The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-07-05
THE CIRCULATION OF THE DISPATCH
is LARGER THAN THE CONFINED CIR
CuLarIoN OF ALL THE OTHER DAILY
NEWSPAPERS OF THE CITY.
Horrible Tragedy in Newark, N. J.
Full Particulars of the Shooting or General
o. S. IlaIstead by George Bolts Tes.
tInlony OF Witnesses Ar
rest Of the Murderer.
TFrcm the Now York Times. July 81

HnOwn, nau been SnOt IN the room OIL WO-
man of the worst character by an infuri-
atcd rival in her affections. The lower part
of the building No. 95 South street, In
which the murder occurred, is occupied by
John Spears as q lager-beer saloon. The
second story Is divided into tencments, ono
OF which was the immediate scene of tho
murder. Ii is rented by Mrs. S. Wilson,
the heroine Of this infamous tragedy. She
Is tho wife of Michael Wilson, a stone
mason, from whom, however, she has been
separated for several years. She is thirty
seven years of age, and has several children
living in Newark, tho oldest of whom is an
exemplary young man, holding RESPONSE
ble business position. Adultery is said to
have been the cause of her separation, and
since it took place she has been known to
the police as woman OF bad character.
About seven years ago this woman be-
came acquainted with tho murderer, Geo.
Bolts, Otherwise known as Charcoal -
from his trade of IL peddler Of charcoal. He
l. III Englishman, of hugo frame, standing
six feet and two inches high, is As years OF
agc, and has wife and children in New
ark. From his trade, it Is said, Bolts drew
q comfortable income Of over s., 900 year.
As soon rs he became acquainted with Mrs.
Wilson he installed her az his mistress, and
at other places where she had been previ-
ouSly living in tho city he paid her rent.
Prior to April last she had been living at
No. 10 TichenOr street with another wo-
man of kindred character.
Early In April Mr. Ilalstead, acting as the
legal counsel OF Mrs. Wilson, rented rooms
for her of Mr.. Spies. Mr.. Spies knew moth
ing Of the character of the woman, suppos-
ing, naturally enough, from Mr.. Halstead's
that she was entirely re-
spectacle; and, indeed, he had no positive
evidence for believing her otherwise. She
came and went, sometimes alone, some
times in company with others, and received
not q few "callers." Mr.. Halstead was
there frequently for the purpose Of illegal
consultation" it was believed. He seemed
to exercise very little secrecy in regard to
his movements. He came usually during
the day, and his presence excited little or
no remark In Spics's family.
After time, however, the liason became
known among Halstead's acquaintance,
exciting special comment because Of the
social incompatibility of the parties, he
bcin- An educated man. while the woman
held Il low place in very inferior grade of
society. Bolts. Of course, could not long
ignorant Of the affair, and after it
cumc TO his ears he complained to many of
the neiehbors, but not in threatening
tone. IIalstead had also spoken to Il police
officer with reference 10 protecting Mrs.
Wilson from the persecution OF Bolts.
Nothing of an absolutely hostile nature
had passed between the parties, so far as
known.
At about s o'clock Yesterday morning
there was loud knocking at side door
leading to Mrs. Wilson's tenement, and in
response one Of the daughters of Mr.. Spies
rose and inquired what was wanted. A
man, whom she recognized as Bolts, re-
piled that he wished to see Mrs. Wilson.
The girl told him that no such person lived
there, and that unless lie retired she would
ask her father to call a policeman. Bolts then
went away, after making little speech to
the effect that he loved Mrs. Wilson better
than his Ito, and that she would not marry
him, although they had lived together
seven years. Miss Spies told him if he did
not 20 away she would throw pail Of
water over him; he did not say anything
then: sho told him she would call for the
police he said he did not care if she called
twelve policemen, but walked of.
Att O'Clock the milk.man came. This
time the door was opened by one of Spies's
bows, and when he returned from the kitch-
Ell with the can for the milk he found Bolts
stealing up stairs. Miss Spies saw Bolts
ND stairs, ut Mrs. Wilson's door. at this
time he was pounding at Mrs. Wilson's
door; he asked if she was i'll there she
told him no ; he came down stairs and went
out about an hour afterward he came
back; when be got up stairs he asked Mrs.
Wilson to open the door. Miss Spies test!ties:
then heard him break open the door; when
he was in that room l heard him ask her
to open the other door; heard no reply;
heard Mrs. Wilson scream when he was
1, y l
Iun ut the foot Of the stairs when l heard
Lhe second door broken open; heard them
making Il noise by pulling each other
around, and Mrs. Wilson came running
down stairs; | heard one pistol shot before
Mrs. Wilson came down stairs heard the
shot right away after the second door was
broken open. When the shot was heard,
MIR. Spies, who by this time was moving,
ryclaimed Giles shot," having reference
TO Gen. Halstead, who was known TO be In
Mrs. Wilson's room.
Bolts being, rs stated, a man Of great
physical power, had found no difficulty In
bursting The door Of the outside one of the
two rooms. lie then demanded admission
TO the inner room. in which were the other
two parties. This bedroom door was
locked. Mrs. Wilson heard him coming.
He asked to come In. She made no answer,
and MIR. Halstead told her not to open the
door. Mr.. Halstead was In the first room
Bolts came to the door. He was
not in the bedroom. He retreated to
tue bedroom, and was there when
Bolts burst open the door. Nr. Hal
stead was then holding the door, try
ing to keep it shut. Mrs. Wilson saw
Bolts pushing against the door. He had
A revolver in his hand. He pushed the door
open n little ways, and she s:tW the revolver.
She was standing little ways from the
). J,ll shoot YOU" MIR. Halstead beckoned
10 her. and said, "Come." Lie was not
,hle to keep the door shut, and Bolts burst
b omen. He and HalStead clutched; neither
soid ANYTHING. Then Mrs. Wilson heard
the nistol 90 of. Mr.. Halstead said, "Pm
hot" He said nothing to Bolts except
8 Please don't shoot again." lie asked
Mrs. Wilson to get the pistol away from
Hofts. She saw the pistol in Botts's right
1ad. She tried to get the pistol, but ne
leId his hand up, and she could not reach IL;
Mr. Halstead didn't say he was shot untl!
no asked her to get the pistol, but she heard
ho renort. She told him she couldn't get
he nistol. and he said "Pm shot" Ihen
sotts lot MIN 70. He had hold OF him pc
ore. Halstead then staggered and fell.
Mrs. Wilson said to Bolts, "Oh, you've
hot him; you'll hangs" and ne sald, 10,
- Well, Pil hang" He grabbed ior tne
woman as If going to shoot her, put ne
went away without hurting her. AZ tnls
point MIR. Spies rushed into the room,
md found General Halstead lying on
! lounge, with u pistol wound In
lie breast, and Mrs. Wilson hanging
Wicked ,Gel , woman, what u Wicked woman
am" He was removed to the sitting
.oom and laid upon sofa. Medical attend
nee was Immediately summoned, but the
atal bullet had done its intended work. He
,reatbed for about twenty or thirty min
ties after the shot was fired, but never