The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-08-06
ssonewa,a sackson's widow.
WADE BOTTOMS LRGAcY OF TEN THOUSAND DO
LARS HISTORY OF A BLOODY FEUD,

ssonewasl Jackson's widow.
WADE BOTTOMS LRuAcY OF TEN THOUSAND DOL.
LARS HISTORY OLA BLOODY FEUD.
The Memphis (Tenn.) Avalanche of July
80 gives history Of Wade Bottoms legacy
OF SIC, 900 to the widow of stonewall jack
son, as we'll IS Of the Bolton-Dickens fcud,
one Of the darkest passages Of crime in the
Southwest:
During the month Of February, 1872,
against the positive instructions of bis at.
torneys. Mr.. E. NJ. Appcrson, of this city, as
executor of Wade Fl. Bolton, paid over to
Mrs. T. j. Jackson the sum Of S5 900, bali
the sum beques, bed to her husband, General
StoneWal Jackson. who fell in action at
Charlottesville, Va. In 1864, while com.
manding a corps OF Confederate troops.
At an interview on the subject with Mr..
Apperson yesterday he stated that the heirs
OF the Bolton estate have been in litigation
for some time past concerning the distribu-
ton of the property, and while this legal
contest remains undecided the attorneys
deem 1t unWise for him to pay any bequests
not ordered by the courts. Contrary to this
advice, however, and solely because Mrs,
Jackson has stated that she sadly needed the
money, the executor has paid her half of the
beuuest, as above noted. He has also paid
the several heirs considerable SUMS on ac-
count of their prospective inheritances.
VALUE OF BOTTOMS ESTATE.
The value of the personal property belong
ing to the Wade Bolton estate Is estimated
at $500 900. A claim was act up ia the courts
some wears ago by Wash. Bolton and Tom.
Dickens, his former business partners, against
Ike and Wade Bolton for all their estate is
worth. Should the courts decide in favor Of
the claimants there will be little or nothing
remaining after satisfying the Judgment.
At the time Wade Bolton made the be-
quest of $4,000 to Mrs. Jackson he was in
hourly expectation of losing his life by VIC.
lence. Having expressed desire to DO
something to enable his name to live 10 the
memory Of future generations unconnecteo
with evil deeds, Mr.. Apperson himself sug'
gested donation TO Mrs. Jackson OF 2o,OUO.
Bolton liked the idea, but reduced the De-
quest to $4,000.
After his death, which happened few
mouths subsequent to the time OF making
| the bequest, MIR. Apperson wrote ana IN
formed Mrs. Jackson of the matter, telling
| her also that as soon as the terms OF the la"
could be complied with the sum should be
made subject to her order.
AN OLD, BLOODY FEUD.
There is a history connected With the
gathering Of this large and valuable Bolton
estate which is full of thrilling events and
violent deeds. The property was chiefly ac-
cumulat ed by trading in slaves through
| long series of years. The business firm,
known as Bolton & Dickens, had their loca-
ton in a conspicuous building situated on
the bluff in front of the lower part of the
city. near the once. famous Gayoso House.
| Tourists on passing steamers Qhen the
only method of travel'ing) invariably bad
their attention called to the large printed
letters which adorned the riverside wall OF
their structure, and which read, "Bolton
& Dickens, slave-dealers." The sign and the
firm both figure in Mrs. Beecher Stoves
story of "Uuclc Tom," and many letter.
writer's of the day referred aud often CON-
men,ed severely upon it, and Bolton u
Dickens had more than national reputa-
ton. They had branch houses at New Or.
leans and elsewhere, and their agents pene-
trated every section Of the country south OF
| Mason and Dixon's line in search of black
people to supply the demands OF their cu>-
TONERS, who embraced planters throughout
the entire Southwest. Many persons and
large sums of money were employed to aid
| them in their traffic.
| TIE INITIAL TRAGEDY.
Over twenty years ago a coored lad was
purchased somewhere in Kentucky, at a
| hubble sale, who bad been manumitted by a
will of his mister, and who was to be set
free after he arrived at a certain age. The
conditions of the sale were named, and
Bolton .S Dickens's agent, one Mcmillan,
became the purchaser. He was conveyed to
their mart in this city, and the firm suhse-
ouentlv sold the boy for the sum Of 81 800
TO Thomas B. Crenshaw, near Morning
Sun, in this county. The boy was con-
sjdered valuable and brought big
price for those times, but he was soid
as slave for life, nothing being said
labout his promised freedom. The colored
boy informed his new master Of the actual
situation. Crcnshaw sent to Kentucky for a
copy of the will, employ ed counsel for the
hoy, aud the courts decided against the
slave. traders. They were forced to return
their ill-got!eu dollars to CrenshaW, and also
nav heavy costs for their misdemeanor. They
had expected Mcmillan TO testify in their IA
yor. He failed TO do SO, and stuck 10 the
truth throughout.
| The dealers managed to obtain new trial,
and having been deceived into the belief that
Mcmillan would swear as they wished, to
prevent bis rtappearance Isaac l.. Bolton
murdered him in his own house. This was
on the 81 day OF June, 1857. The atrocity
of the crime was widely commented on
throughout the entire country, and it created
much excitement every where. Bolton man.
aged by hard swearing, sharp maneuvring
: and other tricks, TO have the venue changed
TO Tipton county. Tenn.
| In the mean time his friends were active
They managed to have a sheriff and other
officers elected to suit their purpose. A jury
was obtained for the case, and after the eX.
pendture of more than 100000 in money
Bolton saved his neck and went clear. l. is
remarkable fact that in less than four year:
atterward eleven Of these same jurors had
died violent deaths, and the other also died
in an unnatural way some years after.
BLooDsHED FOLLOWS BLooDsHED.
aulrrel cpsued between the members o
the slaye-dealiug firm, which had been dis
solved bv limitation within a few days Of the
Imurderous deed, as to who should pay the
enormous expenses of the trial. One party
contendcd that the firm should be charged
with the amount, and the other that Bolton
himself ought TO foot the bill alone. The
quarrel resulted seriously to the contendiDg
parties. Ike Bolton, who did the killing
died natural death some years ago. One ut.
ter another the rest were killed 10 a'terca
tions with each other. Finally Tom. Dickens
killed Wade Bolton, as before mentioned, by
\ f~Nr k0FT cftli n 20