The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1883-11-09
A BANDITS FATAL SHOT.

Johnston Haller, the Courier or the
James Boys. Leaves the Gang on
Marrying q Rich Beauty, and Kills,
Her by Bullet Intended for Hor
PAramour
A Denver dispatch Of October Is says:
Tie killing of his wife, Alice Haller,
on the night of the 23d, by Johnston
Halter, and the wounding of the man
Morris, who had won the affections of
Alice, has brought to light story which
began in border romance and has end.
ed in disgrace of two and sorrow to q
third. Hsller was o member of the
Quantrell crowd, and knight Of the
road when Jesse and Frank James were
looked upon with sort of mock hero
ism: He was fearless devil and in the
saddle he was as handsome as Murat.
He was in some of the bloodiest engage.
ments that blighted the west. He went
with Quantrell when that reckless but
daring horseman swooped down upon
Lawrence, KS, and left the blood stains
of Its best people on the blackened ruins
OF their homes. He was trusted cour-
Ter for the James boys, and when it was
U unsafe e for them to go to their home in
and did the mission.
Allegiance to the James brothers was
not alone the cause ofthese daring mis-.
sions. He had sweetheart who lived
in Independence, the county seat OF
Jackson Co., Mo. Her name was Alice
holland. She was pretty and the daugh.
tor of a prominent Southern man. She
vas rebel, like her lover. She made
rebel flags and harbored rebel soldiers
and she used to meet Haller on his COM
ings In from the prairies and secreting
him In her own home, or somewhere
else, she conveyed whatever message he
had from the James boys to their old
mother near Kearney, Mo- Her horse
manship was as perfect as that of her
lover. She was Infatuated with the reck.
lessness of border, warfare. They were
married In 1867. while she was only 10.
The ceremony was performed on horse.
back, each being mounted. by a, promi.
nent minister ot Kansas City who Is still
preaching there. Halter loaded his
bride with jewels, which, it is supposed,
he had stolen in his train exploits. He
rode away offer the wedding and she re.
turned home. The love he left
behind seemed to chill bis araor
IVA 0AVCuIutVs 'Vc600 Vhtu06
told him one night at . camp fire that a
man could love q girl and fight, but he
couldn't love wife and do it. He and
Frank gave Halter a purse, told him to
10 Independence and get bis bride and
leave the country. He did 1t. and in
1874 they went to Colorado. In that
year his wife met an editor, where it is
not known, and she became infatuated
with him. He moved away to another
town, Booanza. His wife opened mill
linery store in Sagnache. He went
to Pueblo. She sold out her place
Of business, and came to him in
Pueblo.
In 1882 he learned she was onintimate
terms with Morris, q barber. She wext
East, and he soon learned that she met
Morris there. He followed her and
and found them there together. She
came back with him, promising to have
no more to do with Morris, but Morris
wrote her letter in April. After the
receipt of this letter she said she did not
want to live with him any longer. and
shortly after disappeared. He heard
they were in Denver and went there.
He saw them through window, and
Morris came out while he was there.
In moment Of rage he lost his self.con-
troll and shot him. After he fired the
first shot he determined to kill him,
and followed him through the house.
His wife came between them and he
shot her, which he claims was an acci-
dent. - sssli,- :. : = -