The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1870-08-17

charge of the books, and, Us Dickens
%contended, of the property Of the firm.
But the expenses OF the Mcmillan
trial was the great %troule, and no set
element could be made, and the war
began between Thomas Dickens and
Wade III Bolton,
In January, 1869. attempts were
made to assassinate Dickens at his res
idehce, or his farm, three miles north
east of Raleigh. The assassins failed.
But the spring of the same year two
m~urderers, Inman and Morgan, enter
ed the kitchen of Dickens while he
| and his friends we're Mt supper, and be
gun the work of sh u ghter. They
| wounded Dickens, shooting him above
the right eye and in the arm; wound
ed a young man, named Humphreys.
in the arm, and killed a man named
Wilson, and a negro girl Damed NGr
cy, who had been a trusted family
servant of Dickens for fifteen years
Dickens naturally turned 10 his arch
enemy, Wade Ii. Bolton, as the au-
thor of this bloody work. Whether
true or false he acted in its belief. In
man and Morgan were outlaws of
North Alabama, whittier they return
ed after the assassination. They We're
pursued, and a gold watch, taken from
Dickens house on the night of the at
tempt on his life, was found on the
person of Inman. Inman and MOI
gan were hunt d down Immediately
by the citizens of North Alabama,
and destroyed like wild beasts. They
were concealed in Il cave in one the
most inaccessible caves of North Ala
bama, and in this a they were shot
down. -.- .-r
E. G. Patterson and Bob Thomp,
son were supposed to be connected in
eriminality with these outlaws and
murders. They were indicted in this
county, tried and'acquitted.
Wade II. Bolton was. by Dickens,
believed to be the man at the bottom
Of all the attempts ON his life, but he
could not fasten any guilt on him by
facts. In the meantime a big chan
Gerry was going on between them, in
volving a settlement of the firm of
Bolton, Dickens & Co., involving
more than a quarter of a million of
dollars.
The feeling of hatred grew so strong
that it was certain that either Wade
H. Bolton would kill Dickens, or Dick
ems destroy Bolton. The crisis came
in June, 1860, when Colonel Dickens
encountered Bolton in Court Square,
and shot him. From his wounds,
Wade II. Bolton died a few weeks
thereafter, and left behind a re
cord known as Wade Bolton's will.
written by his owa hands and publish
lished in the Avalanche at the time of
its being probated in the County
Tie will is remembered by
the public. The estate he left to be
administered is valued at $3.50, 0O0.-
He had no children to whom to leave
MS property, and it was divided among
zinsmen and charities.
The trial of Thomas Dickens for
Bolton excited intense interest
1t continued twenty-six days and re-
in his acquittal.
The feud it was supposed, was now
1t an end. The only surviving mem
Der of the firm was Dickens, and
here was no one strong enough to
continue the work of blood. All the
actors passed away, and Dick
ms, over sixty years old, alone re-
NAMED. But the peace was not to
asst, and though Wade III. Bolton
leeps in the grave, this bloody work
# killing still goes on. Dickens now
las fallen ON the highway, mangled
nd butchered. Will the thirst of
,lood demand other victims? Colo
Iel Dickens leaves surviving him only
me. child, DIR. Sam. Dickens Isaac
1. Bolton, several daughters and one
on, Mr.. Seth Bolton ; Wade Boz
on, no offspring; and Washington
Bolton several daughters and one o
Isaac Bolton and Wade H. Bolton
vere brothers, Washington Bolton was
.ot related by blood to either, but by
narrriage with Isaac, who married
V~ashington's sister. Thomas Dick
MS had two sons, and both married
daughters of Isaac Bolton. They were
IL of pure English parentage. These
len were engaged as partners in buy
u anu SellihS negroes anu cotlOn
1847 to 1857. Their business
Tas, in the last five years, extensive.
The principal or mother house was
n Memphis, but there we're branch
in Vicksburg, Mississippi, Rich
and, Kentucky, and Richmond, Vir-
inia. The extent of their operations {
cached millions of dollars, and, by
ritten:contract, no division of profits ]
r final settlement of the firm was to
made until a final dissolution,
Ihich occurred a day Or two after
IcMillan was killed by Isaac And
he killing of Mcmillan was the begin
ing of the feud. With the murder
f Colonel Thomas Dickens it ought
urely 10 end.