The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1883-11-08
BANDITS FATAL SHOT.

Johnston Halter, the Courier of the
James Boys, Leaves the Gang on
Marrying Rich Beauty, and Kills
Her by a Bullet Intended for Her
Paramour.
A Denver dispatch of October Is says:
T;,e killing of his wife, Alice Haller,
on the night Of the 23d, by Johnston
Halter, and the wounding of the IMAM
Morris, who had won the affections of
Alice, has brought to light story which
began in a border romance and has end
ed in disgrace of two and sorrow to
third. Haller was a member of the
Quantrell crowd: and a knight of the
road when Jesse and Frank James were
locked 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
unsafe for them to 60 to their home in
Clay County, Mo-, Halter volunteered
and did the mission.
Allegiance to the James brothers was
not alone the cause of these daring mis-
sions. He had a sweetheart who lived
in Independence, the county seat Of
Jackson Co., Mo. Her name was Alice
holland. She was pretty and the daugh-
ter of a prominent Southern man. She
was rebel, like her lover. She made
rebel flags and harbored rebel soldiers
and she used to meet Haller on his COM
ings in ssfrom the prairies and secreting
him in her own home, or somewhere
else, she conveyed whatever message he
mad 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 1G.
The ceremony was performed on horse
back, each being mounted, by promi.
nent minister oi Kansas City who is still
preaching there. Halter loaded his
bride with jewels, which, it is supposed,
he had stolen in his train exploits. lie
rode away otter the wedding and she re-
turned home. The love he left
behind seemed to chill bis ardor
1Or adventure. JESSE JULIUS
told him one night at q camp fire that a
man could love girl and fight, but he
couldn't love wife and do it. He and
Frank gave Halter purse, told him to
to independence and get his bride and
leave the country. Ho 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, Bonanza. His wife opened a mil
| 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 on intimate
terms with Morris. a barber. She went
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 a window, and
Morris came cut while he was there
In moment of rage he lost his eelf-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 acct
dent