The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-08-04
ssvsa'h Tras.dy, 8 no !, 8

Yesterday DR.. SSin Isielzes,s the only
lsct OF Col. Thomas Di1k slls,J VIE shct
Wade Bolton recently, arrivez aroIn
North Alabama with the body OF HeHs
derson Inman, q noted chnxact6 "a, charged
with all manner Of desperate crimes WHO
was killed at the mouth OF d cave, about
fifty miles South Of Tuscumhsn, last Sun.
day morning. Thisis the seventh man
killed in connection with the sxtraordi.
nary family war which has been raging
between the Bottoms and the Dickenses
for the last ten or twelve years. -.
Col. Thos. Dickens and Mr.. Wade
Bolton, formerly partners in the bust.
meas OF negro trading in this city, were
the principals of the feud. A heavy law.
suit, involving probably 100000, still
In the courts, hos been the moving cause
OF contention between them. The death
OF either party would be supposed a
practical victory for the other. Mr..
Wade Bolton was fifty-seven years old at
the time of bis death last week. Col.
Thos. Dickens is sixty FIVE years old.
On the 10th of last February, two men.
armed with pistols, obtained admittance
to the house of Col. Dickens, twelve
miles North of this city. The family
were at supper; lights were extinguished,
and two persons were killed outright by
the intruders-a work hand, named
Green Wilson, and oolored girl, named
Nancy Dickens. Two persons were
wounded, Col. Dickens and man who
worked with him, named Robert Hum
phreys. 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 arrests were made.
Shortly afterward. however, Capt. E.
@. 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. preliminary examination
was held in the city, which lasted over
two weeks. The voluminous evidence
satisfied the public mind that Inman and
Morgan were the men who committed
the murder at Col. Dickens place on the
10Th of February. Capt. Patterson was
committed for trial as an accessory to the
murders, and was admitted to bail in the
sum of $40,
After that time, the affair seemed to
die out, but two months ago. Morgan
and Inman wero heard of in Marion
County, Alabama, where Inman's mother
lives. They were charged with belong
ing to band of horse-thieves, and we're
committed to Marion Jail. In few
nights, a crowd of men, in disguise.
charged the Jail and rescued the prison
ers. They took them down the road
some distance and turned them loose, OF
the same instant opening fire upon the
fugitives. Morgan fell dead, but Inman
escaped, wounded. His mothers house
was searched and watch was found
which belonged to Col. Dickens. This
served, more than ever, to connect him
with the double tragedy in February.
James lnman made good his escape,
and, with brother named Henderson,
took refuge in cave near their mothers
house. DIR. Sam. Dickens, the son of
Col. Dickens, learned this fact some time
ago, and made, through Gov. Senter, O
requisition upon the Governor of Alaba-
ma for the two men, which was granted
in due form. The Doctor made his ar
rangements to go 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 Tuscumbia, accompanied by
Humphreys, who was wounded at the
Dickens farm tragedy. At Tuscumbia,
the party was increased by volunteers to
seventeen-all eager for the fray, it
seems. Two guides were procured at
Pikeville, Marion County, and Sunday
morning, just at sunrise, they reached
the cave where the Inmans were said to
lie. There were several caves in the
same neighborhood, all approached by
rugged paths and overlooking a deep,
swift creek. The first cave was entered,
but no one was found, though it had evil
dently been but recently occl led
The party then proceeded cautiously
to the next cave and found the desired
parties comfortably in bed, taking
morning nap. The attacking party called
on them to surrender. Henderson In
man sprang to his feet in his night
clothes, and responded with bullet A
volley was fred at him and he fell badly
woun led. James Inman sprang up with
pistols in his hands, and dashed down
the path like wild beast. He was fired
upon and fell dead. The wounded man
was secured and dressed. In few mo-
ments, old Mrs. Inman and her daughter
appeared upon the scene, with their re-
volvers buckled around them, and gave
vent to their feelings in long and loud
curses. They said they scorned and de-
fed gang of towards, when it took
seventeen of them to kill one man and