The Hickman courier., 1872-04-06
SAM HILDERRAND.
The Desperado,s Death.

SAM AAAkD EBRA AND.
The DesperadO's Death.
Correspondence St. Louis Republican.
PINKNEYyILLE, Ill, March 20.
The doubts which did exist as to
wAether or not the man killed here on
isst Thursday evening was the Identical
osm Hildebrand SO notorious in Mis-
sonrl during the war as a bushwhacker
ana dare devil, have been dispelled bv
u oFer|heiming burden of proof point
~ 10 the fact There is no DENYING il.
ilis children admit it to be him, persons
'i'It knew him during the war readily
reeoenized him, and the testimony and
sls'ements of the children. as to their
lapiily connections IN Missouri about
Pennington, leave no doubt as to his
iaeahty. The manner in which he came
mere. the clan that gathered about him
ana ms influence upon them, and also
thels various statements to different par
ties fhat It was Hildehrand, teud to cor
roD,gate The conclusion On Tuesday
andt ednesday preceding his death he
WI privately introduced by his assumed
49, of. i ohn S.0itl, bat as being
TIE IDENTICAL SAM
IIildebraud of Missouri fame. This
latter statement, however. was not credit
ed at the time, or believed, but subse
quent developments created the belief
that there was a purpose it the whole
= affair, aud il was the desire of those who
mad him under control that the people
should believe him to be Hidebraud
aud that the officers should receive that
impression, under the mistaken belief OF
his friends no doubt, that it would en-
danger them to such an extent that, do
what deeds he might they would be
afraid 10 attempt his arrest.
Hi,debraud admitted his name as such,
aud inquired Of one person for coloring
for his beard, to whom he stated that he
was looking for liltle farm to rent.
on which be could put his family and
live, and that he wanted it 10 ar out-of-
the way place, where there was no travel
He also talked with reference to the
reward which had been offered for him
by the Missouri authorities, but said that
he had no fears from that quarter now.
as the reward had expired After hls
death, his children, six in number, per
sisted in the name Of Smith, until Sat
lrday, when realizing the fact that be
was dead and buried, and that it would
avail them nothing to longer deny the
facts made d full breast of all his deeds.
aud the assumed names under which he
had went, also his travels from Missouri
to Illinois, then to Texas, and back to
Illinois BY way Of TIanessee and Ken
.ucky. Rebecca Hilttbrand, the oldest
daughter, was free to talk upon all sub
ects with which she was familiar con
,erning his life, and she gave the
NAMES OF THE FAMILY
And the ages and names of her little
brothers and sisters. Henry Hildebraud,
the oldest son, was more reserved in his
answers. He stated, however, that bis
'ather came to Illinois about three years
ago, aud settled 10 Kaskaskia bottom,
there but = few months. when
be removed TO Texas. There he staid
DOW year mopinR aboat over thel
country from place TO place, when he
concluded to make his way back to Kas-
saskia bottom in Illinois On their
return they came through the States of
Kentucky and Tennessee. He states
that they stopped in the latter State near
and raised a crop of corn,
but did not stay 10 gather it, selling it as
it stood in the field, when they moved
back to Kaskaskia bottom, in this State
Itis reported that Hidebraud
STOPPED AT TIProNvILLE TO KILL
One John J. O'Conu'r, against whom
he entertained a grudge but whether or
not such statement be correct we are un
able to answer.
The children state that during the war
their father's name was Samuel Hide /
brand. but that be afterwards changed it
to Charlie Thompsou,-an went by that /
name for long time. He did not as
,ume the name of Smith until he moved /
10 Illinois. when he wen; by the name of
John Smith They stare that he told /
hem to give their name as Smith, at all /
lines.
They say their pa was always very
lind to them. aud their mother, and /
he Oldest of them. those that are
,ble TO realize their desolate condition. /
manifest deepest sorrow and grief over
MS death They wantto return to Farm
nrton. Mo, to their friends, and steps /
IRE being taken on the part of the au
horities here to raise the necessary
means TO take them back with their team,
wagon and household goods. which con-
lists of scanty selection of bedding, a /
,ook stove. dishes, table and safe. Re
,ecca Hildebrand states that not one Of /
he family could either read or write,
hough their parents had sent them to
chool when residing at Kaskaskia bot
ON. Several persons have identified the
amily and the person of Hildebrand, so
hat there exists no doubt as to his
person.
HIS MISSION TO PINcKNEYvILLE,
However, is one of mystery, and though
here are many conjectures about it the
public mind so far have been unable TO
ettle upon any definite programme which
le had proposed to carry out. 1t is not
unreasonable to conclude that a definite
existed betwixt him and
lis clan, and that they were
BENT ON KILLING SOMEBODY,
Gut that their plans were foiled no doubt
10 account of his confederates failing to
,erform their respective parts. When
officer Gordon attempted to make the ar
est of Hildebrand some one of the gang
old him that the man who cut Bishop I
lad run around the corner-with a de- |
ign, no doubt, to mislead the officer 1
And also, that some resistance was at
empted to be made until their chief, was
Knocked down and disarmed, when they
disbanded and scattered /
The fact that the trains, both passenger
nd freight on the B & S. l. r. R., had |