The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1869-08-12
SEVENTH TRAGEDY IN THE
DICKENS. S.BOLTON FEUD.

Yesterday, DR.. Sam. Dickens, the on
ly son of Col. Thomas Dickens, who shot
Wade Bolton recently, arrived from
North Alabama with the body of llen-
dcrson Inman, q noted character,
charged with all manner cf desperate
crimes, who was killed at the mouth OF
a cave, about fifty miles South ofTuscum-
bia, last Sunday morning. This is the
seventh man killed in connection with
the extraordinary family war which has
been raging between the Bottoms and
the Dickenscs for the last ten or twelve
years.
Col. Thos. Dickens and Mr.. Wade
Bolton, formerly partners in the busl-
ness of negro trading in this city, were
the principals Of tho feud. A heavy law.
suit, involving probably 100000 still
in the courts, has been the moving cause
of contention between them. The death
of either party would be supposed a
practical victory for tie other. MIR.
Wade Bolton was fifty-seven years old at
the time of his death last week. Col.
Thos. Dickens is sixty.fve years old.
On the 10Th of last February, two
men, armed with pistols, obtained ad-
mittance to the house Of Col. Dickens,
twelve miles North of this city. The
family were at supper; lights were ex,
tinguished, and two persons were killed
outright by the intradcrs-a work hand,
named Green Wilson, and colorcd girl,
named Nancy Dickens. Two persons
were wounded, Col. Dickens and man
who worked with him. named Robert
Humphreys. The murderers made good
their escape, and about that time two
men. named Morgan and Inman, wer"
missed from the country. Coroner
Samuclson, of this ely, held irqucsts,
but at the time no arrests were made.
Shortly afterwards, however, Capt. f.
C. Pattcrson-w no married the widow
cd daughter of Isaac Bolton, and thus
became, by marriage, the nephew of
Wade Bolton-was arrested on charge
of being accessory to the Dickens farm
double murders A preliminary ex-
animation was held in the city. which
lasted over two weeks. The volumincus
evidence satisfied the public mind that
Tnman aud Morgan we're 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 ad-
United to bail in the sum of $40, 200.
Afscr that time, the affair seemed to
die out, but two months ago, Morgan
and Inman were heard of in Marion
County, Alabama, where Inman's moth
or lives. They we're charged with be.
longing to band of horse-thievcs, and
were committed to Marion Jail. In few
nights, 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, at
the same instant opening fire upon the
fugitives. Morgan fell dead, but 1nman
man 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 Febru-
ary.
James Inman made good his escape,
and with q brother named Henderson,
took refuge in cave near their mothers
house. DR.. Sam. Dickens, the son Of
Col. Dickens, learned this fact some
time ago, and made, through Gov. Sen
ter, requisition upon the Governor of
Alabama for the two men, which was
granted in due FORM The Doctor made
his arrangements to go aud effect the
capture of the Inmans, but was delayed
by the shooting of Wade Bolton by Col.
Dickens 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 ncighborhood, 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
IDENTIFY been but recently occupied.
The party then proceeded cautiously
to the next cave and found the desired
parties comfortably in bed, taking a
morning nap. The attacking party call
ed on them to surrender. Henderson
Inman sprang to his feet in his night
clothes, and responded with bullet. A
volley was fired at him and he fell badly