Du Quoin, Ill., March 25, 1872.--One of the greatest villains that
the rebellion developed was HILDEBRAND--a man whose name has for
years been a terror upon the Missouri borders, and who has shed more
blood and committed more crimes than any other of the
desperate characters who have infested Missouri and Kansas
during the last seven years. Agile as a leopard, fearless as a
lion, bloodthirsty as a tiger, possessed of great strength and
endurance, he was just the man to keep our border settlements in a
state of excitement, and to make his very name feared from the
Kansas line to the Mississippi river.
So numerous
were his crimes that at length the State authorities were induced to
set a price upon his head, and a large reward was offered for the
apprehension of HILDEBRAND. Backed by half a dozen scoundrels of
like kidney he boldly defied the authorities, and for a
time continued his depredations with impunity. At
length treachery effected what State officials failed to accomplish,
and HILDEBRAND and his gang of cut-throats disappeared for a time from
public view. On Tuesday of last week, in company with his six children and
five companions, he crossed the Mississippi river and entered the State of
Illinois, intending to travel quietly across the peninsula between the
Mississippi and Ohio rivers, and finally take up their abiding place in
Western Kentucky.
On Thursday the party made its
appearance in Pinckneyville, Perry county, thirteen miles from this
city, where being unknown, they felt themselves secure from pursuit.
On Friday, the party became drunk and noisy, flourishing their weapons and
threatening to "clean out the town." At length HILDEBRAND, becoming
separated from the rest, was over-powered by numbers and secured, and upon
being searched six knives and two pistols were taken from his
person. An officer then started with him toward
the office of the
police magistrate. They had proceeded but a short distance when
HILDEBRAND suddenly drew a knife which he had concealed in his
sleeve, and with it made a thrust at the officer, striking him in the left
thigh and inflicting an ugly wound ten inches in length. The officer fell
to the ground but, recovering himself in a moment, drew a pistol and
fired, shooting HILDEBRAND in the
breast, killing him almost
instantly.
At the time of the affray it was not known who the prisoner was but his
children, upon being questioned, said their father's name was HILDEBRAND,
and that he was the man for whom a reward was offered. His companions
immediately fled, taking the direction of Kentucky. The effects left by
HILDEBRAND consisted of a miscellaneous collection of articles stolen from
the Missourians and clearly established his identity. His taking off is a
positive relief to the people of
Missouri.
