Alfler Bande were caught. These people were suspected of having murdered the Kaifenheim parish priest on 21 November; 5 further members were caught in Alflen. In 1818, Müllenbach's parish priest was Johann Heinrich Schmitt, born in Ransbach, who held the post until 1824. He was then succeeded by Franz Joseph Steffes, born in Alflen, who served until 1845. Also in 1824, the parish of Müllenbach was assigned to the Diocese of Trier; in 1827, it was also assigned to the deaconry of Cochem. The first gallery mine in the slate mountains of the Rhine's left bank was opened on the Escherkaul. The mine was called Höllenpforte – “Hell’s Gate”. In 1832, there were 550 people living in Müllenbach, belonging to 140 families. In the same year, Philipp Reichard is named as the schoolteacher; the parish priest was apparently satisfied with him. In 1839, the Prussian administration allowed the municipality of Müllenbach to hold two markets: a trading market on the fourth Thursday after Easter, and a livestock market on the second Monday before Saint Bartholomew's Day (24 August). In 1840, there were 715 inhabitants in Müllenbach living in 115 houses. Plans were being made to build a new church. In 1842, Landrat (District Chairman) Schönberger sent Mayor Driesch of Kaisersesch a letter asking him to explain law-flouting incidents that had been happening in Müllenbach after abuse of alcohol – notably one that had seen a young man stabbed several times. He asked him to address the situation and, if need be, hire police specially for the village – at the municipality's own expense, of course. On 19 March 1843, a great fire ravaged Müllenbach, and could not be put out until the following morning. The toll was 35 houses, 27 barns full of livestock, produce and equipment. Luckily, there were no human deaths. Joseph Schmitz was named in 1846 as Müllenbach's mayor. It is unknown whether this was in fact Mathias Joseph Schmitz, the famous bell pourer. He was furthermore named as the endower of the windows at the parish church with the motif featuring Saint Matthew. Joseph Schmitz's deputy was Peter Miesen. The same year, the economic crisis also made itself felt in Müllenbach as many slate miners lost their jobs in the wake of the downturn in the slate market. The new parish priest was Nikolaus Guldner, born in Dillingen. He is held to be the builder of