The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-27
A Terrible Tragedy i'm Three
Acts.
The Murder, the Trial and the
Execution.
Penitence, Prayer and Forgiveness
at the Gallows.
The Condemned Man Dies with Prayer on
His Llps-HOw He Spent the Closing
Hours of Life-TOuching Letter
from His MOther-He Bears
Himself Bravely to the Last.

Jersey justice. in its fullest and awful sense,
was melted out yesterday III Newark, NJ j., to George
Botts the murderer OF General Oliver Spencer Hal
sted Jr. This tragedy, the last scene OF which
the curtain has Just fallen on is widely distinguished
In many remarkable points from the majority OF the
social horrors having for the grounuwork the wiles
and the wicKedness OF wanton women, and the
lustful libidinous natures and habits OF disso-
lutte and degraded men. 1t Is nothing
new, sad to relate, for TWO men to quar-
rel even TO the shedding OF blood
over the sou-destroyng smiles and favors
OIL debauched daughter Of Eve, but 1t Is tar re-
moved from the common TO have the male actors so
widely different in all respects except one as were
those prematurey hurried before their Maker In the
horror under consideration. One was a man who.
In talents, educational culture and social surround
lngs lowered mead and shoulders above he major
ity OF his fellows; the other, one VINO was corre-
sp0ndlngly low In the order OF humanity who was
noted only among his species for lack Of even the
rudiments OF common school education and OF any
thing approaching the refinement OF nature. one
was man who had name and certain
fame In the annals Of the nation; the other
was creature considered course and vulgar,
even by the coarsest and most vulgar. In short,
two such opposes In the respects Indicated could
not well be cited than ''Pet' Halsted and George
Bolts. The exceptional point OF similarity in their
characters is SHOWN in the sameness Of their con-
necti0n with the wretched female for whom each
has suffered death. With these few preiaratory
remarks we proceed to give the readers OF the
HERALD the details of this terrible tragedy in three
acts-Ihe commission OF the crime, the trial OF the
criminal and the netting out to him The awful
penalty attached thereto.
The Crime.
On Sunday, the I'd OF last July, the city OF Newark
was startled to It's very by the report that
"Pet" Halsted had been shot dead by George
Bolts, a charcoal pedlar In the chambers OF COM
mon woman named Mrs. Mary E. Wilson, located In
the upper part Of the house No. 95 South street.
About eleven o'clock the HERALD representative
was apprised OF the fact and ut once proceeded to
the scene Of the murder. An immense crowd OF
persons mad congregated In front, and were pre-
vented from entering by posse OF police which
had taken possession OF the premises Passing
through the lager beer saloon on the ground noor
kept by the owner OF the house. John Spies. the
waiter, mounted the stairs to the top floor and
tered the chamber OF death-a small, square, semi
tastefuly furnished apartment On the floor lay the
corpse OF The murdered man, hideous It's clottcd
gore and semi nude condition. A white sheet had
been strown over 1t, to keep the flies from swarm
ing on IL. While the body lay there IL was visited
by General n. Norris Haisted, the murdered mans
COUSIN; George b. and Abe, his brothers, and
''Olie," his son. besides large number Of leading
citizens, with all OF whom "Pet" had for years and
years been personally acquainted. The saddest
figure seen that day was MAJOR B. Halsted-
''Poor George p as everybody addressed him. The
work of an instant at the hands OF Bolts had added
TO the Majors lie at least ten years. bowed
down, broken-ne man thenceforth was ''pOor
George" and everybody sympathzcd with him
deeply. "Pet" had spent the night with Mrs. VII.
son. Very early In the morning, among the "wee
sma' hours ayont the twa," the family oil the man
Spies we're aroused by loud knocking at the hall
door. Henrietta Spies, young girl, went to front
window and saw Bolts below She warned him OF.
He went away, but returned again and again, but
they would not open the door, He asked Tor Mrs
Wilson, but. prompted by the latter. Henrietta told
him she was not at home, but had gone to Paterson
was opened by little boy 10 attend 10
the mi.kman. Botls saw the coveted opportu.
nifty. He swept IN and bounded up the stairs
with the agility or Wild cat and in few seconds
was hammefing away at the door OF the largest OF
Mrs. WILSON'S two apartments AT this time 'Pet''
was beginning 10 dress. airs. Wilson had already
done 80. Boh were In the large room. When It
became apparent that Bots was Determined 10
smash IN The door tney rushed into the bedroom, a
tlosetke chamber, Dut by this time Bots had bat
tered down the first door and was fast dong the
same Tor the second. In 1t went before the power
Iu char coal pedler VINO held a pistol in one hand.
Halsted erappled with Bolts. but his strength was
not equal TO the emergency.
GEORGE, DON'T sHOoTlr
cried Mrs. Wilson TO Botts, bat Botts needed not
b-n. III snoot You p and he did. The bail passed
through .'iets', nose gancing downwards,
nipple. he lived about fifteen or twenty
minutes. ~, Bolts sseemed satisfied WITH his
work. Without attempting 10 fire second
Shot he put the revolver IN ms pocket and sprang
from the room down stars and out into street
Before going Mrs wilson remarked to him, 'You've
killed NUM- you'll hang Tor It." Bolts nodded and
said
n mr. rda rar insf a A
few more words about the scene OF the shooting.
ON a table was spread the remnants OF the pre-
ceding nights repast. There were cans OF picked
oysters picked muscles, rusks jelly ana bottle OF
aromatic schnapps. The walls were adorned with
the table lay a handsomely bound Bible p ana on It
stood copy OF Byron's "Don juan" on the whole,
chiefly or vltiated order. small green reps tee
d-tete and few chairs TO match lent some appear
ance OF comfort 10 the place.
Bo1T5' ARREST.
Within half an hour after the commission OF the
murder Bolts was In custody. He was found In
Tlchenor street by Onlcer Callen. he made no re-
sistsnce, but en- route TO the City Prison remarked
to Ills custodian, % DC poor F9uT, d, ior NE 1ut
logged In one OF the cells. Mrs. Wilson was also
taken into custody and removed to the same place
aud held as a witness. That same afternoon an In
quest was held by Coroner Jonn 4. Chase. His 1T
tie oiice was packed with persons eager to hear the
testimony. The pllh OF the latter Is SHOWN by
The VERDICT OF TIE coBoNEKs JURY,
which read as follows:-
md As, s Of sad city Of ssv:t
county OF ESSEX, did wilfuy and feoniousIy XIII and
nrder Oliver s. Ha sted, Jr by shooting him In
the e breast with pistol loaded with gunpowder and
Ladss bullet
Bvtts was fully committed for trial and secured In
the county jail. Alter being detained day OF two
Mrs Wilson was liberated on ball TO appear as
witnexs when wanted II was not alone In Newark
the traf edy created profound sensation; the de-
tails were read with avidity throughout the length
and breadth OF the land. Truth 10 say there was
little, II any sympathy expressed for the murdered
man. though 1t weed out IN fountains Tor his
lovely wife and family, his grief.stricken brother.
George, and for his distinguished father INC vener
able Oliver s. Halsted, ex-Chanccll0r OF
the State OF New Jersey For these every