Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-18
A CRACKSMAN'S FREAK.
t,E WOULD ROB THE HOUSE, THEN
KISS THE WOMEN AND DEPART.
Hermann yickery, the Noted California
Thief-Nine Years in Prison Did Not
Change Eim-Riddled with Bullets While
Attempting to Escape.

hermann SIckery, the Noted California
Thief-Nine Years in Prison Did Not
Change Rim-Eiddled with Bullets While
Attempting to Escape.
The burglar, Hermann Eickery, who was
shot this week and fatally njured Will. max
ing bold dash for liberty ct Folsom state
prison, had career which is one OF the most
extraordinary in the criminal annals Of the
coast. California has had many desperate
criminals whom long residence in prison
could not tame, but none of these ever showed
such utter lack of fear as Vickery did, or
such remarkable disregard Of danger when
indulging in his favorite pastime Of burglary.
The police officers who saw much Of him and
the prison officials all declared he was a crank,
and they have pointed, since his death, to his
attempt to escape as proof Of their Soundness
Of position, but others who knew him said he
was simply confirmed criminal, with many
eccentriciJies. which made him IS interesting
a study as Black Bart, the poetical lone high
wayman, who robbed stages for over ten
years, and left Il sarcastic note in doggerel
every time he broke open an express box or
slit mail pouch.
DESPERATE CHANCE.
Vickery certainly hadn't one chance in a
hundred to escape when he dropped his tools
and scrambled up the steep bank on the
American river just below Folsom prison.
He probably counted on the guards becoming
''rattled," as the governor was inspecting the
place at the time. AS it proved, he made
good calculation. Although during his climb
up the exposed side of bluff for seventy feet
he was in range of a dozen Winchesters and
one Calling gun, and the ground over which
he passed looked afterward as if it had been
rooted up by hogs where the shower Of lead
struck it, still Vickery reached within ten
feet of safety when three bullets struck him
He had gained the top of the bluff, and
another moment would have seen him safely
buried in the thick chaparral that grows on
top, but when his figure Was outlined against
the sky he made too fine target, and he was
brought down by wounds that ended his life
that night. As he was very feet of foot and
VIGOROUSLY skillful in eluding pursuit, had he
reached the shelter Of the brush the chances
were altogether in favor Of his escape.
BURGLARY WITH EMBELLISHMENTS.
Vickery was a German who worked as a
miner In Yreka, Sisklyou county, in the ex-
IRENE northern part of the state. There,
about 1870, be committed a series of burgla-
ries and was sent to San Quentin for a long
term Of years. He made SO good an impress
sion on the prison officials and his thefts had
been SO small that he was pardoned about
1915. He came to this city, and in the fol-
lowing year was convicted Of perpetrating
remarkable series of burg laries that were the
local sensation for nearly month.
After robbing a house it was MS custom to
visit the rooms Of the female members of the
family and kiss and fondle them. On several
occasions he actually got into bed with sleep
ing women, and when they awoke he escaped
by window or door which he had thought
fully left open, taking his plumber with him
He was such good sprinter that none of the
robbed ever caught him. Some of the women
whom he kissed were seriously i'll from the
shock Of awal,ing and finding themselves in
a strange mans arms. Vickery surpassed all
his previous exploits by getting into bed be-
side wife while the husband was also asleep
The latter was aroused and chased Vickery
from the house, but, as usual, the burglar es-
capped.
He was taken, however, soon after while
attempting to burglarize the premises of
Mr.. Owens. He was sent to San Quentin for
fifteen years, but after nine years, according
to the working of the Goodwin act. his
fifteen year term was ended. He was dis
charged in 1885, and as he had become a
good carpenter, the Jail officials thought he
would lead an honest life.