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
Meantime, other facts came to light in connection with the mystery. The
ill-fated sloop had run into the schooner “John B. Mathew,” Captain
Nickerson, early on Wednesday morning, at which time only one man was
seen on board, and this man was subsequently observed to lower the boat
from the stern, and leave the sloop. This collision took place just off
Staten Island, and was so severe as to render the “John B. Mathew” unfit
for sea. Hence, she returned to the city for repairs.
On the same afternoon that the officers started after Johnson, officers
Burdett and James, accompanied by our reporter, set out in search of the
yawl belonging to the sloop, which was said to be adrift off Staten
Island. This they succeeded in finding, and bringing to the city, after
a tedious passage on a rough sea with a cold wind. The boat contained
two oars, a right boot, a tiller, and part of an old broom. George
Neidlinger, the hostler at Fort Richmond, south of which the boat was
found, said that shortly before six o’clock the previous morning, he had
seen a man land from the boat, whom he described in such a manner as to
show that Johnson might be the individual.
It was next ascertained that a man answering the same description had
made himself conspicuous at the Vanderbilt landing, where he had
indulged freely in oysters, hot gins, and eggs. He was seen on the seven
o’clock boat coming up to New York, by a deck hand, who had, by his own
solicitation, counted a portion of his money, which he carried in two
small bags, like shot-bags. Here the matter rested for a short time,
while the people were waiting for news from the officers at Providence.
It was during this interval that our artist succeeded in procuring the
sketches herewith presented.
Meantime the sloop lying at the Fulton Market Slip was attended, day
after day, by multitudes of the curious and the excited. The story of
blood was the topic of conversation, and the spirit of revenge found a
limited relief in verbal expressions of bitter desire for the punishment
of the perpetrator, if he should be arrested.
Mr. Selah Howell, of Islip, L. I., part owner of the sloop, was on hand.
He suspected William Johnson, the man who took supper with Captain Burr
and himself in the cabin, on the evening before the sloop left the city.
The theory that the murder had been committed by one of the crew favored
this suspicion, and the idea floated from ear to ear until it became a
settled conclusion in every mind. Mr. Howell viewed the boat, and
identified it as belonging to the sloop.
The carman, who conveyed Johnson’s baggage to the Fall River steamboat,
also described the man who had employed him, and the woman who was with
him.
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