The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-02-27
BOLTON TAKES HIS
LIFE; PR00OED BY
ADVERSE CRITICISM

hUvtH5t UhIllGI5M
Continued from First Page.)
sponded They were DR.. Herbert
Mann. DIR. j. G. Trevilian and DR..
thurman. of the city ambulance.
AS IL was evident that Mr.. Bolton
was beyond all human aid. Coroner
Taylor was notified, and while re-
luctant to admit that it was a case
of suicide. he practically reached that
conclusion without committing him
self.
Under Harsh Criticism.
Mr.. Bottoms deed was undoubted-
ly prompted by the rapid fire of criti-
cism to which his department. and
himself in particular. had been under
the last several months. And 1t was
undoubtedly fastened by the fact that
special committee ~ the council
com mittee on streets was scheduled
to meet Monday afternoon To inquire
into charges preferred by Contractor
G. G.. Burton to the effect that MI.
Bolton had been "dereifct In the dis
charge OF his duties'' At the last
meeting of the street committee Mr..
Burton presented a written statement
w tue tAIeSA tHat BAoES tfEoTs tlhu
been made In figuring out who WAS
the lowest bidder on a certain sewer.
no fewer than three contracts hav-
ing been made out before the work
was finally awarded TO the proper
party. Mr.. Burton also alleged that
he was kept In ignorance of the fact
that bids would be received by the
unit system or the per linear foot.
and that ne was misinfornied by Mr..
Bolton. who had charge of sewer work
IN the department, ns to whether the
city furnished stone caps.
When these charges were brought.
Chairman Lynch. of the special COM
mittee that probed the city engineer
ing Office and recently drew up a
lengthy report or the subject, stated
that had the committee known GER
tain matters that had since come
TO his attention, there would have
been still more drastic recommends
tons as to reorganization of the Of
flee
Could Not Stand IL.
Mr.. Bolton had been connect ed
with the city engineering department
continuously since 1859 and on sew
eral occasions had acted for a brief
while as engineer in charge. He
served under the following chiefs
4.
mock. +. Edward Bates. Colonel Va.
r. Cutshaw. Charles f. Boiling, in
cumbent.
Mr.. Boiling was among the first
friends 10 call at the residence after
the news of the suicide spread abroad
ON leaving. he said: jackson Boil
ton was honest. capable. painstaking
] had worked with him for many
years and knew his real worth. He
was overwhelmed with rush and
volume OF work under his direction
and then. too, the criticism directed
at him was evidently more than he
could stand
Honest and Considerations.
Ex-Mayor Mccarthy. when he learn
ed of the suicide. remarked:
II knew Jackson Bolton more
than forty. years. lie was untiring.
though iahoring under a multiplicity
of duties, and T never knew a man
more honest, conscientious, capable
II Is too bad that good man like
jackson bolton should be bounded
to his death by the scoundrels In the
council don't mean the good men
there mean those%Who don't under
stand the feelings Of gentleman.
There was time when Jackson Boil
ton would have fought back. If as
sailed. AS he has been recently. /
knew him to be a man who would
ilght- But In the last few years he
had quieted down and evidently on
account of his family decided that II
was best TO bear adverse criticism
without comment"
Saturday afternoon, Captain Nc
Carthy was out driving with Mr.. Boil
ten During the drive. Mr.. Bolton
appeared in his usual spirits and
~ ~ fnC t1ras In AZ
his depar ment As the two passed
the city hall. Mr.. Bolton, noticing that
several windows in the engineers of
flee raised, left the vehicle for few
moments to go up and close the win
dows 90 that the wind might not dis
turb any of the papers and plans IN
the Office.
That was just an instance OF the
faiihfulness OF the man." remarked
Captain Mccarthy.
Mr.. Frank T. Bates veteran clerk
in the city engineering department.
also called at the residence an soon
as the news reached him. He and
Mr.. Bolton started out in the office
together nearly thirty-three wears ago
and were staunch friends. Mr. Bates
was deeply affected by his friends
death.
Major J. Taylor Stratton, another
veteran clerk in the office, spoke of
his long acquaintance with Mr.. Bolton
with moistcned eyes.
He was honest. upright and capa-
ble.' said the major.
Crepe was hung on the door OF the
engineering office as soon as Mr..
Bottoms death was learned. and bus
mess practically suspended for the
day.
Mr.. Bolton was sixty-one years old
and had been q resident OF Richmond
practically all his life. He married
Miss Susie Taliaferro. sister OF As
sistant City Engineer Phil Taliaferro.
His wife died fifteen years ago. leav-
ing three chiidren--James Bolton.
and Misses Susie and Minnie Bolton.
The Misses Bolton are both beautiful
and attractive young ladies. promi-
nent In Richmond social circles.
Mr.. Bolton is survived by several
hrothars and a sister, Miss Marta Boil.
ton. OF Biacksburg. Va. He was
brother-in- law Of DIR. John NJ. Nc
Bryde, of Blacksburg. former presi-
dent OF the Virginia Polytechnic In
stitute. Funeral arrangements have
not been announced.
Mr.. James Bolton. . brother OF the
suicide, was accidentally killed while
engaged n engineering work In con-
necticn With the Church Hill tunnel
some years ago.
Mr. Charming Bolton, another brother
resides In Charlottesville, and 10 now in
MoneanMa looking Akter, mining pro-
perti4s In which ne IN interested.
Dr., H. Neade HDlsoA. ,4til. anether
brothArk livee In Warrington, ID. G..