The Portland daily press., 1871-07-06
A dispatc6 In MondaHa issiia fafaafive To ,


murder of Gen. o. s. Halstead, in Newark. N
J., Sunday morning, did not embrace many
facts of interest that came out in connection
with the coroner's inquest. The murder took
place in the rooms of Mrs. Wilson, who is the
Wife OF Michael Wilson, stone mason, with
whom she has not lived for several years. The
murderer's name is George Bolts, otherwise
known as Charcoal" from his business. he
II an Englishman of great muscular power,
and had wife and several children in New
Arb. Mrs. Wilson had been the mistress of
Bolts for several years, living in different parts
OF the city. Early in April, Gen. Halstead as
the counsel of Mrs. Wilson rented rooms in
the building whore the murder took place. of
Mr.. Spies, who believed her to be entirely re.
spectacle and had no reason to believe other
wise, az she went and came and received not
few callers.
After this Halstead went and came go fire..
quently, without any secrecy, that it at length
caused considerable remark. In the mean.
time Mrs. Wilson had discarded Bolts, who
vas greatly enraged thereby and had. in pub
lie. made considerable threatening talk.
At 3 O'Clock Sunday morning. Bolts. infuri-
ssed with whiskey, demanded admission at the
outside door leading to the apartments of Mrs.
WILSON, but was denied. At o clock he re.
turned, and while the door was open he slip
at the door OF Mrs. Wilson's rooms Halstead
was in the outer room at the time, but as Bolts
burst It through, stepped into the inner room,
which he attempted to hold. This Bolts burst
open ana ne and Ha!stead clinched, but the
former being giant in strength, he had him
n nis power, and holding him with his left
hand, SHOT him with pistol in his right. the
shot entering in the vicinity of the heart and
causing death IN about thirty minutes. The
inquest returned verdict in accordance with
the facts. The murderer expresses no regret
fof the deed. After he was arrested he said
ne expected that he should have a poor Fourth
OF July, but Halstead would have q poorer
one. He was satisfied to be strung M on the
hrst tree he came to, but he had all the salts
faction he wanted :" ="
Gen. Halstead was 81 years of age. having
been born in 1919. His father, Hon. o. S. Hal
stead was chancellor of the State of New Jer.
been respected one for many generations
The young Halstead while pursuing his studies
g frinceton College began to give evidence of
M class abilities, and after his graduation in
t he a ne commenced the study Of the law in
az iatners ONCE, pursuing at the same time |
poitical schemes. Admitted to the bar in
~, ne soon gained good practice in NewarL
Dut left 1t in 1849 to 60 to California. He re. |
named there only two years, returning in '52,
IN time to engage in the Presidential camnaion
OF that year. He afterwards figured in State
politics until the accession of Mr.. lincoln to /
sns PRESIDENCY in 1861, when he went to Wash /
lngton. Ihere he remained during the war.
Snu from that time to the present has been /
ioShr Iae ead o. the country to the other as
!. since the war he has figured principally as
Enc friend OF Senator Sprague. who travelled /
s 1naer - ms management and whose speeches
W. x y 1aa aa composition. His career
ties, and has been distinguished by MANY
strange and rapid transformations While he
nas never acted With any party since the dis