The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1869-11-13
From the St. Louis Democrat, Oct. 27th.I
SAM. HELDERRA AND.
SkefclAgOf his Career.

a letter was received in this city day or
two ago from Sam HildebFand, the notori-
Gus outlaw, stating that he had come to the
conclusion that he could no longer keen IN
4 war against the whole country and ber-
ging to be let alone" lie promises that
he will never more modest ANYBODY. and will
IN future act like an honest and peaceable
man This letter is in the hands of some of
the friends of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. who
served In the Confederate army, and will no
doubt be published An effort is also being
made to raise subscription for the outlaw,
to set him up in his new home. We are not
prepared to say whether Governor McClurg,
Colonel Bowen, and the people of st. Fran
co.'s County are willing to allow the outlaw
TO pass the remainder of his days in peace,
or whether he will be followed TO his new
abode and brought to justice.
Jude Sebastian, OF Pennington, has
known Hildebrand for many years The
Judge gave us q short sketch of the career
Of this most daring and desperate outlaw Of
modern times, and as it is doubtless strictly
true, we publish some Of the facts.
Hildebrand is an illiterate backwoodsman,
unable to read or write, and the letter in cir
cUlation here must have been written
by somebody else. at the breaking out Of
the rebellion, Hildebrand went to Arkansas
and Joined the half-ciyilized band Of jeff
Thompson. He made business Of stealing
and running off horses, and JEFF was strong
ly inclined to hang him, if be could have
caught him. Finding that the rude soldiery
of the Swamp Fox were disposed to pun
ish him for his misdeeds, Hildebrand left
the army and came up into Southeast Mis-
souri, as a bushwhacker. He continued to
steal horses from the farmers and made no
distinction between the property Of friends
and foes. lie shot his partner in the bush
whacking business and the German troops
in the county finished the man soon after.
ward Hildebrand also killed Rowan, and
ROwan's son, in retaliation, killed Hide
brands brother. Hidebrand killed an old
man named Ringer, and shot young Nell
Valne while he was at work In the field. How
many men he killed is not known, but his
last victim was McClain, whom he shot only
a few months ago.
A good deal of sympathy has been excited
in behalf of Hildebrand by stories Of his
wrongs-the burning of bis mothers house
the killing of lis brothers, and the persecu-
ton of his whole family; but Judge Sebas-
tan assures us that Sam. was the first
aggressor, and was never ilIused before he
committed depredations upon others.
About two weeks ago Hildebrand went to
Pennington, at night, and removed his wife
and six children. He crossed the Mississippi
dJ IsuSH 1O"Grt III Skis; anu IS no" III
Southern Illinois. Mrs Hildebrand had an
interview with Judge Sebastian just before
the removal, and she assured him that her
husband would never more modest any one
as he was tired of being constantly pursued
and In danger of his life. A few days ago Hill
debrand came one night to the store oil
Judge Sebastian, in Pennington, and made
the Judge walk backward into side room
keeping his eye steadily fixed upon him. he
had four revolvers in his belt. He wanted
two canisters of gunpOwder, having obtain
ed three at another store but the Judge
did not have the article needed. Hildebranc
expressed his desire to abandon his mode o
life, and live at peace with the world. WheI
asked why he acted so badly he replied tina
he had commenced, and had thought h'
ought to fight it out
It is to be hoped that the Southeast i
permanently rid of the most audaciOus out
law that ever preyed upon a community, ant
that we shall hear no more of Sam. Hide
brand