The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-02-05
A Remarkable Career Of Crime.

Charles ID. Hildebrand, the notorious
burglar and ioil.breaker, now in prison
at ST, Joseph, No., tells the story of his
life, an unbroken succession of crimes,
beginning in his early childhood He
was born in 1910, and ut the age of three
months, he was stolen from his parents,
and il would seem that this act had some
influence upon his character, for his
favOrite crime has always been robbery.
When only eight years old he was detec-
ted in robbing q money drawer In st.
Louis but on account of his age he was
not imprisoned. Only year afterward
he appeared in Paris, where he was con-
yicted Of robbery and sentenced to one
years imprisonment, but after three
months confinement he was pardoned,
Immediately upon his release he went to
London, where he was detected In at
tempting heavy robbery with two no.
torious burglars. Both Of his compan-
ions were transported to Van Dicmnn's
Land,for 30 years, and after six months
imprisonment in the Old Bailey, Hide.
brand, now only ten years Of age, was
banished to America. He went from
England to Montreal, where he was soon
detected in another robbery, and senten-
ced to six months imprisonment but
managed to obtain his liberty at the end
OF three days Appearing shortly after
this in Kingston, Canada West, he was
again arrested for robbery and impris-
oned for one year, serving out his full
term. In 1852 he returned again to the
United States, .Rnd almost Immediately
made his appearance in n bold robbery at
Allegheny City, Penn, which shut him
up again for two years. Scarcely had
he gained his liberty when he was de-
tected in q robbery and murder, and
transported to Cuba for 90 years. One
Of his companions was imprisoned for
life. Hildebrand contrived to obtain II
release at the end of three months, and
soon after was sentefced to ten years
imprisonment in Mexico for iudulging
again in his favorto crime. He escaped
after six weeks imprisonment, aud re-
turned Again TO the United States. Con-
victed Of robbery soon after in Nashville,
Tenn, he was sentenced to the peniten.
tiary for eight years, but was released
through legal interference at tho end OF
n month. In 1855 he appeared in San
Francisco, and was m inmate Of the city
prison for one month. Going TO Europe
again, he next served term Of seven
months Mt Birmingham, England; five
months in dungeon Mt Lyons, France,
and two months in Berlin, Prussia. Re.
turning to America, he served one month
m iail ut Pittsburgh, Penn; two months
in Cincinnati was sentenced for four
yeas ut Baton Rouge, In, but escaped
at the end of fifteen days I; six months
Mt Louis but bought himself out in
three days served two years in Illinois,
for two distinc! charges, and escaped II
third by flight to Europe. Returning to
the United States in 1866 he was recog-
nized and imprisoned in Illinois for one
year. At the expiration Of his term he
at once entered into conspiracy to rob
an express company in 1ndiann, but was
exposed by his associates, taken to Mil
waukce, and sent up for five years. He
served four years and four months, and
was then discharged for good behavior.
He has served fourteen years in various
prisons, part Of the time closely con-
fined in dungeons He has been in ten
different State prisons, four city prisons,
twenty police stations, and seventy Gala
booses. He declares that he intends
now to reform, and to devote himself to
the publication Of book of crime, Gx-
posing the manner in which burglars
operate, illustrating it by scenes from his
own experience.