The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-07-16
Rirllmonh 4ispattb.
MONDAY MORNING
JULY i6 1850.

EXECUTION OF PIRATE Bogrs Confession
Albert w. Hicks, the murderer of Capt. Burr
aud crew, of the oyster sboop l., A. johnson,
was hung near New York, Friday. The exc
cutlon was public, and was witnessed by fully
| 10, 900 persons, who surrounded the island I'm
| steamboats,. sailing vessels and small boats
| The sloop T.. A. Johnson, on board of which
| the murders were committed, was also in at
| tendance, with her burgee floating gaily in the
| breeze She was anchored a few hundred feet
| from shore and was crowded with spectators.
| The Express says
| Atprecisely quarter past II O'Clock, Hicks
| took his place under the callows. lie imme-
| diately knelt with the two priests, and for one
minute and a half was apparently engaged in
| deep prayer. But his expression was the same,
nevertheless, and probably no man ever went
| 10 his death with a more deliberate coolness.
When Hicks arose, the Marshal went to him
and said, "Hicks, If you wish to say some
thing 10 your fellow-ci,izens, you have now
an opportunity to do so" No. he said, 81
want TO say nothing but to get away as soon
| as possible. Don't waste any time.''
lie happened, AT this moment, TO cast his eyes
! upwards, aud they rested fur a moment on the
flag OF the T., A. Johnson. Hicks recognized
, the vessel, and for moment seemed unmann-
ed but Immediately turning his gaze he Whis-
pered 10 Rynders, Hurry mp, hurry up"-
The black cape was then removed, and Hicks
mediately drawn over his face, when the cui-
prIt whis spered a last word to the confessor
and stood firmly Under the scaifOld Deputy
DE Angeles, At precisely 13 minutes past | l.
struck the shed with his staff OF office but
the executioner seemed to be a little deaf and
a second rap was found necessary to make h i'm
understand the order.
At last the dull sound of the hatchet, was
heard, and with great rapidity the convict
was pulled up four feet from the ground
When Hicks went up, there was a loud shout
from the thousands on the bay, "He ought to
have been hung years ago''-"Didn't he 90 u D
every quarter, while the great maiority
shouted. a sailor on the mast OF the T.. A
Johnson, took off his cap and gave three
cheers, which example received many imita-
tors. For a moment, there was no apparent
motion, aud afterwards but gen tie action of
the muscles, which several times contracted,
bat not once TO any great extent. In four min
uteS there was a tWlchIng OF the knees, and q
heaying of the breast, hut nothing further
50 easy death by similar means, is not on re-
cord, as the physicians tell us.
The prisoner had a confession written the
proceeds of its sale to be given to his wife 1t
contains mention ofmurders by scores, which
| it is not At all likely were ever committed
| In it he mentions The loss of q vessel a few
years since, on the Pacific coast, with eight
hundred persons, he being the only survivor
This is sample of his improbable stories
His object seemed to have been to render the
book saleabIe and himself notorious. The
parting between Hicks and his wife is thus de-
scribed by Que Of the papers
At5K p M, Father Duranquet entered ;he
cell, aud Hicks wife Immediately made pre-
parations 10 leave. She took a large bundle
uLder her left arm. Hicks handed her two or
three books, which she took in her right hand;
they stood a moment in the middle of the cell
Hicks looking down and half smiling upon
her: he took her hand, shook it, and, STOPPING
forward. blessed his wife twice. saying mild =
", Good bye Good bye, Willie" she
said. and, turning to the door, passed out
This was The last parting of Hicks with his
wife.