William Bolton interview #2

Sunday, March 2 – 10:02 a.m.

William Bolton has been Victor Jennings' neighbor for several years.

Detectives Murphy and Parker spoke with him again at the Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department.

Participants:

• Detective S. Murphy
• Detective E. Parker
• William Bolton

Detective Parker: Good afternoon, Mr. Bolton. Thank you for meeting with us again. Would you please state your name and address for the record?

William Bolton: It's no problem coming here. I'm just not sure what else I can tell you about Victor Jennings. But I'm William Bolton, 422 Turnberry Circle.

Detective Parker: I know it hasn't been very long, but any progress yet with your lawsuit over Victor's fence?

William Bolton: Ray Jennings said he wanted to settle. He gave back my land, took the fence down, and apologized for all the problems his brother had caused me.

Detective Murphy: Did he? When did this happen?

William Bolton: A few days ago.

Detective Murphy: Did he happen to mention how he heard about the fence issue?

William Bolton: I didn't ask. He took down the fence. That's all I cared about.

 Detective Parker: When we talked before, you said the last time you saw Victor Jennings was about two weeks before his death. Now that you've had some time to think about it, are you sure that was the last time?

William Bolton: Now that you mention it, I kind of saw him that afternoon.

Detective Parker: Kind of?

William Bolton: I was on my way out, and I saw a black car pull up at Victor's house. A woman got out and went to the door, and a man let her in. It looked like Victor, but I couldn't really see him.

Detective Parker: Did you recognize the woman?

William Bolton: I'm not sure. Victor always had a lot of people coming and going at his house, even that day.

Detective Parker: You saw other people there that day?

William Bolton: When I came back about 20 minutes later, another woman was at his front door, but I guess he wasn't finished with the first one because he never answered the door that I saw.

Detective Murphy: But it wasn't the same woman you saw earlier?

William Bolton: No. That first one was a blonde. This one had brown hair. You might want to talk to Zina Jacinto. She seems to know everything going on in the neighborhood.

Detective Murphy: That's a good suggestion. Thanks.

William Bolton: Ms. Jacinto is quite the character, but she tells the truth. Anybody steps out of line, she's on the phone to you people. She must've called all the time about Victor. He was such a lowlife. I don't think anyone liked the man. After all the things he's done, he deserved what he got.

Detective Parker: He deserved to be murdered?

William Bolton: That's not for me to say. All I know is it's not surprising someone would want to kill him.

Detective Parker: Did you want to kill him?

William Bolton: Like I told you before, I didn't like him at all, but I wouldn't kill a man over a fence. I would've won the case in court. Victor didn't have a leg to stand on. But I can't say I'll miss him, and I bet all the neighbors have said the same thing.

Detective Murphy: Well, thank you for being so frank with us, Mr. Bolton. We appreciate your cooperation. Please call us if you think of anything that may help us with this investigation.

William Bolton: I'm always willing to help the police. If I think of anything, I'll let you know right away.

Detective Parker: Mr. Bolton, before you go, there's something we should probably tell you.

William Bolton: Okay.

Detective Parker: As far as we know, Ray Jennings didn't have the authority to remove that fence.

William Bolton: What are you talking about?

Detective Parker: Try not to get upset. We don't have any reason to believe the estate will challenge what he did, but just to be on the safe side, you probably want to hold off on building anything on the disputed property or anything like that.

William Bolton: I should've known it was too good to be true.

Detective Parker: I'm sure the estate will be in touch with you about it.

William Bolton: Wonderful. I've got to go call my lawyer.

Interview ended – 10:40 a.m.