Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-07-27
SEVENTH TRAGEDY.
The Dickens-BoIton Family Feud-
Thrilling Chapter.

| ANoktu hinbnlho Will VIC bouy VI houeos
son lnman, noted character charge,
with oil manner of desperate crimes
who was killed at the mouth Of q cave
about fifty miles south of Tuscumbia
last Sunday morning. This is the seventh
man killed in connection with the ex
traordinary family war which has beef
raging between the Bottoms and thu
Dickenses for the last ten or twelv'
years.
Colonel Thos. Dickens and Mr.. Wad'
Bolton, formerly partners 10 the business
of negro trading in this city, were thu
principals of the fued. A heavy lawsuit
involving probably one hundred thousand
dollars, still in the courts, has been thu
moving cause of contention between
them. The death of either party woulG
be supposed practical victory for the
other. Mr.. Wade Bolton was fifty-sever
years old at the time Of bis death last
week. Colonel Thomas Dickens is sixty
FIVE years old.
On the 10Th of last February, two men
armed with pistols obtained admittance
to the house of Colonel Dickens, twelve
miles north of this city. The family
were at supper; lights were extinguished,
and two persons we're killed outright by
the intruders-a workhand named Green
Wilson and colorsd girl named Nancy
Dickens. Two persons were wounded,
Col. Dickens aud man who worked
with him named Robert Humphreys.
The murderers made good their escape,
and about that time two men named
Morgan and Inman were missed from
the country. Coroner Samelson, of this
city, held inquests, but at the time no ar
rests were made.
Shortly afterward, however, Captain E.
G. Patterson--who married the widowed
daughter of Isaac Bolton, and thus be.
came, by marriage, the nephew of Wade
Bolton-was arrested on charge of being
accessory to the Dickens farm double
murders. A prelimsry examination was
held in the city, which lasted over two
weeks. The voluminous evidence salts
fed the public mind that Inman and
Morgan were the men who committed the
murder at Colonel Dickens place on the
10Th of February. Captain Patterson
was committed for trial as an accessory
to the murders, and was admitted to bail
in the sum of twenty thousand dollars.
After that time the affair seemed to die
out, but two months ago Morgan and In
man were heard of in Marion county,
Alabama, where Inmsn's mother lives.
They were charged with belonging to o
band of horse thieves and were commit
ted to Marion Jail. Ia few nights a
crowd of men in disguise charged the
jsil and rescued the prisoners. They
took them down the road some distance
and turned them loose, at the same in
slant opening fire upon the fugitives.
Morgan fell dead, but Inmsn escaped,
wounded. His mothers house was
searched and a watch was found which
belonged to Colonel Dickens. This
served, more than ever, to connect him
with the double tragedy in February.
James Inman made good his escape,
and with brother named Henderson
took refuge in cave near their mother 8
house. DR.. Sam. Dickens, the son of
Col. Dickens, learned this fact some time
ago and made through Governor Senter
requisitioa upon the Governor of Ala
bama for the two men, which was granted
in due form. The Doctor made his ar
rangements to 70 and effect the capture
of the Inmans, but was delayed by the
shooting of Wade Bolton by Col. Dick
ems until Tuesday of last week, when he
left for Tuscumbis, accompanied by
Humphreys, wko vas wounded at tho
Dickens farm tragedy. At Tgscumbia
the party was increased by volunteers to
seyenteen-all eager for the fray, it
seems, Two gaides we're procured atPike'
vile, Marion county, and Sunday morn
ing, Just at sunrise. they reached the
cave where the Inmsns were said to lie.
There we're several caves In the same
neigbborhood, all approached by rugged
paths and overlooking q deep, swift
creek. The first cave was entered, but
no one was foHad, though it had evil
IDENTIFY been but recently occupied
The party then proceeded cautiously
to the next cave and found the desired
parties comfortably in bed, taking q
morning nap. The attacking party
called on them to surrender. Henderson
Inmsn sprang to his feet in his night
clothes and responded with bullet. A
yolley was fred at hiW Sna hp fpll
badly wounded. James Inman sprang up
With pistols in his hands, and dashed
down the path Ike Wild beast. He was
fred upon and fell dead. The EoEadsd
man was secured aud dressed. 10 few
moments old Mrs, Inman and her daugh'
ter appeared speu tLe scene, With their
reyolvers buckled around them, and gave
vent to their feelings in long and loud
curses. They said they scorned and de.
fed a gang of towards, when it took
seventeen of them to kill one man aud
aan.nza snoiLsr. Tie daughler was Q