River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-11-08
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4 BANDITS FATAL SHOT.


Johnston Halter, the Courier OF the
James Boys, Leaves the Gang on
Marrying Rich Beauty, and Kills
Her by Bullet Intended for Her
Paramour
A Denver dispatch of October % says:
The killing Of his vife, Alice Halter,
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 a
third. Halter was a member of the
Quantrel crowd; and knight of the
road when Jesse and Frank James were
loo ked upon with sort of mock hefos
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 It's best people on the blackehed ruins
of their homes. He was a trusted cour-
Ter for the James boys, and when it was
unsafe for them to go 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 sweetheart who lived
in independence, the county seat o.
Jackson Co., Mo. Her name was Alice
holland. She was pretty and the daugh-
ter of q 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
ngs in from the prairies and secretlng
him in her own home, or somewhere
else, she conveyed whatever message ne
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 10.
The ceremony was performed on horse
back, each being mounted, by proml-
nent minister of 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 his ardor
for adventure. Jesse James
told him one night at camp Hre tnak Il
man could love a 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. He did 1t. and in
1874 they went to Colorado. In that
wear his wife met an editor. where 1t IS
not known, and she became infatuated
with him. He moved away to another
town, Bonanza. His wife opened MIL
linery store in SagnaChe. lie went
to Pueblo. She sold out her place
of business, and came to HIM IN
| Pueblo.
InlS82 he learned she was on intimate
terms with Morris, 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
thev were in Denver and went there.
He saw them through window, and
Morris came out while he was there.
In a 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-
daut