Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1871-05-09

The Record of william BueISlin, alias
Charles IaviIIe, alias Charles HtIder-
brnnd-Arrested z3 Times, in ~ state
Prisons, 80 JaiIs and 40 station Houses.
A man giving the name OF Charles Ham
mund was arrested at Toledo, Ohio, last
Tuesday on a charge of obtaining railroad
pass on a forged order. When searched sew
eral clippings from various newspapers were
found on his person, and as they all descfi-
bed the exploits of noted criminal II was
surmised that he knew something about that
person, or pos IDLY might be the criminal
himself Accordingly officer Hanks took him
to a cell, aud by series of skilliul questions
drew ont the fact that he was the notorious
william Bucklin, alias Charles Laville, alias
Charles Hildcrbrand, With several other |
aliases, cnCe member OF tie Reno gang In |
Indana, and one Of the greatest criminals 10 |
the country. Having revealed his name he |
wtnt on to give history cl his exploits re- |
marking that he had Tasscd through more |
sctncs than any other cracksman on the con |
tiuent.
At the age ol twelve he went TO England |
with circus troupe. While in London, 10 |
company with two others, he tapped the
till Of linen draper's shop, for which he
was sentenced 10 the Old Bailey for six
months. His pals were transported. On
account Of bis extreme youth he was pardon
cd out before the expiration OF his TERM
From London he went to France, where he
was soon arrested for burglary, and sente n
ced 10 the prison at Caen for eighteen months.
On beng released, lie returned 10 Lon Ion,
where lie was again imprisoned for theft, but
was released alter serving three months, ana
skipped TO America. Ills next exploit was
In Kingston, Canada where he stole quantity
clothing, for which he was imprisoned for
Oie year. After serving out this sentence
he went 10 Pittsburgh, Penn and remained
there for sometime, bui dcsinng 10 go away
ana DQt har'ug He perps rot led n mfa on
tho Allegheny bridge. He was arrested be-
fore be had time to get rid OF the results OF
his crime or leave tue city. He received
ten years sentence and while undergoing
II was made to suffer more than gaay O. una
ry man could have stood aud lived.
When arrested be had ON his person fine
saw made from the muin-spiing OF a watch,
and this he managed to secItte So carefully
ttat the striciest search failed 10 reveal it.
-Four times in three years did he saw his
way out OF his prison. and each time he was
caught before lie could get clear OF the
grounds. On each of the first three occa-
sions bis sentenced was increased as pun
ishment, but on tie fourth il was determined
TO make him tell where the saw was. He
refused all bribes aud laughed at the threats
made to induce HIM TO give II up, so II was
resolved to use harsh means with him. He
was put IN the shower bath every day Tor
several weeks. and kept there until the al
tending physician ordered the punishmen,
10 cease, and yet he remained firm, lie was
then chained to the floor by his arms and
legs, and only allowed a respite OF few
minutes each day from this painful position,
yet he held out In his determination 10 keep
his saw and even told his prosecutors that If
they let him up in their vigilance In the least
he would take advantage Of II and get free.
Alter several weeks OF this treatment tie
uhvsician ORDER him hack In work. and he
was accordingly put INTO the chain gang and
closely watched. At night he was locked 10
a douby strong cell and it seemed impOssl-
bic for him to escape. He had become so
reduced from his punishment as 10 be scarce
ly able to labor, yet in less than three weeks
after he had been put at work he sawed OF
his chains, sawed through lis cell door, and
and by means OF outside assistance escaped,
after spending something like three and a
half years in the prison.
In 1854 BuCkhu landed in Cuba, and one
night his two partners murdered and robbed
citizen of Havana. Ono was shot while
trying to ESCAPE, the other was sentenced ioi
life, aud Bucklin was sentenced sor twenty
one years Some Ol his pals where just ther
flush OF money, and they feed a lawyer Il
get him out, new trial falling to convic
him. He went thence TO Mexico was sentenc
ed for ten years Tor a robbery in Mexic'
city, but dug lis way out of prison and es
capped.
His ntxt exploit was at Lacon, In Marshal
county, Illinois, where lie was arrested lOl
safe blowing and sent to jail to await trial. =
Before the COuIt convened 10 try him, h
somehow got possession Of the keys Of th
Jail, aud after freeing himself, locked th
Sheriff, Mr.. Gore, iu the cell he bad just va
Gated, and left for Chicago, where be wa
sent up three months for vagraney. In 1856
he met the RCGo boys IN Louisville, KY
and formed partnership with them TO ai
in the rObbelios which subsequently, mad
the country about Seymour, Indiana, 80 nc
ted for the daring crimes there commiiled.-
Alter the hanging of two oil the Reno boys
he and part OF his gang emigrated to Sa
Francisco, California, but the vigilanis ther
made sad work among them, and lie left a
ter about half the gang had been executed
The rest returned lere, and he claims bI
cause they dt serted him when he was o
trial for stealing horse, he turned State
evidence, and caused their arrest and cOnvl,
lion.
The last exploit previous to lis coming
TeledO was in Wisconsin five years ago. Il
then went under tue name Of Charles Lavill
and hired horse and buggy OF Burnham
Post OF Waupun, and not returning II III
time agreed on, suspicion arose that i
was tLiyf and he was followed and csugl
and sentenced TO the Waupun PenitenliaI
for five years, He claimed that lie had hi
ed the horse and buggy to get pal out
the Town TO prevent arrest, and having q
com2lished this was returning the horse al
buggy when arrested. He served his fu
time al Waupun, and when lie came he
had been out OF there less than month.
lie has been in prison in Loui,iana, Ke
tueky, Alabama, Georgia, and South Caro-
ma hut generally managed TO get clear
eilher bnbing tie officials or escaping.
has been arrested sevsnty-nine times, be-
10 twelve different State Prisons, thirly-nii
iails, and over fjry station houses and 9th
similar places. lie has been sentenced
terms aggregating iiIy-eight years, but h
managed to shave II down and crowd !
whole service between his fourteenth a.
thirth-siXth year.
His mother still lives in Dearborn, and
says that be had fully made up his mil
when be got out Of his last scrape TO becoI
an honest man; but after being at home