Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1875-08-14

OF BLOODY FEUD.
The Memphis (Tennessee) Ava
lanche of July 80, gives a history
of Wade Bottoms legacy of $4,000
to the widow of Stonewall jack
son as well as Of the Bolton-Dick-
ems feud, one of the darkest pass
ages of crime i'm the Southwest:
During the month of February,
1872, against the positive instruc-
tions of his attorneys, Mr.. E. Nj.
Apperson, of this city, as executor
of Wade III. Bolton, paid over to
Mrs. T.. j. jackson the sum of So
600, half the sum bequeathed to
her husband, Gen. Stonewall jack
son, who fell in action at Chancel-
lorsville, Va, in 1864, while COM
handing 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 dis
tribution of the property, and
while this legal contest remains
undecided the attorneys deem it
unWise for him to pay any be-
quests 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 Request, as above
noted. He has also paid the sew
eral heirs considerable sums on ac-
count of their prospective inherit
anceS.
VALUE OF BOTTOMS ESTATE.
The value of the personal prop
erty belonging to the Wade Bolton
estate is estimated at $500, 900. A
claim was set up in the courts
some years ago by Wash Bolton
and Tom Dickens, his former bu-
siness 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 af-
ter satisfying the judgment.
AT the time Wade made the be-
quest of $4,000 to Mrs. Jackson,
he was in hourly expectation of
losing his life by violence. Hav-
ing expressed a desire to do some
thing to enable his name to live in
the memory of future generations
unconnected with evil deeds, Mr..
Apperson himself suggested a do
nation to Mrs. Jackson of $25, 900.
Bolton liked the idea, but reduced
the bequest to $4,000.
After his death, which happen
ed few months subsequent to the
time of making the bequest, MIR.
Apperson wrote and informed Mrs
Jackson Of the matter, telling her
also that as soon as the terms of
the law could be complied with,
the sum should be made subject to
her order.
AN OLD, BLOODY FEUD.
There is q history connected
with the gathering of this large
and valuable Bolton estate which
is full of thrilling events and vio-
lent deeds. The property was
chiefly accumulated by trading in
slaves through long series of
years. The business firm, known
as Bolton & Dickens, had their To-
cation in a conspicuous building,
situated on the bluff in front of the
lower part of the city near the
once famous Gayoso House. Tour
lists on passing steamers (then the
only method Of traveling) invaria-
bly, had their attention called to
the large printed letters which
adorned the,river side wall of their
structure, and which read "Bolton
C Dickens, slave Dealers" The
sign and the finn both figure in
Mrs. Beecher Stoves story Of
"Uncle Tom," and many letter
writers of the day referred and
often commented severely upon it,
and Bolton & Dickens had more
than national reputation. They
had branch houses at New Or
leans and elsewhere, and their
agents penetrated every section OF
the country south of Mason and
Dixon's line in search of black
people to supply the demands OF
their customers who embraced
the planters throughout the entire
Southwest. Many persons and
large sums of money were employ
ed to aid them in their traffic.
THE INITIAL TRAGEDY.
Over twenty years ago a colored
lad was purchased somewhere in
Kentucky, at public sale, who
had been manumitted by will of
his master, and who was to be
set free after he arrived at a GER
tain age. The conditions of the
sale were named, and Bolton &
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