Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-02-23
ASSASSINATION
'hAcHE" BOLSTER MILLS SONNY JAMES.
DresdtuI Revenge of Cowardly Bruiser
A shet in the Dark from Springfield Musks.'
TEE CsE0.vErs Ey'eUEsT.'

a wen known sporting man, by the notorious
Horatio ter "Rache'') Bolster, whose name Is
only too familiar 20 al connected with the
police and criminal courts. IL appears that last
evening between and O'Clock, me two men
had fight in which James came OF best, as
Bolster was badly beaten, and his nose broken.
He was Afterwards seen In a restaurant on the
south side Of the Avenue, near 18th street,
Ing blood from his face. he called for
drinks, and when he removed the hand
kerehief to put the glass to his lips the
o Oat aeeeI nofsS .na' n rose very MIGs
the drubbiDg to have threatened to take
james LIE at Of ght. About 10 O'Clock Bolster
passed down + street, between 18th and 18th
Green and Charley Drering, in mont Of
SChnell's restaurant. BOLSTER spoke to James,
laying els that you, sonny james said,
eyes, this is ne" Bolster then went back to
the alley near Schnell's restaurant, and short
ly appeared with a musket in his hand, which
Re levelled az James and Immediately fired.
The charge-a load OF buckshot-entered the
left groin Of James, who fell in the doorway OF
house No. 1913 street, and Bolster walked
away towards the avenue.
A crowd soon gathered, and Officer Perry.
who MAS standing at the cornerof 18th street, M
once followed Bohter, arrested him and took
him 20 the central guardhouse, where he " as
locked up. The wounded man--.James-vas
taken into DR.. j. l.. kidwell's drug store and
DIR. Garnet was sent for. lie soon arrived. anil
examining the wounds, pronounced them fatal.
James was AZ once removed to his house, No.
ies 18th street, and Mr.. McDevitt went for Rev.
Father Walter TO give him the last consolation
OF the church. Bolster gave no explanation OF
the murder, and expressed no regret at the act
either when taken into custody or at the guard.
house. When Mr.. McDevitt returned with
Father Walter. James was unconscious and soon
after died, surrounded by his friends.
ALLsesp AcCoNrLicss OF BOLSTER.
Tie notorious Reddy" WEIGH was after
wards arrested by Onicers DOYLE and Clements
and locked up on suspicion OF being an acces-
sorry, and when in custody owned to loading the
weapon with buskshot yesterday. and said he
placed IL behind bis bar at his restaurant on ID
street IL Is slso stated thai Welch vas near at
hand when the fatal shot was fIred and that he
took the mnsket from the hands of Bolster after
The police made every effort during the nigh.
10 arrest another man, who, IL was sad, handed
Bolster the gun; but they were unsuccessful
Sergeant Vernon, going in1D Freddy" Welch's
ball room, American Hall } on ID street, near
18th, fonnd the alleged accomplice in the room
-,iRnS his bat. He Is q man named George
Wells. He denied that he knew anything what
ever OF the occurrence, and asserted his entire
innocence OF any connection with il. He was
Immediately locked up in one OF the cells at the
Central guard house until the matter is cleared
up.
THR PosT soRrEs R1AYINATIos.
Quite number of the friends OF the de-
ceased called TO view the body daring the
morning. but with the exception OF his init
mate friends and associates all were refused adj
mission: A crowd also gathered about the
DR.. W. W. Potter, the Coroner, who had been
notihed last night arrived At James residence
about O'Clock this morning and found the body
laying on mattress in the front parlor. Be-
meath the body was rool of blood nearly feet
IN dis meter The body was at once removed to z
table in the back room when DR.. Potter assisted
by Dr. haItigsn and DIR. Conover made a
post mortem examination. The groin and lower
part of the abdomen were found literally tilled
with buck shot.
