The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-06-18 00:00:00

THE OYSTER SLOOP MURDER.

CONFESSION OF -HICKS, alias JOHNSON
INTERESTING DEVELOPMENT 'AND. PAR-
TICULARS OF THE TRAGEDY.
Albert W. Hicks, alias Johnson, the murderer of the
captain and crew of the sloop E. A. Jdhnson, has made a
full confession of his guilt to his keepers at the City
Prison. The news was communicated by one of the
officials at the Tombs, and may be considered•reliable
in every respect.
Hicks says that the murders were committed between
nine and ten o'clock at night while all the crew were
below, except one of the Watts boys. Hicks was steer-
ing at the time, while Watts was at the bow on the
look out. Hicks stole forward, and with an axe dealt
his unsuspecting victim such a blow that he killed him
outright. The noise awakened the other Watts who
was below, and as the latter was coming up the com-
panionway to see what was the matter Hicks despatched
him also with the same weapon. The murderer then
started for the cabin, where Captain Btir was lying
asleep, and made an attack upon him. The struggle
between Hicks and the Captain was a desperate one,
and lasted for several minutes ; but at length the mur-
derer overpowered his victim and knocked his brains out
with an axe. Hicks says that the captain fought hard,
but being unarmed, he was a poor match for him.
In reference to the knife marks found on the bulwarks
of the sloop, Hicks says that they were not made by
him. The bodies were not thrown overboard for an
hour or more after the murders had been committed;
so that he had no occasion to cut the hands of his vic-
tims as they clung to the rail, as was supposed.
When asked how he felt on board the sloop after the
commission of the murders, he replied that the devil
sustained him, and he felt good enough. "He has
deserted me now, though," resumed the murderer,
"and I feel bad enough." At the conclusion of the
confession a long conversation ensued between the cul-
prit and. the keeper, which ran somewhat after the
following style :
Keeper—You say that the captain struggled hard
before he died ?
Hicks—Yes, he fought bard, but I brought him at
last.
Keeper—You say the devil was with you, and sus-
tqined you during the time you were on board with the
murdered men ?
Hicks—Yes, the devil was the fifth man, and he sus-
tained me throughout the whole scene. He has left
me since, though.
Keeper—Whereabouts was the sloop when the mur-
ders were committed?
Hicks—We were about fifty miles out at sea.' They
say that one of the bodies has been found. How is
that ?
Keeper—That is the report.
Hicks—l don't believe it. I was too far out at sea,
and took good care that they should not come up..
Keeper—How about the murders on the ship Sala-
din, which you are suspected of being implicated in ?
Hicks—Well, I have been mixed up in a great
many scrapes. You will hear all about it when my life
comes out in pamphlet form. The pamphlet is to be
published for the benefit of my widow, and will be
issued in a few days.
Our reporter was informed that Unitid States Mar-
shal Rynders had given an order not to allow any
person to visit Hicks. The gentleLan who visits the
prison for the purpose of getting the necessary materials
for the biography is an exception, however, and is per-
mitted to enter the cell every morning.
Hicks appeared perfectly cool during the time he
made this confession. Sometimes, however, he was not
disposed to answer freely all the questions put to him
by the keeper, and acted as though he was half sorry
for having made a confession at all. He has a great
desire to see his wife, who is now excluded from his cell
and says her presence would add greatly to his ease of
mind. The keepers are afraid that Hicks has some idea
of making his escape, and will not allow him to see auy
one, much less his wife.
The prisoner spends the greater part of his time in
smoking and looking over illustrated newspapers. Oc-
casionally he indulges in singing some verses of his own
composition, and in chatting with his keeper.

THE COURT.

BUCKINGHAM PALACE-SATURDAY, JUNE 16

The Queen rode out.horseback this morning in
company with his Royal 'Highness the Prince Consort,
and his Royal Highness the Count of Flanders. The
Hon. Miss Stopford, Maid of Honour in Waiting, and
the Equerries in Waiting to the Queen and Prince
attended.

The Earl of St. Germans, Lord Steward; and Lord
Castlerosse, Vice-Chamberlain, attended at the'palace
this forenoon.

Her Majesty took an airing in an open carriage and
four about five o'clock this afternoon, accompanied by
Princess Helena and Prince Arthur, and attended by
Lady Gainsborough. •
The Prince Consort rode on horseback with the
Count cle-ieraliders. The Hon. Colonel a Hog and
Major Burrell were in attendance.
Her Royal Highness the Princess Alice left the palace
at seven o'clock this evening, attended by Lady C.
Barrington and General Wylde, to honour the per-
formance of " Richelieu" at the Princess's Theatre, with
her presence. His Royal Highness the Prince Consort,
attended by the Hon. Col. de Ros, went, shortly before
eight o'clock, to St. James's Palace, in order to be
present at the grand banquet of the_ officers of the
Grenadier Regiment of the Foot Guards, of which
corps his royal highness is Colonel, in commemoration
of this being the 200th anniversary of the regiment.

