The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1883-11-09
A BANDITS FATAL SHOT.

Johnston Haller, the Courier of the
James Boys, Leaves the Gang on
Marryinga Rich Beauty, and Kills
Her by a Bullet Intended for Her
Paramount
A Denver dispatch of October % says:
The killing of his wife, Alice Haller,
on the night of the 23d, by Johnston
Haller, 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 a
third. Haller was a member of the
Quantrell crowd. and knight of the
road when Jesse and Frank James were
looked upon with a 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-
ier for the James boys, and when it was
unsafe for them to go to their home in
Clay County, Mo-, Haller volunteered
and did the mission
Allegiance to the James brothers was
not alone the cause of these daring mis-
sions. He had sweetheart who lived
in Independence, tho county seat OF
Jackson Co., Mo. Her name was Alice
| Noland. She was pretty and the daugh-
was rebel, like her lover. She made
| raha1 Aoro orI borhoro1 roha1 col5;orc
and she used to meet Haller on his COM
ings in from the prairies and secreting
him in her own home, oc somewhere
else, she conveyed yhatever 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 l6.
The ceremony was performed on horses
back, each baing mounted, by a promi-
nent minister OF Kansas City who is still
preaching there. Haller loaded his
| bride with jewels, which, it is supposed, !,
| he had stolen in his train exploits. He
rode away otter the wedding and she re-.
turned home. The love he left
for adventure. Jesse James
told him one night at camp fire that a
man could love girl and fight, but he
couldn't love wife and do it. He and
| Frank gave Haller purse, told him to
to independence and get his 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, Bonanza. His wife opened 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.
lie 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 fred the
first shot he determined to kill him,
and followed him through the house.
His wife came between them and he
saot her, which he claims was an acci-
dent.