The Life, Trial, Confession and Execution of Albert W. Hicks: The Pirate and Murderer, Executed on Bedloe's Island, New York Bay, on the 13th of July, 1860, for the Murder of Capt. Burr, Smith and Oliver Watts, on Board the Oyster Sloop E. A. Johnson. Containing the History of His Life (Written by Himself) from Childhood Up to the Time of His Arrest. With a Full Account of His Piracies, Murders, Mutinies, High-way Robberies, etc., Comprising the Particulars of Nearly One Hundred Murders! to whicHicks, Albert W.
History
The Life, Trial, Confession and Execution of Albert W. Hicks: The Pirate and Murderer, Executed on Bedloe's Island, New York Bay, on the 13th of July, 1860, for the Murder of Capt. Burr, Smith and Oliver Watts, on Board the Oyster Sloop E. A. Johnson. Containing the History of His Life (Written by Himself) from Childhood Up to the Time of His Arrest. With a Full Account of His Piracies, Murders, Mutinies, High-way Robberies, etc., Comprising the Particulars of Nearly One Hundred Murders! to whic
Hicks, Albert W.
Burr, Capt. (George H.), -1860; Hicks, Albert W., approximately 1820-1860 -- Trials, litigation, etc.; Trials (Piracy) -- New York (State) -- New York; Watts, Oliver, -1860; Watts, Smith, -1860
Again, she arrived in Gravesend Bay on Sunday afternoon, and remained
there waiting for a fair wind until Tuesday at sunset, when she set out
to sea, Captain Burr, a man by the name of Wm. Johnson, and two boys,
named Smith and Oliver Watts, being on board.
The next morning, Wednesday the 22d of March, the sloop was picked up by
the schooner “Telegraph” of New London, in the lower bay, between the
West Bank and the Romer Shoals. On being boarded, she was found to have
been abandoned, as also to bear the most unmistakable evidences of foul
play having taken place at some time, not remote. It was also evident
that a collision had taken place with some other vessel, as her bowsprit
had been carried away, and was then floating alongside, attached to her
by the stays. Upon further examination, her deck appeared to have been
washed with human blood, and her cabin bore dire marks of a desperate
struggle for life. The Telegraph made fast to her, and started for the
city, but was failing in the effort (as both vessels were fast drifting
ashore), when the towboat Ceres, Captain Stevens, being in the
neighborhood, took them in tow, and brought them both up to the city,
when they were moored in the Fulton Market slip.
The story of bloody traces was at once communicated to the Police
Authorities, and soon it spread throughout the city that a terrible
massacre had taken place. Speculation accused river pirates of the
crime, but there was a doubt on the public mind. Throughout Wednesday,
the circumstances connected with the case were canvassed thoroughly, but
no new light could be obtained as to the mystery. The daily press served
up the story to the public on Thursday morning. Scarcely had the papers
been issued when two men, named John Burke and Andrew Kelly, residents
of a low tenement house, No. 129 Cedar street, called at second ward
station-house, and gave such information as led the officers to the
conclusion that one of the hands who had sailed on board the sloop
“Johnson” from the foot of Spring street, was implicated in the
mysterious transaction. They said that a man, named Johnson, who had
lived in the same house with them, had come home suddenly and
unexpectedly the previous day, having with him an unusual amount of
money, which he said he had received as prize money for picking up a
sloop in the lower bay. They gave the man’s description, told which way
he had gone with his wife and child. Immediately Officer Nevins and
Captain Smith started on their way toward Providence, to which city they
had reason to believe Johnson had gone.
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