The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-04
THE NEWARK TRAGEDY.
A Few Additional Particulars Of the Murder
Of "Pet" Halsted.
The Griefstricken Halstsd Famiy-Ths wanton
Wilson and tho Murderer Botts-What He
Has to Say About the Tragic Affair
Public Sentiment in New
ark In the Matter

Since its settlement by the New Enganders In
May, 1865, over two hundred years ago. Newark has
never witnessed such o social horror nor acquired
such widespread and unenvable notoriety as the
South street tragedy, the particulars Of which were
given In yesterdays. HERALD, and In which the
noted General "Pet' Halsted figured In such o ter
ribly ignominious light. The excitement over
the matter IN Newark has increased rather
than diminished as the facts have been
brought to light. or the tragedy itself there
are few new developments beyond thosa
published in these columns yesterday. The rooms
In which the bloody took place appear have
been hired Tor her by the murdered man. 1t was in
the front, or larger, room where the fatal shot
fired, according to Mrs. Wilson. The latter was
INTERVIEWED YESTERDAY
In the Witnesses room at the station honse where
she remains preparatory to being lodged In tho
county Jail, where she will be held as the main wit.
ness for the State. She stated that she was
MARRIED TWENTY YEARS AGO,
when mer6 girl, to Mr. Wilson, foreman builder
now employed in Newark. BY him she had four
children. Two are dead and two are still living
young men Of nineteen and seventeen. She mani
tested desire to screen them and the other men,
beers OF her family as much as possible. Relative
10 the terrible affair In South street she said she
warned Hasted to leave the house before the
she would rather die than that harm should come
to him. SO far as she knew the dead man was nos
in the habit Of carrying revolver. Yesterday ar
terno0n her two visited her. and the scene that
followed was
HEARTRENDING IN THE EXTREME.
The wretched woman could scarcely speak, 50
great was her agitation. She burst into tears and
sobbed bitterly. George Bolts, the murderer. made
statement. In which he
CoNTRADICrED HIS OWN STORY
of the day before to the effect that "Pet" shot at him
FIRST He now says "Pet" bit him. He exhibits
wound OH one OF his hands as the result. He knew
supported her at the rate of $50 week for
q year and half past. He says he loved ana still
lives In ROckaway, N. j.. and Is said to be quite
well to do. Bolts is now secured i'm the Essex
County JAIL and VIII probably occupy the cell used
by WEIGH or SChWann.
THE DECEASED
now lies nj his home, corner OF South Broad street
and Parkhurst. Mrs. Hasted arrived yesterday.
1t Is impossible to depict the grief OF the bereaved
family. 1t Is not 80 much the death OF Halsted on
taking or The public sentiment of the city IL
properly described IN the following paragraph from
an editorial In one OF the local papers last even
ing
The melancholy feature this bitter business the
bar sinister which has thus been suddenly embazoned
HenI ns de npm
~ It's purity ayaeh aash then does well out from
lady those eafly orphaned children that hearbroken old
gentleman and those two griesricken brothers. who
now, suppose, arranging ali that IL mortal Of the
dercd man for the common lot Of .all-the grave.
In Elizabeth the tragedy has Occasioned great
"Pet" was born there and was well
known there Is everywhere. He will be buried N
the family lot OF the First Presbyterian church.
THE FATHERS GRIEF.
The GRIEF OF the father, eX-ChancelOr Halsted, Ola
hearing Of the terrible calamity that had fallen on
his family, was OF heartrending intensity. II IL
hardly possible that the Old gentleman can survive
the blow Bowed down with the SORROWS OF over
four score years and naturally In condition OF body
and mind which renders the least excitement pcrlOua
to his life In the extreme, he Ia incapable OF being
cOnsoled, and wanders from room to room or the
house moaning pitcously.
THE DEFENCE OF BoTTs
Bolts has employed General Runyon as counsel.
The prisoners friends claim that he IL worth about
from his business. On the other hand It Ia stated
that he has no real estate and cannot have saved
any large amount or money, for the reason that ne
has been neglectlng his business.