At ten minutes before nine o'clock the Queen left the
palace' for the Olympic Theatre, .to honour with her
presence the performance of "Daddy Hardacre." The
Count de Flanders accompanied her Majesty, who was
attended by the Maids of Honour in Waiting, Lord
Torrington, and Major-General Seymour. The Count
de Flanders was attended by Major Burnell, aid-de-camp
to his royal highness.

On Monday (to-day), her Majesty and the Prince
Consort will, it is expected, dine with his Royal High-
ness the 'Duke of Cambridge, at his residence, Gloucester
House, Piccadilly.
On Wednesday next, the 20th instant, the Queen will
hold a levee in St. James's Palace.

On Friday, the 22nd instant, her Majesty will give a
state ball in Buckingham Palace. Invitations have
been issued to a very numerous party of the nobility
and gentry.

CABINET COUNCIL.—A Cabinet Council was sum-
moned on Saturday morning, to meet in the afternoon,
at Lord Palmerston's residence in Downing-street. All
the members assembled except the Duke of Argyll, still
confined to the house by an attack of measles, and the
Right Hon. Sir George Grey, who has left town to
attend the funeral of his brother, recently deceased, in
Ireland.

THREATENED MUTINY IN PORTLAND
PRISON.

Much excitement has been caused in Portland and
Weymouth by the demonstration of mutinous feeling on
the part of the convicts in the prison
,at Portland.
Rumour says that the prisoners had plotted to murder
the governor, Captaiu Clay, during one of his regular
rounds of inspection. They thus hoped to obtain the
keys of the prison. It is also stated that they further
entertained the outrageous intention of setting fire to
the establishment. Another report was to the effect that
a great body of the convicts intended making a rush to
the doors, and forcing egress when they were opened to
admit provisions. It is rumoured that there are about
500 convicts, transported for life, in the prison, who are
supposed to be the ringleaders in the contemplated
mutiny. The number of prisoners in, the establishment
is about 1,600.

SUPERANNUATION OF POOR-LAW

OFFICERS.

On Saturday a deputation of the Poor-law Officers of
Unions waited on the Right Hon: C. President
of the Poor-law Board, for the purpose of getting in-
serted in the Poor-law Continuance Bill a clause em-
powering Boards of Guardians to grant superannuation
allowances to poor-law officers. Mr. Driscoll (of
_the
Hackney Union) opened the business by stating that a
similar deputation had waited on the former president
(Mr. S. Estcourt) on behalf of poor-law officers inca-
pacitated by infirmity from continuing to peiform their
duties, and they had received from Mr. Estcourt
promise that a clause should be inserted in the next
Continuance Bill for authorising the allowance.of such
superannuations. But after the retirement of the late
ministry the bill remained in abeyance. Mr. Driscoll
then re-argued the arguments used by .former depu-
tations on this subject. Mr. Villiers (President of the
Poor-law• Board) replied that he was not aware that the
board bad any intention not to carry out the promise
made by Mr. Estcourt, and therefore there was no
ground for the rumour which had reached the depu-
tation. The subject had received the careful attention
of the Poor-law Board, and the course would be pursued
which was most consistent with the justice of the case.
The deputation returned thanks, and then withdrew.

CIVIL SERVICE ESTIMATES.—The seventh diviiion of
the civil service estimates 'or 1860, showing- the esti-
mates for miscellaneous, special, and temporary objects,
has been issued. The total estimate amounts to £723,001.
This sum is made up by a number of snialler ones. The
Rangoon (late Gibralter) telegraph is to cost £87,000,
the Westminster-bridge approaches £80,000; the mer-
chant seamans' fund, pensions, &c. , £68,700 ; the local
dues on shipping under treaties of reciprocity £50,000 ;
the Westminster-bridge works £38,170 ; temporary com-
mission £37,480 ; Treasury :chests abroad, freight of
specie, &c. £32,442 ; Patent Office salaries, &c. £28,229.
There are many other items besides these-49 in all—
but most of them are comparatively unimportant in
amount. On the whole, there is a decrease in the Wt4l
413401111 t of the estimates of £2621874,

THE RIFLE' 'CORPS' IrOVENENTr'x'

