Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1860-07-21
his head, asked what was the matter !

his head, asked what was The matter
/ replied, Nothing" and then asked
him, as had the younger Waits, "ls
that Bsrnegat Light -
/ Capt. Burr replied, "No, you will not
see it for two hours;" and as he spoke he
turned his head from me.
The axe swung in the air, guided by
my snewy and murderous arm, came
down.
The edge crushed through his neck,
nearly seveting his head from his body,
and killing him instantly.
The body fell down the panonway.
AS turned TO leap after il,and dispatch
my remaining victim, looked forward
aud-Oh, God, how | shudder 10 think OF
it now he whom | thought had already
killed had risen, and was coming aft, his
hand outsretched toward me, and the
blood running in two dark streams over
his pale face from two ghaslly wounds on
his head.
For moment stood undecided, bu. as
he We, came on, ran toward him, but
ere reached him he fell about midshlps,
and rushing on him. struck one twice !!
thrice with the axe, and finished HIM.
Running aft jumped down the COM
panlonway with The bloody axe in hand.
There lay the elder Watts in his berth,
and close behind him the ghastly, bloody
corpse Of the captain.
stood moment looking at him, and
dasbing at him, and struck out with the
axe.
He leaped out of his berth, and sprang
at me, all red with the blood Of the cap
tain, whose body had fallen past him, COW
erlng him with gore in It's fall.
He tried to grapple with me, but step
ping back gave The fatal axe full swing
and struck him again and again, once
more upon the head, which lelled bin to
the floor, and he lay dead al my feet, side
by side wiki the captain.
My bloody work was done
Dead men tell no tales.
Twas alone. No eye had seen me, ,and
now | was free TO reap the reward OF
work.
did not feel the slightest regret for
what had done, and went about reno
wing the bodies, as cooly as though they
had been so much old lumber.
took a rope and bent it on TO the feet
OF the elder ats, hauled bin on deck
ard threw him over the quarter. then
hauled the captain out III the same man
ner, and threw him over; and then gong
to midships,I lifted the body OF the young,
er w ats from the deck, and plunged him
into the sea by The larboard side.
then threw the axe overheard, and as
, soon as had done this changed the
, course of the sloop, and ran in close TO The
Hook.
NV intention was 10 run the sloop up
the North river, and then fire her; but l
, came near running her on The Dog Bea-
con, abreast OF Coney Island and Staten
Island lighthouse, after which | iouIed
with schooner, and carried away The
, bowspril; so put The money in ayawI,
and then sculled ashore, three miles, lam
ding just below The fort, on Staten Island.
. My movements, after landing, are well
, known; and when look back upon the
, fatality that seemed to dog my steps, II
seems as though the fend who had so
J long stood by me in every emergency,had
, deserted me al last, and had left me TO my
own weakness.
But never thought of this until after
nv arrest. had no shadow of a present.
iment that | should be checked so sud-
denly and brough. TO justice, and on my
return to New York, made arrangements
to 90 away with my family as coo!ly as if
nothing had occurred which should coun-
sci me TO use caution.
But on that fatal night when | awoke
from deep sleep TO find the officers OF
the law standing by my bed, for The first
,ime fear overcame me, and grew 'aln'
and weak as a baby. Great drops OF
sweat started out on my forehead and all
over my body, and then realized that al
least the master whom had served so
long had really deserted me and abandon
ed me to my fate:
Bu, TO all outward appearance choked
these feelings down,aud none who saw ne
dreamed of what was passing within.
NV task is done. | have related all
the awful details Of my life with as much
minuteness as | can, and now nothing is
LEFT me but TO prepare 10 die.
| ask no sympathy, and expect none.
| shall 60 to the gallows cursed by all who
know the causes which will bring me
there, and my only hope is that God will,
in his infnre mercy. grant me that spirit
of true repentance which may lead TO par
don and forgiveness in the world 10 come.
DEPARTURE FROM PRISON.
At94 O'Clock Hicks left his cell with
Marshal Rynders, Sheriff Kelly and the