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

When we arrived at Wahoo, Sandwich Islands, the mutineers who had been put in irons, were whipped with the cat, on board ship, till they were nearly dead. While we remained in port, the captain thinking to gain the good will of the crew, permitted us to go on shore nearly every day, and the men would have been well disposed toward him if I had not continually poisoned their minds against him.

While on shore I engaged in every kind of wickedness; I robbed and beat the natives, and was finally taken by the authorities and locked up until the vessel was ready for sea.

I imagined that I had been arrested at the instigation of the captain, and I determined that as soon as we were once more in blue water, I would be revenged upon him for it, but no opportunity occurred before we reached our cruising ground, where we only took one whale, and were then obliged to put back to Wahoo for repairs, the ship being leaky.

On our way back, one of the boat-steerers having been observed in conversation with me by the captain, was questioned in relation to the subject of it, which he refused to disclose. The captain then commenced to abuse the boat-steerer, and from words they soon came to blows. The boat-steerer, who was more than a match for the captain, would have overpowered him, but that the first mate interfered. He no sooner did so, than seizing a belaying-pin, I felled him to the deck, and the other officers coming up, a general fight took place.

The boat-steerer and myself succeeded in giving them a severe beating, and had complete possession of the ship, for the rest of the crew were afraid of us, and did not dare, even if they had been disposed, to take sides with the officers, whom we drove below, with the exception of the first mate, who still lay insensible upon the deck.

After this, the boat-steerer and myself held a consultation, and had we been navigators, which we were not, it being our first voyage, or had we even known where we were, or what course to sail, we should have murdered all the officers, and taken the ship.

Two days afterward, on coming on deck, we found the ship was approaching land, and a number of vessels in sight, which forced us to alter our plans. So we released the officers, who brought the ship to anchor in the harbor of Owahie, S. I., where we remained about a week, none of the crew being allowed to go on shore, and the boat-steerer and myself, knowing that while in port, and in sight of other vessels, the captain had us in his power, and could at any time have punished us, asked forgiveness, and stood upon our good behavior until we put to sea again, after repairing ship.

On our way out we touched at the Marquis Island, and then cruised a season on the whaling ground; but, not being successful, we left, and went into Typie Bay.

One day, having permission to go on shore with the boat-steerer and some of the crew, we landed on one of the islands for the purpose of procuring cocoa-nuts and wild figs, with which the place abounded.

After securing as many figs and nuts as we wanted, we were about returning to the ship, when we were attacked by the natives.