National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-02-02
A Remarkable Career OF Crime,

Charles ID. Hildebrand, the notoriou
burglar and jnil.breaker, now in prisor
4 Mt st. Joseph, NO., tells the story OF hi
life, an unbroken succession of crimes
beginning in his early childhood. II
was born in lS40, and at the age Of thre,
months, he was stolen from his parents
and ii would seem that this act had som'
influence upon his character, for hi
favorite crime has always been robbery
When only eight years old he was detec
ted in robbing money drawer IN st
Lonis, but on account of his age he wa,
not imprisoned. Only year afterwarc
he appeared in Paris, where Ire was con
victed OF robbery and sentenced 10 one
years imprisonment, but after three
mouths confinement he was pardoned
Immediately upon his release he went +,
London, where he was detected in ut
tempting heavy robbery with two no
torious burglars Both of his compan
ions we're transported to Van Deman's
Land for 80 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, bnt
managed to obtain his liberty at the end
ot 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
tern. In 1852 he returned again to the
United States, and almost immediately
made his appearance in 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 robbery and murder, and
transported to Cuba for 20 years. One
of his companions was imprisoned for
life. HiIdebrand contrived to obtain n
release at the end Of three months, and
soon after was sentenced to ten years
impri 'onment in Mexico for indulging
again in his favorlte crime He escaped
after six weeks priSonment, and 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 the end of
a month. In 1855 he appeared in San
Francisco, and was an inmate of the city
prison for one month Going to Europe
again, he next served term OF seven
months ut Birmingham, England five
months in dungeon a. LYONS, France,
and two months in Berlin, Pr :ssia. Re
turning to America, he served one onth
in Jail at Pittsburgh, Penn. ; two months
n Cincinnati (; was sentenced for fon,
yea at Baton Rouge, La. but escaped |
It the end of fifteen days six months
It Louis but bonght himself out in
hree DAYS; served two years in Illinois,
or two distinct charges, and escaped /,
bird by fight to Europe Returning to
he United States in 1865 he was recog-
llzed and imprisoned in Illinois for one
ear. At the expiration of his term he
t once entered into n conspiracy to rob
n express company in Indiana, but was
xposed by his associates. taken TO Mil
'ankee, and sent up for five years. He
arved four years and four months, al d
as then discharged for good behavior.
lie has served fourteen years in varions
risons, part of the time closely con-
ned in dungeons. He has been in ten
lfferent State prisons, four city prisons,
yenty police stations, and seventy Gala
DOSES. He declares that he intends
ow to reform, and to devote himself to
he publicatioA of book of crime, ex-
osing the manner in which burglars {
oerate. illustrating it by scenes from his I
yn experience.