The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-02-25
An Unpublished Leaf in the
Bolts Tragedy.
SOME NEW AND STARTLING REVELATIONS
How a Man Was Hanged by False
Public Opinion.
BLANCHARD SENTENCED YESTERDAY.


oschwad. II Is an undouOted fact that Jersey JUS
hcen has become something OF . mockery OF iale
years in the estimation OF those familiar With It's ad-
uuistration While II is true that suspicion OF cor
upt,on has never been fastened any part OF that
administration from the Chiei Justice and Supreme
Court Justices down 70 the crers OF the courts s
nevertheless fact that IN New Jersey, rs In New
York. rcd handed murderers possessed OF wealth nave
been known TO escape, not only the galiows, ou I'M
rr,sonment What Is known as "the insanity dodge"
has worked to q charm in New Jersey Juss as else
where wtthn few years II saved Two persons
from the hangman's moose They had wealth
And influence Blu. Is very different IN
case where there was neither wealth nor influence
hack OF the unfortunate accused but wherc there was
. violent aud false public opinion. The case in qucs
t,on ia that of gorge Bolts, who was hanged In the
same ia where Ryan and Oschwaid met their fate, in
January. 1872 In the history OF Bolts case there
is leaf which Is now published tor the nrst time
and which is known TO not more than dozen persons
Its publicity now, without reference TO the ate tragedy
and the widespread doubt which certainly exists
as TO whether injustice rather than justice was done,
cannot fau to the OF real justice ny demon
strang the fearful mperiocsions OF the New Jersey
Code it is now framed.
Borrs' CRIME
Bolts was hanged for the murder OF General % et'
notorious cyprian named Lizzie Wilson, the widow Of
New Jersey soldier slain in battle She and Bolts
lived together for time man and wife, until his
means gave out and with them passed away her re-
gard. Shc took up with other men, On The morning
OF Sunday, July g. 1871, Bolts appeared at tho house
in the door and found pet Hastcd and
Mrs. Wilson together and shot him. Hal:
sted died within hour, and Bolts was arrested
and duly indicted murder in the first degree. He
a charcoal dealer and had little or no unds Upon
the trial be was defended oy Messrs CHARLES n >;
Newark. Spencer seemed to think that he had an easy
matter hand and assumed leadership in the defence.
Had he cleared scores OF murterers IN New YORK,
and could he not from the clutches OF coun
try and jury IN Jersey Al the very rsl he ex-
cited a bitter prejudice against himself and tho
prisoner advancing the then odious plea OF insanity
and Bolts convicted.
SEEKING
Application made for new trial on the ground
of the jurors had been heard 10 declare
that they bound 70 hang Bolts. The application
was denied. Under the Jersey code an application for
n trial must m ide before tho Justice who tries
the during the same torn Of court in which
the case tried II day after that torn expires
stack OF found the Justice could not
listen to argument on motion Tor a new trial. The
would have TO take the tedious course OF appica
t,on to the Chancellor. In tho case of Bolts new EVIL
dence found. This was after the term OF Court
ended His case was brought 10 the attention oil tho
In his behalf was presented most formidable petit
ton asking for Communication Of sentence. One name
was lacking without which tie Court would not take
that Of the justice who tried tho case. II had
come 10 be a rigid practice not to conflict with The
other courts Nevertheless the deep interest OF tho
Court OF Pardons excrted in Botts case. Ono Of
the judges visited him at tho Jail and heard his state
menL Bots complained bitterly that his New YORK
counsel crruled him in the matter OF his defence.
He strepuously opposed to the plea OF insanity
The rev testimony was aid before the Court anu tho
result a unanimous informal agreement that Bolts
WAS guilty OF murder IN the hrst degree, aud
TO BE HANGED
Even Judge Governor Olden. an answering
foe TO evil doors and always hard to oe budged on Tho
side OF straining mercy, was oil this view II was
asrecd all sides that Spencer as the HERALD said
ut the time. had "botcned Bolts Case" Meanwhile
the day appointed Tor the execution drew nigh. Tho
efforts OF Bots friends succeeded IN getting respite
of iine from Governor Randolph. A gentleman who
lborcd zealously and nelgcnty Tor Bolts, CnaDcel-
Tor Ianrskie, related the case OF man who by tho
merest chance escaped the gallows Bolts seek
ing to escape 1t. The had been tried and SEN
fenced Tor murder in Hudson county, HIS time on
earth had nearly expired The courts had become
practically closed to INN, as were all avenues OF
escape New evidence at the eleventh hour was
brought to light proving clearly that the doomed man
deserving OF the death penalty. But the Court
OF Pardops was powcress to help him. II could but
would not pardon, and would not commute Fortu-
naiely the Legislature was then In Session bill was
drawn up giving the Court OF Pardons the power to
commute death sentences to Imprisonment for lic IL
was rushed through the Legislature just as was tho
Magic bill IN the Ryan and Oschwald case; out unlike
the latter, signed and not vetoed by the Cover
nor through II the man was snached from upder
The very shadow OF the gglows. and. il not dead,
still an inmate OF the state Prison at Trenton. IL was
in this way that the Court of Pardons obtained
10 commute In the Bolts case "a movement, was
Mt once made to have law passed
granting power the Supreme Court Justices To hear
motions Tor trials IN terms of Court other than
those ut which cases were tried The object was TO
secure Bots a trial Part of the evidence to DO
produced indubtablc proofs that The woman
known Mrs. Wilson was in reality Bolts lawfully
married wife The public meanwhile, ignorant of the
true merits or facts OF the case, we're, with the New
Jersey press led away win the aca that the efforts
IN Bolts behalf we're cunning lodges.
uSyIELDIsG PUBLIC OPINION
A public opinion created so violent against the
doomed man that not single member oil the Legsla-
the Bolts bill II roduced IT would have been booted
down. The new Governor Joel Parker, declined TO
have anything to do with the matter, and even the
Court Of PardoB turned the cold shoulder IN the face
OF the false public opinion As result no action was
TAKEN and Bolts hanged on January "A, 1872. 1t
Is least clear from all this that remarked at the
outset the Jersey code cries aloud for relaxation OF It's
lines in some directions.
BLANCHARD SENTENCED.
In the Essex county oyer and Termiper nj Newark
yesterday James s. Blanchard was at last called up for
sentence. Blanchard was prominent witness IN the
Ryan and Oschwald trial. He first notified the police
Of the murder Of Brock, and on the trial admitted hav
ing given Ryan and Oschwald information about the
Bedell house, where the burglary and murder took
place. The general impression has been aud Is that be
was implicated the crime Tor which Ryan aud Osch-
waid suffered. He was held. however, for burglary
committed at Milburn. Judge Depue, in pronouncing
sentence said that the Court had Considered the state
OF the prosecutor IN regard TO the information
gwen by tho prisoner, which bad been useful in the
adm nstraton Of justice. and taken INTO consideration
the prisoners family ana the probability that he had
seen the Of his ways, and weighed them all In
determining the sentence TO be pronounced. Judge
Depue then said that during Banchard's mprisou
II bad been suggested that he might have had some
connection with the robbery OF Mr. Bedeps house, but
the Court we're satisfied that there were no grounds for
this SUSPICION and the Court acquitted him fully OF all
con nection with this robbery. The Court also gave
him credit for the information he had gwen the prose-
cutor which been useful IN the administration 81
Justice In aiding the discovery Of stolen goods and
also tor the evidence he gave IN the recent murder
case and have taken all these circumstances consd
GRAFTON In passing sentence. He was tncn sentenced
TO eighteen months imprisonment at hard labor IN the
County PenitcntIary.