The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-02-12
IInnrIng of ticorrc limits.

George Bolts was hanged at Newark,
New Jersey, on Friday January 26th,
for the murder of Oliver S. Halstcad,
ir, in July last. Earnest efforts in hi,
behalf were made by his friends in the
Court Of Appeals, and when near the
point of death vain plea was entered
that the woman Wilson lnd been married
to him. under the name of julia Jen.
kins, seven years previous to the muir
der; but, beyond the granting Of brief
repriove, the judgment rendered ut
Newark by Judge Depue in November
was sustained.
The murderer Bolts WIS ~ years OF
agc, Of English parentage, but resident
Of this country. since childhood, HIS
physical strength was catraordinal Y,
while intellectually he was wholly I'M
tutored, being unacquainted with even
the rudimentary branches OF knowledge,
He had lived with the woman Wilson
for several years, at irregular times, us
her husband,
Oliver S. Halstead, ir,, Il member of
au honOred family, appeared first on
the scene MS Mrs Wilson'S lawyer, but
lie soon becameso rlshly infatuated with
her that Bolts heard OF it, and frequent
ly threatening to shoot Halsttad. At
about seven o'clock on the morning Of
July l, 1871, Bolts went to Mrs. Wilson's
house, knowing Halstead to be there,
and after breaking through two .loors,
shot and killed him. The disparity in
the social position OF the murderer and
his victim, the latter having been law.
yer and politician Of much notoriety,
and the former charcoal dealer added
to the excitement Occasioncd by the
murder.
During the night preceding the exc.
cutiou, Bolts was nervous and wakGful.
His sister took leave Of him during the
evening, aud his brother and the chap.
lain spent the night in his cell until 1890
About that hour Bolts expressed wish
to walk, and, accompanied by the war;
den and his spiritual adviser he prone
nadcd the hall. With great GOODNESS he
examined the gall2ws, and touched the
bag Of sand which was suspended ut the
end Of the rope, for the purpose of test
ing its strength. Then he returned to
his cell, and throwing himself on the
bed slept for three hours.
The place selected for the execution
wos the large hallway OF tho jail, aud ut
the further end stood the gallows which
has been used for IL number Of years,
and is arranged so that the weight is
released Ivy pressure on trendle Prob
ably not less than 900 persons, including
the officials, police, aud reporters were
present, Three tiers Of cells running
the whole length of the hall, opened
upon the scene, and their occupants pre-.
sented line Of wretched faces pressed
eagerly against the bars.
AS the time approached, Sheriff Pick
well made his appearance with the plis.
oner, accompanied by his spiritual nd
wiser. Bots shows his close contiue.
ment; aud his face exhibited symptoms
of great fear and excitement The
clergyman gratefully thanked the
prison officials in behalf Of the doomed
nun, md stated that he died with trust
in Jesus Christ.
The knot was then adjusted, the cler =.
gyman shook the prisoners hand for the
last time, the Sheriff pulled down the
black cap, stepped quickly behind the
screen, the noisy slide OF rope over pull.
leys was heard. and the body of Bots
spnng fully four feet into thu air, fall.
ling back foot or two with the rebound
Of the rope.
Convulsive struggles then ensued, dur
ing which the hands olutchod at the mir,
and the dying man raised himself re-
peatcdly The pulse marked "a beats to
theminute five minutes afterwards. The
neck wRs not broken, rs il seldom is nm
der the present mode al execution. For
= minutes the pulsos both OF the right
aud lett arm were plainly percsptible,
and it was not until after 10 minutes
Ind clasped that life was pronounced
extinct