The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-08-26
A SLAVE TRADING FEup.

TON DICKENS, SLAVE DEALERS.
The Memphis Avalanche says: During
the month Of February, 1872. against the
positive instructions of his attorney, Mr.. z. /
NJ. Apperson, of this city, as executor of
Wade 81. Bolton. paid over to
Mas. T. j. Jackson the sum
of 5000, half the sum bequeathed
to her husband, General Stonewall
Jackson, who fell in action at Chancel-
/ louisville, Va, in 1864, while command
/ ing 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 pact concerning the distribution
of the property, and while the legal contest
remains undecided the attorneys deem il
unwise for him to pay any requests not or
j vice, however. and solely because Mrs.
Jackson stated that she sadly needed the
| money, the executor has paid her half of
: the bequest, "a above noted. He has also
paid the several heirs considerable sums on
account OF their prospective inheritances.
ing to the Wade Bolton estate is estimated
at 100000. A claim was set up in the courts
some years ago by Wash Bolton aud 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 bs little
or nothing remaining after satisfying the
Judgment, At the time Wade Bolton made
the bequest of $4,000 to Mrs. Jackson, he
I was in hourly expec1a.ion OF losing his life
violensa. Having expressed desire TO
10 something 10 enable his name to live i'm
tne memory r. future generations uncon-
nHcted with evil deeds, Mr.. Apperson him.
self suggested
a DONATION To MRS. JACKSON
OF $4,000. After his death, which happened
a few months subsequent to the time of
making the bequest, Mr.. Apperson wrote
and informed Mrs. Jackson of the matter.
telling her also that as soon as the terms of
the law could be compiled with, the sum
would be made subject to her order
There is history connected with the gath
ering OF this large and valuable Bolton
estate which is full of thrilling events
and violent deeds. The property was
chiefly accumulated by trading In slaves
through long series OF years. The business
nrm, known rs Bolton & Dickens, bad
their location in conspicuous building sit
uated on the bluff in front of the lower part
OF the city, near the once famous Gsyoso
House. Tourists on passing steamers-then
the only method OF enthusiastically
had their attention called to the large paint
ed letters which adorned the river side wall
of their structure, and which read: "Bolton
& Dickens, slave Dealers" The sign and
firm both figure in Mrs. Beecher
Stoves story of ''Uncla Tom"
aud many letter writer's of the
severely upon it, and Bolton d Dickens
had more than national reputation. They
had branch houses at New Orleans and else
where, and their agents penetrated every
section OF the country south OF Mason and
Dixou's line, in search of black people to
supply the demands of their customers,
who embraced planters throughout the en-
/ tire South~e st. Many persons and large
sums OF money were employed to aid them
in their traffic. Over twenty years ago a
Kentucky at public sale who had been
manumitted by will of his master, aad
| who was
TO BE SET FREE
after he arrived at certain age. The con
ditions Of the sale were named, and Bolton
& Dickens's agent, one MCMILLAN, became
the purchaser. He was conveyed to their
mart in this city, and the firm subsequently
sold the boy for the sum of 81 800 to Thomas
B. Crenshaw, near Morning Sun, in this
county. The boy was considered valuable
and brought a big price for those times, but
] he was sold as q save for life, nothing being
said about his promised freedom. The
colored boy informed his new master of
the actual situation. Crenshaw sent to
1 Kentucky for copy or the Will,
employed counsel for the boy and
They were forced TO return their ill-gotten
dollars to Crenshaw, and also pay heavy
costs for their misdemeanor. They had ex-
pected Mcmillan to testify in their favor.
| he failed to do so, and stuck to the truth |
throughout. The dealers managed to obtain |
a new trial. and having been deceived into
| the belief that Mcmillan would swear as |
they wished, 10 prevent his temperance /
! Isaac l.. Boston murdered him in his own /
house. This was on the 81 day of 1
1 n
widely commented on throughout the en- |,
/ tire country, and jt created much excite |
ment everywhere. Bolton managed by hard !
| swearing, sharp maneuyering aud other 1
| tricks to nave the venue changed to Upton |
county, Tennessee. La the meantime his
| friends were active. They managed TO have |
| a sheriff and other officials elected TO suit 4
their purpose. A Jury was obtained for the
case, and after the expenditure OF more than
/ 500, 900 in money Bolton saved bis neck and |
went clear. 1t is remarkable fact that in |
| less than four years afteryard eleven OF these
same jurors had died
VIOLENT DEATHS,
| and the other also died in an unnatural way !
some years later. a quarrel ensued te-
tween the members of the slave dealing /
| firm, which had been dissolved by limita- |
ton within a few days of the murderous
deed, rs to who should pay the enormous
expenses of the trial. One party contended
| that the firm should be charged with the
amount, and the other that Bolton himself
ought to foot the bill alone. The quarrel re-
suited seriously to the contending parties
| Ike Bolton, who did the killing, died nat
ural death some years ago. One alter !
another of the rest were killed in |
alterations with each other. Finally Tom-
Dickens killed Wade Bolton. as before men,
toned, by shooting him down in front of
Court square. Some months later Dickens
was assssinsted while riding along the pub
( lie road dozen miles or so from this city. |
and near his home. A few months atter
that, Tom Dickens, his son, while trying to
gather testimony TO prosecute the supposed
murderers of his father, let his loaded gun !
L