The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-05-01
MoNDAY..................MAY /, 1871.
THE CIRCULATION OF THE DISPATCH
Is LARGER THAN THE COMBINED CIR
CULATIoN OF ALL TIE OTHER DAILY
NEWSPAPERS OF TILE CITY.
correspondence Of tie Baltimore SAM
THE BuLSTEn-JAMEs MURDER.
Death Sentence of Horntio Boister-Hc ia TO
be Hung on tho Ninth OF June Remark.
able Scene I'm Court Speech OF the Prisoner,
WASHINGTON, April %, 1871.

| formerly OF Baltimore, on the ODD of last
February, was brought into the Criminal
Court this morning for sentence. The
scene soon became one Of intense dramatic
interest. The prisoner, in response 20 the
| formal question Of what he had to say why
sentence should not be pronounced against
him, at first answered that he had much to
say, but that he rc:rained from saying it by
the advice Of his counsel. Judge DIN,
| however, suggested TO him that if there
was anything within his knowledge that
could be offered i'll excuse or vin(li-
cation Of his conduct, it would be
we'll for him 10 offer it. Bolster
responded to the invitation in speech
Of considerable length, exhibiting COM
mand of language and dramatic power en-
tirely unlocked fer. He Mt first asked to be
allowed to talk from the witness stand,
| (Which adioins tue judges bench,) but
Judge Olin said, !" 10 not like to have you
come near me unless you have been
searched" and the culprit then took the
place on the floor usually occupied ny at
torneys and narrated his version of the af.
fair. His demeanor sometimes suggested
the influence of liquor. but during the
greater portion of his speech he spoke as
coolly and deliberately as though he were
He personated in turn all the characters
in the drama Of blood, not only
What they said. but moved as they
had moved, and gesticulated as they
| had done. Altogether, it was most
remarkable scene. He described the
murder rs follows After mentioning that
he had gone to Reddy Welchs after
he was beat, and there met Crops and
Sherman, he went on. Crops reached
over and grabbed the gun and put it under
his coat. l says Don't take that He
says will only take it for my own protec-
ton : and why should he not want protec-
ton after seeing how | was beaten? He
took the gun, put it under his coat, and
carried the gun without speaking word.
\ OF was there a word mentioned about
shooting James or anything of that kind.
He took the gun and carried it down ID
street to Thirteenth, up Thirteenth to Il
street, in company with Crops, Sherman,
and me. George Wells | never walked a
block with in my life, except when we were
brought to the prison together. Then we
walked down T. street; not Il word had
been mentioned about shooting Or anything
OF that kind, OF OF revenge. All wanted
was to have q reasonable explanation; to
know why it was done; why / was mis-
used, and beat to death almost, for Moth
ing. Going down by the theatre went
into no place, The places l went into
were before this, before Crops had the
|
entrance of the theatre then Crops and
Sherman dropped out little way below ;
then Crops. seeing no one but me, got
afraid. | walked down and saw Sonny
james standing near the corner Of the
alley. | said. is that you, SOnny| was
perfectly calm, and with no malice in
nv heart. OF course l Smartcd under
the treatment / had already received,
. but with no intention Of taking the mans
tod II ri
is that YOU, Sonny" He stood in this
way describing the position) After heat
Ing IGc twice before, lie says: Yes, Cd
d-n YOU, what do YOU WANT and raised
his hand and came for me, and |, under
the passion and excitement Of the moment,
stated to run, when Crops, standing III
the door below me, took the gun, put it in
my hands, and said shoot him. took
the gun and fired the fatal shot,"
The prisoner, laboring under great en-
element, asked, WAS it murder: Is it
murder. was it murder? premeditatcd
murder: was it seli-defence: or was it
m.nslauchter! | had no malice at that
time. then ran. They hallooed Halo !
stop that man. The crowd followed me.
/ in Il little while saw IN officer. AS soon
rs | saw the officer and heard him say
| where is hep l said L am here; take
me- He took me-"
| tie StclllSlt COlf lliat haI
out case Of scf-detcnce land having paused
for IL minute or so, trying to calm himself,
! having, rs he progressed. become very
| much excited. Resuming, he said: Well,
| hope YOU will give me ample time to pre-
pare to meet my Maker, which l stand
greatly in fear OTTO make my peace with
God but when l 90 before that God for
judgment, will not have to be judged Tor
any lie uttered on this floor to-day. II have
uttered Il lie, may never enter the king
dom OF Heayen.' At this point the pri-
soner was greatly affected, weeping and
sobbine audlbly. He added: "From the
villain ] am put down to he i'll the papers, l
supposc there is question in the minds of
some people whether 1 believe | have Il
God and whether | expect to go before that
God or not. Yes, believe have got to go
nctorc my God, and Il good and just Cod,
who will Judge the mel who take my lnno-
cent blood and send me to the scatfoId III
innocent man, as am. 1 am donc.'
Nudge Olin was not unaffected during q
norton of Boosters statement, and after
! wards there was an unusual conversation
| between the Judge and the culprlt, the
! Judge at one time saying: " do not know
now true it isl do not rely much on news
| paper reports-but l say in the papers
what purported to be Il letter TO you from
YOUR mother. Have you mother liYlng:D
The prisoner. in feeling voice: IL
| have"
| The Court " a letter from your mother
expressing all that kindly There the judge
cave way to his feelings, and Bolster
was also overcome)- 80 mothefly anxiety
for YOU that q mother could express"
| IIere the prisoner bowed his head and
wept audbly.) cit touched my heart
deeply" QHere the judge again gave way
to his leelings.) "Would TO God that you
might be removed from situation like this
for that mothers sake and that sister
sake :" (Here the Judge became SO deeply
| affected that he had to pause TO wipe away
the tears courslng down his cheeks, While
the feeling seemed to be shared by the
counsel on both sides, the officers OF the
court, and many spectators.)
~ would not Willingly say word, BOZ
ster, that would wound your feelings ut all.
Nothing but Kindness / have felt, and cer-
lainIy do feel, towards you i'll the poslil"n
| occupy here but,will try and have ia"
ob.eryed. No matter how low or hlgn the
offender is, L will try, SO far us can, TO see
the law observed. / think that your case
is clearly one of murder and alter some
furt her remarks, he concluded
Nov, the Judgment Of the law must nc
that Won be taken hence to the jail oil Inc
District of Columbia, whence you were
brought. and kept in close confinement
until Friday, the 9th day of June that WIZ
be six weeks, and then, between the hours
OF II and / o'clock, you be hanged by ne
neck until you are dead; and may uoo
have mercy on YOU. You will have more
time to implore that mercy than you gave
,JameS0