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

We had as much gold as I could lift from the ground with one arm, which, upon our arrival in San Francisco, we exchanged for coin, and then commenced a long period of debauchery and licentiousness.

Every bar-room was at that time a gambling-place. The laws were loosely administered, and the only code really recognized was that of might.

Among the lawless, there were none more lawless than I; among the profligate and depraved, none more so than I; among the reckless and desperate, none were more reckless or so desperate as I and my companion.

The bar-room, the brothel, and the monte table, were the only attractions for us, and for six months we led the life of demons, leaving no bad impulse, no fiendish purpose, no gross passion, nor any wicked design, ungratified or unaccomplished.

After our money was all gone, and we began to be marked and suspected, we shipped on board of the brig Josephine—a Spanish vessel, bound for Valparaiso, and having on board a large amount of treasure, consisting of gold dust and Mexican doubloons.

One night, while we were coasting down, myself and partner having completed our arrangements, armed ourselves, and going into the cabin, gagged and bound the captain and officers, and placed them in a boat, compelling the crew to follow, leaving us in possession of the ship.

We then collected all the treasure, which we placed in the boat we had reserved for ourselves, when we scuttled the vessel and set fire to her.

What became of the officers and crew I never heard, but the owners of the brig Josephine, should they ever read my narrative, will learn, for the first time, the news of her real fate.

After seeing the vessel burn to the water’s edge, we pulled away, and favored by fine weather, we arrived within a short time at Mazatlan, having in our possession nearly or quite a hundred thousand dollars in dust and doubloons.

Here we purchased a hotel and bowling alley, and for a year and a half carried on business, occasionally indulging in my old propensities, and never missing a chance of appropriating to my own use such property or effects belonging to the travellers who stopped with us, as I could lay my hands on, occasionally taking to the road and waylaying those whom it would have been imprudent to have robbed while they were in the town.