Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1914-01-08
Sam HiIdebrand's Career and
Death.

Ed. Register-Two years ago L
wrote you about a trip / made through
Mexico, which appeared to please
your readers very much. Now l will
write you a story that trust will in
terest your readers equally as well.
This is story of the desperate battle
with the notorious desperate, Sam
Hildebrand, at his Uncle John Will
liams' house in st. Francois County,
Mo-. between the sheriff's posse
(which the writer was member of
and Hildebrand, and the final ending
of this notorious man by being killed
by John Ragland at Pinkleyville, Ill.
Before going into details of this
desperate battle 1 will state that Sam
Hildebrand was born and reared at
the old Hildebrand homestead, three
miles north of Big River Mills, and
was married there by Judge Frank
Murphey, who was sheriff at the time
this battle took place. 1t is well
enough to state that Hildebrand al
ways bore the reputation of being
a bad man, and especially all through
the late war. How many men he kill
ed duriug his life, it would be hard to
tell.
When peace was declared it was
understood between the State and
County authorities that Hildebrand
would be allowed to return home and
live in peace, if he would only do SO.
He did return home, but it was not
long afterwards until he was at his
old tricks again, stealing and threaten
| ing to kill his enemies. The State
authorities, under the administration
of Governor Joseph W. McClurg,
determined to have him arrested and
answer for some of the many crimes
which he was accused of. The Gov
ernor and St. Francois County
authorities offered a reward for his
arrest, dead or alive.
Ayoung man by the name of Peter
son, a son of Judge Peterson OF
Fredericktown, took it into his head
he could secure fame and the reward
by capturing or killing him single
handed, which he proceeded to do. He
went to Hildebrand's house in the
night and secreted himself near the
house and there waited until daylight
for Sam to show up. About daylight
Sam came out of the house and Peter
son took deliberate aim with ballard
rife and fired, but he must have lost
his nerve, for, instead of shooting him
in the heart, he shot him in the flesh
part of the thigh. Sam then ran into
4 the house and closed the door and
Peterson made no further attempt to
get him, but struck out for tall timber.
He arrived at Fredericktown and at
once wired the governor of what
he had done. The governor wired
Sheriff Breckenridge of Potosi what
Peterson had done, and told him to
take posse and go and get Hide
brand, which the sheriff proceeded to
do. Breckenridge, with the posse, ar
rived at the house where Sam was
shot, late in. the afternoon, but the
bird had flown. Hildebrand had q
ineighbor who lived short distance
from his house. The sheriff went
there to inquire of this man if he
knew anything of him. The man tolo
him that when he went to his corn
crib early in the morning and openeo
the door of the crib Sam was in there
and pulled the gun on him ano
told him to hitch up his team and take
him away; and if he didn't he wouic
kill him. The man told the sheriff
that he had hauled him to Buck High
ley's, about five miles from there
The sheriff took the man along witt
him and went to Highley's. Highley
told the sheriff that this man brought
Hildebrand to his house and tina
Hildebrand had compelled him, High
ley, to haul him to John Williams
(Sam's Uncle The sheriff thel
turned the man loose and took High
ley and went to Williams house, ar
irving there about daylight. Th'
posse stopped at the barn and waited
for Williams to come out to feed
y Williams soon made his appearance
at the barn to feed his stock. Tn
sheriff then arrested Williams ant
turned Highley loose. Williams tol'
the sheriff that Hildebrand was in tn
house. They took Williams and al
proceeded to the house. The sherii
told Williams to call Hildebrand an,
tell him that the sheriff was ther
/, with warrant for his arrest and TO
:. him to come out and surrender, Viii
liams told the sheriff there would b
something doing; that Sam would no
d surrender, but kill him (Williams) th
first man. But Williams knocked O
the door and told Hildebrand wha
n the sheriff had told him. In secon
n or two the door opened small crac
s and the battle was on. The first she
from Sans big Remington revolve
took off Williams finger. The mex
shot struck the sheriff in the groir
% and the next shot took cut bunch G
|, whiskers from Andy Beams chin. TIL
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