The record-union., 1895-10-26
CHRIST MAINTAINS HIS GOODNESS.
The Evidence Given at His Examina-
ton Yesterday.
Coroner Clark and Police Officers Re-
peat What They Saw-What Mrs.
Walther Says.

The examination of William Christ,
charged with the murder Of his wife,
was resumed in the Police Court yester-
day. The defendant still maintained
his cool and collected manner, and be-
yond wearing a serious expression of
cCuntenance appeared to be quite IN
concerned in the proceedings he was
attended by his counsel, Hiram W.
Johnson, who closely ross-eXamlned
the witnesses, dwelling on many minor
points that to disinterested persons had
appeared to have little Importance, but
which Mr. Johnson held to be very ma
teriaI. The evidence, in the main, did
not differ from that brought out at the
Coroner's inquest.
Mr.. and Mrs. w. c. Hart were present
during the examination and chatted
pleasantly together. Apparently their
relations toward one another have not
been seriously disturbed by the tragedy
nor the circumstances that are supposed
to have led to it.
Christ himself is an enigma. His
countenance never undergoes a change,
even when the testimony seems to re-
fleet heavily upon him. An Indian
brave could not be more stoical, and De
apparently devoid Of emotion.
Coroner Clark was called to resume
his testimony commenced on the pre-
ceding day. Mr. Clark told of his con-
versations with Christ on the night Of
the shooting and the following day. On
the latter day Mrs Reitscke, wife Of
ChriSt'S employer, called at the jail
when the witness, the City Attorney
and the District Attorney were present.
Z .ie-+e han
the fatal shot was fired one hand was on
his wife's shoulder and that she lunged
forward just as she received the shot.
On the night of the shooting Christ
said his wife was standing several feet
from him.
To Mr.. Johnson the witness said that
Christ had made four statSments in mis-
presence regarding the shooting. He
had taken no notes of his interviews
with Christ. The latter had on all these
occasions spoken freely of what had oc-
CURED. In the statement made after
his arrest Christ said that when the pis
tOl fell and the shot was fired he was
about to embrace his wife.
The crosss-e examination of Mr. Clark
was long, but nothing of material in
terest was developed.
At the opening of the afternoon ses-
sion Mr. Clark testified that some papers
were taken from ChriSt'S room by the
District Attorney and himself They
were taken for the purpose of cOmpar-
ing Mrs. Christ's handwriting with
that found by Mrs Hart in her hus-
bands pocket. In the interview with
Christ on the day after the shooting
the defendant said-referring to the let
ter from his wife to Hart-that he did
not see much of it.
officer NJ Fisher. who placed
Christ under arrest on the night of the
shooting, retold his story of what took
place at Christ's house after his arrival
and Of the statement made by the de-
PENDANT regarding the shooting.
officer Matt. Karcher also testified as
to what occurred at the house on the
night of the shooting.
a room adjoining the courtroom had
been fitted UP with the furniture and
carpet from the room in Christ's house
where the shooting occurred, and wit
ness Karcher was taken there to ex-
plain the position of the body relative
to the different articles of furniture.
Mrs Walther, the aged mother of
Mrs Christ was the next witness. She
was greatly agitated and her voice was
scarcely audible. Her testimony, how
ever. was the same as given by her at
the Coroners inquest. When Christ
reached home on the night of the shoot
ing the witness and her daughter
were in the sitting or dining
room. Christ took out his
pistol and laid it on the desk. After
ward he went into the kitchen. where
the witness had warmed some coffee for
him Mrs Christ also entered the
kitchen and they partok Of some lunch.
The witness left Mr.. and Mrs. Christ
at the table and went TO her room. Soon
afterward she heard them walk into the
dining-room.
She noticed that Christ's football was
rapid. IN a minute or so she heard the
pistol shot She FASTENED TO the dining
room, but met Christ in the kitchen
and he said he had accidentally shot
his wife There was no light then in the
dining-room except such as came from
the kitchen. Christ manifested no ex-
citement at the time.
The oss-eXamination Of Mrs. Wal
Their was quite long. She said to Mr..
Johnson that her daughter and hus-
band had always got along well to-
gether until the fatal night They
seemed to be very happy, and Mr..
Christ had always provided well for the
house Most of the six years that wit
ness had lived with the Christs the de-
PENDANT had always carried a pistol.
She noticed nothing unusual in his
manner on the night of the shooting.
There was very little said at the lunch
table but she did hear her daughter
address Christ as Willie" When the
witness left the kitchen she said Good
night" TO Mr.. and Mrs. Christ, and they
responded in the same manner
William Walther, brother of Mrs
Christ, and George @. Ogg. the barber
whom Christ consulted about his do
nestle trouble, also testified. The court
adjourned while Ogg was still on the
stand and the examination VIII be re-
sumed this morning at 10 O'Clock.