The union Democrat., 1869-07-17
Sam Hiidebrand, the Outiaw.

The st. Louis Democrat relates the following
particulars concerning the most desperate
outlaw of modern times. The St. Louis au-
thorities offer reward of Sl0, 900 for his CAP
ture, dead or alive:
Sam Hildebrand, who during the war was
a notorious bushy hacker, has long been the
terror Of st. Francois and Washington CoUn-
ties. He is known to have killed no less
than seventy-eight men, and his robberies
are unnumbered. He keeps the tally of his
victims by cutting hicks in the butt Of his
rifle. He had been repeatedly pursued, shot
at, and wounded by officers of justice, but
always continued to escape capture by boldly
assailing his pursuers.
This terrible outlaw wore O steel plate
unnn his breast and another upon his back.
and is considered bullet-proof. Time and
again has he been shot in the breast, but the
bullet glanced off, and with demoniac laugh
the assassin has defed his pursuers. He
has an uncle named Williams. residing in
St. Francois County, about twelve miles from
Irondale, and spends good deal of his time
at his house. He has many friends on Big
River, who befrieuded him in the hour of
danger, while those who dislike him, and
would be glad to see him brought to justice,
are afraid to say or do anything against him.
When he takes dislike to a man be lies
in wait for him on the roadside or near ield.
and thinks ne more of putting q bullet
through the mans heart than shooting a
squirrel.
During the rebellion. Hildebrand went to
the house of James McClain, IL soldier of the
Tenth Missouri, outraged his wife, and car
ried off all his stock, clothing, etc. On bis
IN
against the outlaw, and has ever since pur-
sued him with firm determination to rid
tie earth of such monster. About q week
ago the two met, and McClain shot Hide
brand in the thigh, but he made his escape.
The people of St. Francois County applied
last winter to the Chief of Police of this city
for assistance in capturing the desperate,
and men were sent there on several occasions,
but have never been able to get a sight of the
man. McClain, Sheriff Breckenridge, of
Washington County. With fourteen picked
men from Potosi. DeSoto and Iroudale, went
to the house of Williams, where Hidebrand
was stopping. for the purpose of assisting in
arresting or killing him.
The cabin of Williams is built of logs.
with the daylight shining through the chink-
ing. The desperate was alone, the family
of Williams having fed. Approaching the
door, Sheriff Breckenridge called upon Hill
debrand to surrender, as there was no hope
of his escape, the house being surrounded by
sixteen men. The reply made by Hide
brand was in keeping with bis character He
coolly thrust his left hand out at the door
aud shot R-eckinridge in the groin, infiicting
a frightful and dangerous wound. McClain
fred and struck Hildebrand in the thigh.
Andrew Bean fired twice, the bullets striking
Hildebrand on the breast. and glancing off
on his steel vest. McClain entered an old
kitchen near by, and was looking through a
crevice between the logs, to see the position
of the robber and murderer, when Hide
brand fired at him, the ball striking his heart
and killing him on the spot.
After shooting McClain, Hildebrand re-
manned in the house, firing and receiving
repeated volleys from without, until about
nine O'Clock at night, when he left his fort
and jumping over the fence. and fled to the
woods. A shower of bullets followed him,
and be was hit and dropped his gun and his
hat, but effected his escape.