The Life, Trial, Confession and Execution of Albert W. Hicks / The Pirate and Murderer, Executed on Bedloe's Island, New York Bay, on the 13th of July, 1860, for the Murder of Capt. Burr, Smith and Oliver Watts, on Board the Oyster Sloop E. A. Johnson. Containing the History of His Life (Written by Himself) from Childhood Up to the Time of His Arrest. With a Full Account of His Piracies, Murders, Mutinies, High-way Robberies, etc., Comprising the Particulars of Nearly One Hundred Murders! to which is added the Account of His Arrest, Imprisonment, Trial and Execution. Also, His Phrenological Character, as described by L. N. Fowler.

by Albert W. Hicks

I used to wish that I could find the pots of gold and silver which rumor said had been buried in our neighborhood by pirates and robbers, and used to listen with rapt attention to stories of pirates, robbers, highwaymen, etc., which my companions used sometimes to relate.

My father compelled me to work, and though I had no taste for it, when once in the field my ambition to excel always brought me out first at the end of the row or swath, and having some mechanical skill, I was often called upon to do jobs about the farm which saved calling upon the wheelwright or carpenter.

But by the time I was fifteen years of age I grew tired of the monotonous life I had been leading, and my desire to roam and see the world, and seek my fortune, took entire possession of me; so I began making my preparations to run away. I got together a small sum of money, by hook and by crook; and one night, after all were asleep, I stealthily left the house, and took the road to Providence, from whence I proceeded to Norwich, Conn.

Here I took the first important step in that career of crime which has made me a prisoner in this cell, and which will lead me eventually to the gallows.

After arriving at Norwich, I wandered about, seeking not employment, but some means of gratifying my desire for money in an easier way; and during the day I strayed into the railroad depot, where I observed a number of trunks, packages of goods, etc., a part of which I determined to appropriate to myself. I hung about the depot until night, and then watching my opportunity, I seized a package of goods; and leaving the depot in all haste, made my way outside of the town to some woods, where I examined the package, which contained laces and silks. I secreted some of the things about me; and, not knowing any one to whom I could dispose of them there, I determined to go back home, which I reached in the course of a few days.

My parents were very angry with me, and tried to learn where I had been; but I kept a still tongue, and sold the goods secretly to a peddler who stopped at the house.

But the goods were missed, and, as I had been seen prowling about the railroad station, suspicion naturally fell on me; and the officers having no difficulty in getting on my track, I was followed and arrested one night at my father’s house, after I had been in bed some time.

I was fast asleep; the officers awoke me, and putting a pair of handcuffs on me, carried me back with them to Norwich, where I was tried and sentenced to a year and six months’ imprisonment in the Norwich jail.

I remained in confinement about three months, when I managed to make my escape, and went to Lowerpart, Gloucester, Rhode Island, where I went to work on a farm. But my whereabouts was discovered, and in six weeks from the time of my escape I was re-arrested and taken back to Norwich jail, and put to work in the quarries, with a ball and chain fastened to my leg.

I had been at work a month in this way, when one day, by means of a stone hammer and chisel, I broke the chain from my leg, and running off, made for the woods, pursued for some miles by a strong party of officers.