The record-union., 1895-10-19
CHRIST CHARGED WITH MURDER.
Result of the Coroner's Inquest On
His Wife.
William Q. Hart and Mrs. Hart Both
Tell What They Know OF
the Affair,

Coroner Clark last evening resumed
the inquest on the body of Mrs. William
Christ, who was shot in her home last
Monday night, and which her husband
claims was accidental. The attendance
OF spectators was large, as on the hrst
night.
District Attorney Ryan, Assistant Dis
trict Attorney j. @. Jones and City At
torney J. Frank Brown assisted Coroner
Clark in conducting the inquest. hiram
w. Johnson appeared in behalf OF Cnrlss.
The testimony was as follows:
MRS. w. L. JONES
OF 1901 street was the first witness
called. She testified that she was out
walking with Mrs. Christ on last Mon
day evening. When they parted Mrs.
Christ said she had to go home and pre-
pare her husbands supper.
WILLIAM WALTHER,
The dead woman's brother, testified that
Christ came to bis house shortly before III
O'clock on the night OF the shooting and
awOke him from his sleep. Christ SAID
his wife had met with slight accident.
Christ did not say that his wife was dead.
Witness did not know she was dead until
told so by Officer Matt karcher. Christ
did not appear to be very excited over the
affair. Witness promised Christ as a
friend to assist hum financially IN ms
troubles. Witness thought by Christs
manner that Mrs. Christ was not serl-
ously injured. Officer Karcher came
after Christ in the patrol wagon. Christ
said he had dropped his revolver.
LUTHER I. WEBER
Testified that he knew Mrs. Christ by
sight. W. G. Hart called on him about
10 81 l. 4 S1oxv nd lfi
him for the particulars of the shooting
He told Hart that Christ dropped his re-
volver on the floor and that 1t was dis
charged, the bullet taking effect IN Mrs
Chrisps temple. Hart said it was too
bad. He thought he was to blame for the
shooting. He also said his wife did him
up brown" Witness replied that he
thought she did. hart came part way 10
witness house with another man. Wit
ness did not know who the man was.
Hart and the stranger walked on to-
Gether.
Witness saw Hart and Mrs. Christ BIZ
cycIe-riding together at East Park about
a month before the shooting. Mrs. Hart
told him she had found letters from Mrs.
Christ in Harris pockets.
MRS. LUTHER WEBER,
Wife of the preceding witness, testified
that Mrs. Hart called on her last Monday
wanted to know ii witness had seen her
husband in the neighDorhood. Mrs.
Hart, said the witness, told her about
some letters she had found. Witness had
seen Hart call on Mrs. Christ once or
twice.
GEORGE G. oGG,
The barber, testified that he had known
Christ and his wife about seven years.
All three were on very friendly terms.
Last Monday at witness shop Christ
asked where the employees were. That
was about O'Clock in the afternoon.
Christ remarked that il was very quiet.
Christ took piece Of paper out OF his
pook ct and, showing it TO witness, said:
What do you think of thatY' Witness
replied: "Thags newspaper poetry; pve
got lots OF it, Christ said: What
would you thiuk il man would send
that TO your wife2" Christ said Hart S
wife had given II 20 him, and that she had
found it in her husbands pocket. Wit
ness tried 10 impress upon Christ the
uaimportance Of the thing
Christ a little W hile afterWard said he had
talked to his wife many times, and that
he informed her that ne was going 10 set
tie down. Christ also said he told his
wife that il she saw anybody she lik ed
better than him she could go with him.
Coroner Clark asked Ogg If Christ did
not say that the poetry was IN his Wi1e's
handwriting. the witness said he did
not think Christ said so. Christ said Mrs.
Hart called him out of his shop, gave him
the poetry, and said she took IL out OF her
husbands pocket. Christ said II ne was
not thoroughly satisfied that everything
was as it ought to be he would throw his
wife out. During all the time Christ WAS
calm and collected.
Witness was ed If be had testified to
Ell he knew about the matter. and had re-
lated everything that was said between
himself and Christ, Witness replied
that he had testified to everything he
knew concerning the matter. He was
asked If he did not tell District Attorney
Ryan and Coroner Clark that he had con-
cesIsd something which hs would testify
to on the stand. he replied that he did
not remember having said so.
The witness during his examination
Tecited the story entitled a Wife
PERIL" which he said came to his mind
when Christ was talking to him about his
family affairs Christ always carried a
revolver.
Recurring to the time when Christ
gave witness the poetry, the latter said
he could not believe that Mrs. Christ
wrote II. Witness told Christ that Hart
might have picked II up in his house and
put il in his pocket. AT the time he heard
of the shooting, witness thought it could
not have been other than an accident.
CHARLES RIETZKE,
4 barber, testified that he had known
Christ and his wife about three years
Christ was employed by him. On the
day of the shooting woman came to the
shop and asked Chris; to step outside
After be went out the woman gave him q
piece OF paper. While he was reading il
she asked lis that a lady2 Does tina
look like a lady ?"
W illness asked Christ what the trouble
was, and Christ said, "Oh, nothing;
woman got in some trouble and wanted