The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-07-20


again rob the unsuspecting traveller, or Vi
olatc the most sacred sanctities of life, to sat-
isfy my greed Of gold, or headstrong, un-
checked passions and If | wake, seem to
see my victims Slarins at me through the
gloom Of my cell, or hear them shrek aloud
for vengeance on my guilty head.
"The past is one great horror Tho fu-
tureone dread offear. A heavy y.insupportable
weight is on my heart, and feel as II, did |
no, reveal its fearful secrets, should so
mad"
lie then proceeded to state that he was
born ut Foster, II. L., in 1890, and gives some
details regarding his family, and his occupa-
ton until he was fifteen years Of age. Then
he ran away from home and commenced his
career of crime by stealing a package OF
goods from the railroad depot at Norwich,
Conn. Having been arrested and committed
to nil, he escaped and shipped on board q
wLaler, and finally reached the Pacific coast.
He arrived at San Fnncsco after many ad-
ventures, and became quite noted there for
several daring robberies. lie was also in the
mining districts, and speaks Of having rob-
bed miners camps, and trains OF emigrants,
and of having as much stolen gold ut one
time as he could lift. The police eventually
got on his track, and he sailed for Rio on
board schooner. lie says -
"Nothins Of particular interest occurred
on our voyage to Rio, but alter staying there
six or seven weeks, and spending nearly oil
our money in gambling and debauchery, we
took the road between Rio and Montcyideo,
where we robbed all worth robbing. aud MUIR
dered all who resisted us.
"Therc is many whitened skeleton
bleaching by that roadside now, on the same
spot where il fell by my murderous hand;
aud the traveller, as he rides along, sees many
n place where the grass grows taller and
grcencr than that which surrounds il; but
he little dreams that its roots are enriched by
the blood shed by me. Ii should travel that
ruad now should have plenty of ghostly
company, for, though dead men tell no tales.
and are but dead to all the world beside, to
me they are now living horrors and will in
sist on keeping company with me. :,
81 remember one dag that, few miles
from Monteyidco, we attacked man and
three women, all of them being ON horse
back. We robbed them, and should have
killed them all, but the women were bcauti.
full, and for once allowed my heart to yield
to the soft feeling of pity, and VIC did not
murder them"
lie refers also to the numerous murders
committed by himself and comradc between
Santiago and Valparaiso, the details OF which
are given. He was on board the ship An
ne Mills, SLAYER, and being in danger OF
being captured, he says the slaves on board
were all tied to cable, and the anchor thrown
overheard, dragging them after it.
Hicks next makes confessions in relation
TO the murders on board the oyster sloop +.
A. johnson, for which he has justly been
hung. After detailing the circumstances OF
engaging to sail, maturing his plans for the
murder, &C., and having some conversation
|. with Watts, his frst-sietim, . who WAS ut the
helm, he says
"He turned his head, and pccred through
the darkness in tho direction pointed, and
us he did so, struck him on the back OF the
head with the axe, and knocked him down.
"IIc fell
"Thinking had not killed him, struck
him again with the axe as he lay upon the
deck.
His fall and the sound Of the axe made
some noise, which, added to that caused by
my running across the deck, attracted the
attention Of the captain, who came up the
companionway, and putting out his head,
asked what was the matter?
replied, Nothing and then asked him,
Us had the younger Watts, that Barne-
cat Lightr
Capt. Burr replied, No, you will not see
it for two hours and rs he spoke he turned
his head from M.
The axe swung in the air, and, guided by
my sinewy and murderous arm, came down.
The cd se crunched through his neck, near
ly severing his head from his body, and kill
ing him instantly.
The body fell down the companion way.
AsI turned to leap after it, and dispatch
nv remaining victim, looked forward, and
oh, God, how | shuddcr to think of it
now ,-he whom | thought | had already
killed had risen, and was coming aft, his
hand outstretchcd towards me, and the blood
running in two dark streams over his pale
face, from two ghastly wounds on his head.
For a moment stood undecided, but rs
no still came on, ran toward him, but ere
| reached him he fell about midships, and
rushing on him, lstruck once twice thrice
with the axe, and finished him.
Running aft, Jumped down the compan-
ion way with the bloody axe in my hand.
There lay the elder Watts in his berth, and
closc beside him the ghastly, bloody corpse
of the captain.
I stood moment looking at him, and
dashed at him, and struck out with the axe.
lie leaped out of his berth, and sprang at
me, all red with the blood Of the captain,
whose body had fallen past him, covering him
with gore in its fall.
lie tried to grapple with me, but stepping
back, gave the fatal axe full swing, and
struck him again, again, and again, once up
ON the head, once on the back, and one more
upon the head, which felled him to the floor,
and he lay dead at my feet, side by side with
the captain.
My bloody work was done
Dead men tell no tales.
was alone. No eye had seen me, and
now was free to reap the reward Of my
work.
did not feel the slightest regret for what
l had done, and went about moving the bod
les, as coolly us though they had been 50
much old lumber.
took rope and bent il on to the feet Of
thdclder Watts, hauled him on deck, and
threw him over the quarter. then hauled
the captain out in the same manner, and
threw him over ; and then going to midships,
l lifted the body Of the younger Watts from
the deck. and plunged him into the SEA by
the starboard side.
then threw the Ak overheard, and as soon
asl had done this changed thecour Of the
sloop, and ran in close to the Hook.
Nv intention was to run the sloop up the
North River, and then iire her; but came
near running her on the Dog Beacon, abreast
of Coney Island and Staten Island light
house. after which fouled with schooner
and carried away the bowsprit, 80 l put the
money and such other articles Of value rs |
could pick up, into the yawl, and then scull-
ed ashore, three miles, landing just below the