GRAND FIELD -DAY OF THE VOLUNTEERS
IN THE REGENT'S PARK.) . •
On Saturday, •a grand field day and prelimilary review
took place in the. Regent's Park, under the command of
Lord •Elcho, and in the presence of Colonel M‘Murdo,
inspector-general of the volunteer forces, who was
accompanied on the ground by Colonel 111‘Millan.,
The various corps under review mustered on the
ground about six o'clock, all accompanied by their
bands, and were received with the greatest enthusiasm
by the spectators, who could have been little short of
50,000 or 60,000. There were in all 13 cbrps represented
comprising in the aggregate about 5,0(10 men.
The ground selected fer the review was in the centre
of the great park. Various battalions had just got into
position, when shouts arose, of " The Queen, the Queen,"
-and her Majesty, in an open landau, and one or two other
carriages following, was observed driving round the
outer circle of the park, and was greeted with the cheers
of, those who were in close proximity.
Lord Elcho, as before stated, took the chief command,
and was ably supported by Colonel-Freemantle of the
Guards, who acted as his chief aide-de-camp. Being placed
in battalions the movements commenced; the columns
moved in echelon, marched in fours right and fours left,
changed front, and formed into line with the most beau-
tiful precision. They then took ground to the right by
the front, quick march, and right wheel. The Queen's
(Westminster) formed the right, and the London Scot-
tish the left flank, and at a given signal of " Officers to
the front in review order," the whole of the 'officers
appeared in front of their different corps, and presented
arms at the same moment, the whole of the. bands
striking up " God Save the Queen." The next order
was "Officers to their posts in battalions ;" and in
an incredibly short space of time, on the word being
given, " columns take ground to the right, by the
front, quick march," and "right wheel," the entire
brigade changed its front, and were ready for the next
movement—" Brigade to march past in quick time, in
open column from the front." The entire body then
formed into companies, and marched past and between
certain points marked by flags in open column distance,
each corps preceded by its band playing. The effect
was exceedingly grand, and the marching on the whole
excellent. The next movement was " Close to quarter-
dictance column on leading division," and this having
been executed, the brigade was again formed into batta-
lions, and having performed some marchings and
counter-marchings, the whole were • bronght to, a
halt, and the word was given, " Mounted ' officers
to the front." The various mounted •officers imme-
diately galloped to the spot where Lord, Elcho and his
staff were stationed, and were addressed by his lordship.
Lord Elcho said he had the greatest pleasure of ih-
forming them that upon Colonel Wlturdo, the In-
pector-General of the Volunteer Corps, quitting the
ground he had expressed to him (Lord Elcho) not only
his gratification, but his utter surprise -at the,soldier-
like precision with which the various evolutioni he had
witnessed had been executed ; and he further remarked
that, if the various manoeuvres were only executed with
equal precision on the 23rd, that he had ho. fear but the
Volunteer Review in the presence of her Majesty would
be a perfect success. There was one point upon which Col.
Wlfurdo wished particularly to impress, upon the com-
manding officers of the various corps, and 'that was in
relation to the uniformity of the dress they should wear
on the 23rd instant. It was perfectly understood that, .
every corps would appear in full parade uniform ; but
what was desired was that, if leggings were to be used
at all, the entire corps should be compelled to wear
them ; or, if trowsers were to be worn, then no member
should be permitted to wear leggings—whether trowsers
or leggings, let there be uniformity in each particular
corps. A similar remark would apply to wearing great
coats.
The word of command, " dismiss," was then given,
it being just nine o'clock, and the various corps marched
off the ground in different directions, their respective
bands playing lively airs.
The whole affair may in truth be said to have. been a
complete rehearsal of the review orders for next Satur-
day, which will no doubt be one of the most noble
sights that has been witnessed in this 'country for many
years:
The people appeared to feel that the' soldiers they
were then witnessing performing their evointions were
of their own order ; and they were really. a body of
noble-minded patriots, who were ready to,,take the field
in defence of their Queen and country.
It is worthy of remark that there were from 50,000 -
to 60,000 people in the park, as spectators, kept in order
without a single policeman.
There was only one accident, and that was to the
brougham of a gentleman named Slight, residing at
No. 8, Russell-square. It appears that the hrougham
was proceeding with some ladies to the new carriage
drive, near the villa of the late Sir Isaac Lionel Gold-
amid, at the entrance to which there are sonic posts still
remaining. The North Middlesex Rifles were marching •
in with their band, and the sound of the music caused
the horse to take fright., and it started off, bringing Oa° •
hind wheels of the brougham in contact with one of the
' posts, the result of which was to detach them entirely
from the body of the brougham, leaving it on the grass,
over which the horse dragged it for some distance. The
ladies were exceedingly frightened, but in no way hurt.