William
Holt
Cincinnati Daily Gazette, Monday, 16 August 1880, page 3
William Holt filed suit in the Chancery Court, Newport, Saturday, for divorce from his wife, Josephine Holt, on the grounds of infidelity and abandonment. The parties are colored.
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Cincinnati Post, Friday, 27 February 1885, page 4
The home of Nicholas Neblett and wife at Eglantine and Columbia streets, Newport, were occupants of their home went it caught on fire. Neblett was awakened by the pounding on the door by Silas Lamb, colored, and awakened his wife. They both fled the building which was a mass of flames.
Neblett told the fire boys that William Holt, colored janitor of the Sheriff's office was sleeping upstairs. Firemen Solar and Stricker rushed upstairs and kicked the door in and found the room filled with fire and smoke. They found the body of a man lying face downward with all his clothes on save hat and coat. They carried him to the open air and found the body to be of William Holt, literally smothered to death. His left side was burned while his hair was singed.
Holt is a drinking man and came home early this morning between 2:30 and the time the fire was discovered. One theory is Holt kicked a lamp over which ignited the bed clothing and another is he lit his pipe, fell asleep and some of the hot ashes fell on the bed clothing. The building was built by the widow of the late Captain James Williamson and originally intended for a stable, but was changed into a dwelling for her servants.
William Holt, the victim, was 30 years old and born in slavery in Richmond Va. He belonged to a family named Holt, where he derived his name. He came to Newport about ten years ago and was employed by Master Commissioner Gus Artzman, who considered him a good worker when sober. He married while here but was divorced and the whereabouts of his wife if unknown. He had no money and the funeral expenses will be raised by subscription among his colored friends. Coroner Dameron will hold an inquest this evening.