Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-06-08

CONfESSlONS OF \ MI kDEkEh.
As anticipated and readers have been led "a
expect from the account of an interview which our Re
porter recently had with Albert W. Hicks under sentence
Of death for murder the high seas, he has made add
Onal disclosures with reference TO the murder OF Capt
Burr and the brothers Oliver and Smith Watts board
the sloop T.. A. Johnson in March last The admissions
made in course of a conversation with gentleman
who has been unremtng in his attentions to the prison
since his incarceration and to whom he processes TO
feel under many obligations for the kindness shown him.
His querist first remarked:
clicks | have formed theory of the manner in which
Capt Burr and the Watts boys murdered and be-
ieve it done between the hours of IL o'clock night
and in the morning.
NO" replied Hicks, 'they killed them between and
10 o'clock at night"
"What do you mean BY Hey?" rejoned his questioner
There were but four men board the sloop, and you
we're one OF the four | am surprised your attempt
deceive me- Hicks and shall have nothing further TO
do with you, if YOU treat me in that way.
But there five on board said Hicks, with a
cunning smile. "The devil the fifth parsonage; he
possessed me and urged me TO DO it. You see was
at the helm and of the Watts forward on the
lookout, while Capt Burr aud the other lad asleep
below. had entertained the idea of numbering them
for some time and the devil kept telling the
chance. walked forward quietly, aud before the Young
OF my intentions, | delt him a tremen-
dous blow on the head He fell down. but had to re-
peat the blow several times before could kill him.
Meantime the noise and scuifug woke up the man who
sleeping in the hold, aud just AZ he got deck I
struck him. He wasn't hard TO dispatch the first
one"
Q.-"What sort of an instrument did you use Was it
a marn-spike or handspike:"
THIS question Hicks could not be induced to answer
merely replying that Il a heavy instrument. His
and subsequent remarks conveyed the impression
to the mind of the questoner that the
pom he had used.
Hicks resumed-"After had finished the boys went
TO the cabin and found Captain Burr just coming upon
deck. He asked what the matter was aud struck at
him. He's mighty powerful man, and he attempted TO
grapple me- and il a long time before could over
power him. brought him at last he added triumph
antly.
ooh the resistance of the Captain accounts for the
marks of the terrific struggle in the cabin the wood
work hacked if with axe and there great
quantity Of blood about"
To this rena5k Hicks assented, and the gentleman
went on
But there were 3Ioody ingermarks the gunwale,
and you must have thrown OF them overheard before
he dead and while he cngng TO the side chop
ped lis fingers off,
"No, sir they had all been dead more than an hour
when pitched them over said Hicks He then said
They tell Of the bodies has been found is il
truey'
81 belige So was the reply.
We'll don't: You see, when all this happened we
were fifty miles from Sandy Hook, aud took their
graves should be deep"
De was then asked what his feelings could have been,
alone as he was on the vessel with nothing be
but the stars above him and the wide waters around
him. while his shipmate murdered by HIS hand lay
tia ed and bleeding on the deck
oh" said he, 1T makes shudder now but then
did not mind il. told Won the devil urged me on; he
sustained me then, but now he has deserted me-
Some further conversation ensued, and Hicks stated
that he participated in the mutny and murders board
the ship Saadn. in ls44.