New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-06-11
The Oyster sroop Murders.
CONFESSION or HICKS THE PIRATE.

Albert W. Hicks has made some disclosures with
reference to the murder of Capt Burr and the
brothers Oliver and Smith Watts, on board the
sloop E. A. johnson in March last. The admissions
were made in course of conversation with gen.
tleman who has been unremitting in his attention
to the prisoner, since his incarceration, and to
whom he processes to feel under many obligations
for the kindness shown him.
His Querist first remarked: 5-4&
clicks, have formed theory of the manner
in which Captain Burr and the Watts boys were
murdered, and believe it was done between the
NO., replied Hicks, :. they killed them between
and 10 O'Clock at night
What do you mean by hey2" rejoined his
questioner. " There were but four men on board
the sloop, and you We're one Of the four. i am
surprised at your attempt to deceive me, Hicks,
and shall have nothing further to do with you if
you treat me in that way" @
4 But there were five on board" said Hicks,
with cunning smile. The Devil was the fifth
parsonage; he possessed me and urged me on to
do it. You see was at the helm, and one of the
Wattses was forward on the lookout. while Capt.
Burr and the other lad were asleep below. had
entertained the idea of numbering them for some
time, and the devil kept telling me now was the
chance. I walked forward quietly, and before the
young man was aware of my intentions, ! dealt
him a tremendous blow on the head, He fell down,
but had to repeat the blow several times before
could kill him. Meantime the noise and scutfng
woke up the man who was sleeping in the hold
and just as he got on deck struck him. He was mt
SO hard to dispatch as the first oue.''
O. What sort of an instrument did you use !?
Was it q marlin-spike or hand-spike?n 5@
This question Hicks could not be induced to an
swer, merely replying that it was a heavy instru-
ment. His manner and subsequent remarks con-
veyed the impression to the mind Of the questoner
that an axe was the weapon he had used
Hicks resumed After had finished the boys,
/ went to the cabin and found Capt Burr just COM
ing upon deck. He asked what the matter was,
aud struck at him. He was mighty powerful
man, and he attempted to grapple me, and it was
a long time before could overcome him. |
brought him down at last he added triumphantly.
the marks of the terrific struggle in the cabin the
woodwork was hacked as if with an axe, and there
was a great quantity Of blood about
To this remark Hicks assented. and the gentle
man went on:
" But there were bloody fnger-marks on the gun
| vale, and you must have thrown one of them over
board before he was dead, and while he was cling
ing to the side, chopped his fingers oil, :
mo, sir; they had all been dead more than an
hour when pitched them over" said Hicks. He
then said: They tell me one of the bodies has
| been found; is it true?n
" / believe so,'' was the reply ==z=z-=-=
| Well, don't; you see when all this happened
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 on the vessel, with nothing
| to be seen but the stars above him and the wide
| waters around him, while his shipmates, murdered
by his hand, lay mutated and bleeding on the deck?
| .Oh! y said he, g it makes me shudder now, but
| then did not mind it, told you the devil urged
me on he sustained me then, but now he has de-
| serted me-"
i Some further conversation ensued, and Hicks
stated that he participated in the mutny and muir
ders on board the ship Saladn, in 1914. Tile ac-
counts of that tragedy, published on Monday, were
read to him. and he SAID they We're perfectly cor
/ rect versions of the affair. He was asked what
name lie went by at that time, but after equivocat
/ ing a great deal said he had sailed under many
names that he could not remember. He had ship
| ped as johnson, Williams, Greene and several
/ other aliases. g have been mixed up in good
pretended to know something also of the murder
| of the captain and crew oi the schooner Eudora
Imogen, near City Island some years ago, and the
| scuttng of the vessel, for which the negro Wilson
was executed at White Plains. Little credence
however, can be given to his statements in th!
matter