TIE wEAPON
Oficer Perry had at the suar,-houss this
morning the weapon with which the deed is
said to nave been committed. IL was found at
Reddy Welch's place last night by the detec-
"bobtan'-that is, q field musset with about
two feet of the barrel cut or so that the gun
can be easily concealed under coat.
THE VICTIM,
Joseph james, was a native OF Winchester Va
but well known in sporting circles here, as also
in Baltimore and Richmond. lie was re-
markably well built man, and, with the excep-
ton Of being heavily I-Ock- marked had q good
and pleasing looking face.
'RACHE" BOLSTER.
who hTed the fatal shot, came to this Di..
ment, and is said to be a buttou-maker Lv
trade. He has appeared several times
IN the prize ring with Sam Collyer and Mike
Carr, and wa, whipped by each. tie has hung
around the Division" since the war with the
exception OF few months spent else where while
a criminal charge was pending against him. His
name is pretty well known TO readers OF the
daily papers, ard he was surnamed by the report
ers "the woman whipper," his hstic encounters
with the weaker sex bein. those in which he was
most successful. His brutal treatment OF one
will be remembered by most readers He fought
in the Prize King at iSl pounds when his natu-
raj weight was about 10. but within the past
few wears he has become quite burly, and We CHS
Low something over $50.
EoLsTEK's BAcKERs.
Martin alias "Reddy welch, !" also well known
10 the police, for time kept bar for various
persons in that delectable locality known as
The Division" and this winter has run Amer
can Hall, on ID street, where balls for disrebt-
table characters were given unit they vera
broken mp BY the police month or two since
since which time he has had sawdust ring for
sparring in the same place, and has attempted
TO give lessons in the manly art"
George Wells, the other alleged ACCESSORY is
eonparanvely anew conner here. and but little
Is known OF him. He came from Baltimore, and
has been floating about 1.-The division for
several months past, keeping bar in brothel.
during portion OF the time.
The COroner's Inquest.
The following jury OF inquest WAS summoned
W e. Harper, II. b. Lyon, Joseph sipes. Ed
ward DoIan, George Wagner. G. q. Walker, w.
Sear-. X. W. Barker V. Rou1. After beiny
sworn in view Of the body. ~ the house the
Coroner. jurors and witnesses repaired to tina
central Guardhouse, where the testimony was
taken.
At the Guardhouse, Dr. y. j. Todd Deputy
Coroner, assisted DIR. Potter, and after the pric-
oners, Bolster, WEIGH and Wells, had been
brought IN the evidence was taken-AssrtAnt
District Attorney Harrington representing the
government, at TIE request OF the Coroner, and
MI ~. ID. Barrett appearing As sounsel fer
Bolster, whose eyes were blac kened and bloody
Anu his nose and ace cut and bruised 90 much
as 20 make him almost unrecogni LAbls, save by
his size and build. He took a seat pexr Lis
counsel, and In answer to Dir. Harrington Aatsd
that his age was -.
Or. J. r. H0Ttigan was the nrst witness and
he testified that he had made post norton et-
animation OF the body OF james at the no use,
5S 18th street The shot were mostly on the
lett side. and few extended to the right. The
shot numbered perhaps 50 or 20; he reno ved X
or -; they were about No. shot, q unl Der
were exhibited; some or them appeared 20 have
been hattened.l The contents Of the abdomen
showed the bladder WAS riddled by from 20 to 10
shot. Nearly the whole length OF the small in
testines was perforated. The cause of death
vas hemorrhage. resulting from gunshof wound
IN the abdomen. Death would be- caused nv
such Woond in from ten minutes TO two honrs
There were upwards OF two quarts OF blood ip
the abdomen, the hemorrhzge being moro in
ternal than external.
Or. Jgeoo @. oonover eorobAted the above
Or. 4. r. keen,, who vas in attendance on
James before he died, testified that he with
DIR. Garrett examined the wound, and con-
Guided that the wounded man would Iivsibut
short time, - he appeared to be DIVING from
NJ - "A ~