Julia Bulette, Lady of the Evening© Elizabeth Gibson
Sep 28, 1999
Julia Bulette came to Virginia City, Nevada in April, 1863. She was originally from London, and had once been married to an American. She had lived in New Orleans for a short time where she was married to a man named Smith. After her divorce, she left there and came to Virginia City alone. Though a prostitute she was very well liked and well respected by the townspeople. She kept a nice house, had nice furniture, and treated her customers with respect. She was also an honorary member of the Virginia City fire department. She actually went out on calls with the firemen.
Julia lived on a small house on D Street. On January 19, 1867, left the home of her friend Gertrude Holmes, at 11:00 p.m. to meet a friend of hers. The next morning, an employee came to
light the fire in her room. He was careful not to disturb her in her bed. Little did he know that nothing he could have done would have disturbed her. A half hour later, neighbor Gertrude came by and found that she was dead. She had been struck repeatedly, then smothered with a pillow. Most of her fine furs, jewelry, and clothing had been stolen. The next day a funeral was held for her and 60 members of the fire department attended. Sixteen carriages full of people followed the funeral procession to the cemetery. The Metropolitan Brass Band played her funeral march. Julia Bulette was 35 years old. Now came the task of finding her murderer. The executrix of her estate, Mary Jane Minieri, offered $200 reward for clues leading to the killer. Nothing was found for several months. But then the law got a break. A Frenchman named Jean Marie A. Villain, going by the name John Millian, broke into the house of another prostitute. Fortunately the woman, Martha Camp, woke
up before he could harm her and her screams chased him out of the house. But not before she saw his face. The law picked him up and put him in the local jail. Then on May 27, 1847, they got another break. A woman at nearby Gold Hill claimed to have purchased a dress that once belonged to
Julia, from John Millian. She didn't think anything of it at the time she had purchased it a month earlier, but then began to suspect something so approached the sheriff. A baker uncovered a trunk that Millian had left with him for storage and incredibly, Julia's belongings were in it.
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