Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-06-07
THE OYSTER SLOoP MURDER AT
NEW YORK.
Cenfessien ef Hict. a,


Albert w. Hicks has made some disclosu,es
with reference to the murder Of Captain Burr and
the brothers Oliver and Smith Watts on board
the soop b A. johnson, in March last. The ad.
missions Were made In course of conversation
with gentleman who has been unremittinp in
MS attentions to the prisoner since his incacera
ton, and to whom be processes to feel under many
obligztons for the kindness shown him.
Hisquerist first remarked:
Hicks, have formed theory Of the manner
In which Captain Burr and the Watts boys were
murdered, and believe 1t was done between the
ing:n
"No." replied Hick, "They killed them be-
tween and 10 O'Clock at night ~
wv nat do YOU mean by thew" reioined his
questioner. There were but four men on board
tue sioop, ana You were one of the four am
surprised al your attempt to deceive me, Kicks,
and shall bave nothing further to do with YOU. IL
you treat me in that way " =
"But there were five on board" said Hicks,
with cunning smile. ''The devil was the ffth
parsonage he possessed me and urged me on 10
do H. You see, was at the helm and one of the
Wattses was forward on the lookout while Cant
Burr and the other lad were asleep below had
.a ntetelned the idea of numbering them for some
ume, and the devil kept telling me now was the
chance. walked forward quietly, and before
tue young man was aware OF my intentions dealt
him tremendous blow on the head. He fell
down, bat had to repeat the blow several times
before could kill him. Meantime the noise and
scnfhing woke up the man who was sleeping in
tue hold, and just az he got on deck struck him
| Q.-"W hat sort of an instrument did you use
Was II marlin-spike or hand -spiken
This question Hicks could not be induced TO
answer, merely replying that il was heavy in
srument. His manner and subsequent remarks
conveyed the Impression 70 the mind Of the Ques-
TONER that an axe was the weapon he had used
Hicks resurped-"AfterI had finished the bows
went to the cabin and found Captain Burr lust
coming upon deck. He asked what the matter
was, and 4 struck at him. He was mighty
powerful man, and he attempted to grapple me,
and lAnfr Nfvr.a l.zf1
him brought him down at last he added
triumphantly.
"Oh. the resistance of the captain accounts for
the marks of the terrific struggle in the cabin;
the woodwork was hacked as with an axe and
there was great quantity of blood about
TO this remark Hicks assented, and the gentle
man went on:
But there were bloody fncer-marks ON the
9unwale, and you must have thrown one of them
overheard before he was dead, and while be was
clinging to the side chopped his fingers OFF,
NO, sir; they had all been dead more than an
nour when pitched them over" said Hicks. He
then said: Z" They tell me one of the kodies has
been found is II true"
GO believe so,'' was the reply
Z" Well 1 don't; Won see when ali this han
Pened We were fifty miles from Sandy Hook and
took care their graves should be deep-very
deep"
He was then asked what his feelings could have
been, alone as he was the vessel with nothing
to be seen but the stars above him and the wide
waters around him, while his shipmates muir
dered by bis hand, lay mutilated and bleeding on
the deck
Ion" said he, " il makes me shudder now
but then did not mind it. 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 mutIny and
murders on board the ship Saladin, in IsiI The
accounts OF that tragedy, published on Monday.
Were read to him, and he said they were perfect
ly correct versions of the affair. He was asked
what name he went by at that time but after
equivocating a great deal, said he had sailed
under so many names that he could not remem-
per He had shipped as Johnson, Williams,
oieene, ana several other aliases. II have been
Tune, he added. He pretended to know some
Ihing also Of the murder Of the captain and crew
OF the schooner Eudora Imogen, near CITY Island
some years ago, and the scuttl ng of the vessel
Tor which the negro Wilson was executed at
White Plains. Little credence, however, can be
given TO his statements OH this matter = -