the data first taken by Mr. F., even a darker portrait might have been drawn on strict scientific principles, than what Mr. F.’s letter presents. We have italicised some parts of the confession which strikingly accord with the phrenological descriptions.
[3] This case affords an additional confirmation of the truth of a physiological hypothesis, to which I have been led by numerous observations, and which, if true, is of considerable importance: viz. that the nervous and nervous bilious temperaments favour the manifestation of the moral and intellectual faculties, the sanguine and lymphatic, that of the organs located in the basilar and posterior region of the brain. I have never found, within the walls of a prison, a purely nervous or nervous bilious temperament.
THE CONFESSION OF WILLIAM MILLER,
Who was convicted of the murder of Solomon Hoffman, and executed at Williamsport, Lycoming county, Penn., on the 27th of July, 1838; made in the presence of the sheriff and attending ministers, June 7, 1838.
I was born in York county, in the state of Pennsylvania, A. D. 1815. My mother died when I was eleven years of age. My natural disposition, from my earliest infancy, was grossly depraved. I seemed fatally bent on mischief, and had a relish for dark and secret crime; and never having received any religious education or instruction, (except from occasionally hearing the gospel preached,) my evil passions and malice of my nature grew with my growth, and strengthened with my years. Before my imprisonment, I had not learned any principles of religion or precepts of morality, by which I could discover the full deformity of my character, or the deep wickedness of my conduct. The after survey of my acts and conduct, and the review of my crimes, were scarcely ever attended, with a feeling of regret. I seemed too spell bound, in my evil to relent; and my conduct so accorded with my evil passions that reflection was without remorse. I was greatly addicted to theft. But I stole not through want so much as through the gratification of my wicked disposition. This disposition was carried into action first when I was nine years of age. I then stole an half dollar from my father, and gave it to my mother. I told her I had found it. She believed me, and bought a handkerchief for me with it.
Some time after the death of my mother, my father and family removed from York county to Lycoming county, and resided in the Block-house settlement. I lived with the family there till I attained the age of nineteen years.
During my stay at the Block-house settlement, previously to learning a trade, I stole a pocket knife while at a religious meeting, held at the house of Mr. Knodle. I then became more bold, and having discovered where Samuel Hartman kept his money, I attempted to rob him, by breaking into his drawer; but in that I did not succeed. Soon after this, I was living a short time in the family of Mrs. Bastian, who then, and always, treated me with great kindness. I stole from her twenty-five cents.