The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-07-16
EXECUTION OF ALRERT w u1cro


Albert w. Hicks, the pirate, was executed at
eleven o'clock, on Friday forenoon. 1t will be re-
membered that, in the latter part of March, the
sloop E. A. johnson was stranded in the harbor of
New York, and under circumstances that gave rise
to suspicious that those board had been murdered
and the vessel abandoned. The strange conduct of
Hicks led to his arrest and subsequent trial The
case attracted unusual interest," for the reason that
no bodies were found on board, thus rendering the
charge of piracy the only that could be brought
against the accused, though it was evident that
murder had been committed. After the conviction
of Hicks for piracy, he confessed that he had muir
dered Captain Burr and two young men, named
Watts, who were on the vessel at the time The
confession we published in our paper of Saturday
We CLEAN the following particulars of the execution
from the New York papers of Saturday:
At o'clock yesterday morning Marshal Ryn-
ders, Sheriff Kelly, and a few attendants entered
Hicks cell in the Tombs, to apprse him to nut
eyerying in readiness for his last journey. Shortly
after o'clock, he was placed in a carriage. and
the company started for the wharf at the foot of
Canal street, where the steamer Red Jacket was
waiting to convey them to the place of execution.
Arriving at the wharf, a large crowd were stand
ing without the gate, eager to get sight at the
prisoner, and, 1t possible, to gain admission on
board the steamer 1t was not without difficulty
that the throng was restrained, and none were ad-
mitted but few officials, members of the press,
and invited guests.
At 10 o'clock the Red jacket left the dock. with
several hundred passengers on board, and to the
surprise OF all, proceeded up the North river, as
far as the Great Eastern, and then then turned
about and headed for Bedloe's island. There was
also bar on board the steamer, which was liber-
ally patronized during the trip. Hicks spent most
OF the time in the low cabin, in COMPANY with his
spiritual advisers, occasionally coming on deck AS if
70 calculate the Tune remaining him to live. it
hara hot 49,
gers were several alderman, and actors. and
many persons known by their connection with
pugilism.
The scene from the gallows was perhaps the most
remarkable and suggestive feature of the entire
AFFAIR. Numberless small boats, crowded with men
and boys, lay in the river directly before the gal
lows, covering an area of several acres. Beyond
these were about forty sailing vessels, soops and
schooners, conspicuous among which was the E. A,
johnson; and still farther lay no less than eleven
excursion steamboats, laden with spectators who
crowdirg to the island side of the boats caused
them to sink on that side to the waters edge. The
anxious spectators, in their desire to witness the
execution, climbed upon the machinery, on the
walking beam and other dangerous places The
masts of the sailing vessels were all black with
sailors clinging to them, apparently in the most
uncomfortable positions. So close were the boats
together that from near the gaows it was impossi-
BILE to see the water between them. 81 .. r..
- -f THE EXECUTION.
w bile the steamer was on its way to the island,
as they arrived at the gallows. Probably he bad
been informed that immense crowd would be
present. for he did not exhibit any surprise or emo
ton at seeing the multitude. He walked firmly to
the galows and mounted the platform
AS the crowds in the boats caught a plimpse of
him they commenced yelling and hooting, and cry
ing out to those shore, "down in 'front.'" signal
lzing special individuals who stood between the
gailows and the river by some popularity of the
dress, as, "you, man-with the whitehall sit downp'
+" on, fellow-with the blue-coat clear OUT" and
similar expressions.
For about two minutes Hioks stood on tho col
lows In full view of all, while the sheriff placed the
rope around his Geck. At precisely elven O'Clock
the Sheriff gave the signal, and the black can was
pulled over the face of Hicks. An instant after
the rope was pulled and he was swinging about
two feet above the platform. His hands were
bound, and his cloak falling off showed him dressed
IN mariners suit of blue pants, blue blouse on
the lapel of which was worked the representation
OF an ancher, and white shirt with the collar
turned down, the bosom neatly plated; he wore
no neck tie, and the fatal black cap hid his head
The unfortunate man died easy. There were no
struggles, nothing but nine spasmodic clenchings
Oh tne nand with simultaneous but almost i'm
perceptple Jerks of the feet. The execution was
SO quickly performed that many on the boats not
prepared ior u, were not looking that way at the
moment, ana tner loud shouts to ther companions,
the last sounds that came to the ears of ,ho
condemned pirate. VIZ
Hicks made no dying speech. He had told Can.
tain hynders on the boat that he had nothing tn
say. Just, however, before the signal was given
he nodded fin farewell to those on each side of
him, but most of the time kept looking upward at
the flag of the E. A. johnson, to which bis atten-
tion had been offciously directed while walking
from the boat to the scaffold 4 49, .-if -.
a ID LOWERING OF THE BODY AND ITS REMOVAL. s-
LAT twenty minutes before twelve, the cord which
bound the arms was unloosed, and the pine box
was placed on piece of sacking under the body.
Inside the box was coffin, an imitation of rose
wood, lined with cloth. Ten minutes afterwards
the corpse was lowered. The coffin was small and
it was within ificulty that the body was forced
within it.. The attending physicians expressed the
opinion that the neck of Hicks was dislcoated and
Dr. w oodward thought that life wac extinct with
In three minutes q The weights as they descended
struck three rounds OF the ladder, preventing the
rapid ascent of the body, and the jerking usual on
such occasions. The body was committed to the
EXPENSE OF ENrERrAIsINa the JAPANESE IN Nsw
York. The special committee of the Common
Council appointed to receive the Japanese Embas.
ssy, are now counting up the cost Of the affair
esterday they had their first meeting the session
being private The aggregate bills, as presented.
footed up $l25, 000 of which over 500 600 was the
METROPOLITAN hotel bill. BY sharp figuring these
bills, II was found could be cut dawn tn sim nm
At the latter figure it was accordingly decided n
submit them to the Common Council, for the usuai
action in such cases ,wh ich will be to order Their
payment by the comptroller 1t rem aims to he seen-
however, whether the comptroller will give his
warrant for the payment of the bills the appronri
alton to cover the expenses being only $4,000
~ r. World, JuLy IA, ---'