The record-union., 1896-01-30
THE CHRIST MURDER TRIAL.
Crowds ThrOng the Courtroom to Hear
the Testimony.
Circumstances That Are Supposed to
Have Led to Mrs. Christ's
Violent Death.

near repeated the story of the relations
that existed between the wife of Will
lam Christ and w. c. Hart, which re-
lations are understood to have led to
the terrible tragedy that was commit
ted in the Christ household one night
early in October last, when Mrs. Christ
lost her life by a pistol-shot wound in
the head, for which act her husband is
now on trial for murder
T. M. Eby resumed his testimony,
and stated that Mrs. Hart came to the
door on the day Of the shooting and
asked for Mrs. Eby. Witness proceeded
to detail the conversation, when Dis
trict Attorney Ryan objected, and the
objection was sustained
In answer to a question by Mr. John
son as to why he had stated yesterday
that he was not surprised when he
heard the shot, he began to detail the
circumstances of Mrs. Harts call, but
was again stopped.
I. Boysen, photographer, was called
and testified to taking Photographic
views of the interior of the house There
was blood on the carpet of the room
In which Mrs. Christ was shot. He
also photographed the body of Mrs.
Christ at the Morgues Mr.. Johnson
objected to the Introduction of the pict-
ures, and the District Attorney said
they were to show the powder marks
and character of the wound. Mr.. John
son still objected and the pictures were
Withdrawn till afternoon, in order that
the District Attorney might look up au-
thorities.
Mr.. Boysen further testified that they
were taken the day after the murder,
nv f,vdaY. Of Coro4anr. CIarIz and he Dis
trict Attorney.
Dr. N. H. Haight testified that he
heard the shot and ten or fifteen min
utes afterward Christ rang the bell and
said that he thought he had killed his
wife. He did not say anything about
fits being accidental Witness went with
him to his house, and when he arrived
there found that he had no ammonia.
He asked Christ to go back and get it,
and he said he guessed that there was
no need Of ammonia, as he thought his
wife was dead. He began to tell how it
happened, but witness did not care to
hear and took charge of the revolver
Then Mr.. Eby came in. He described
the position of the body and said that
it had the appearance of having been
dragged from where another pool of
blood was. When Eby came in Christ
said that he was putting his revolver
away when it fell on the floor and was
discharged, and that she sank right
down instead of falling and he caught
her. Christ was unusually cool and
once, in telling to the Coroner how it
happened, he stepped over the body
instead of around it, which witness
thought was singular. He displayed no
emotion. and witness thought his man
ner was out of the ordinary at such a
time. He was not at all excited, and
witness could not understand how
human being could be so collected
under such circumstances. Even when
he stopped down and put his face to
hers, saying, My poor wife, he said
it with no change Of tone or express
sion.
Officer Fisher described his going out
to the house, and the position of the
body. Christ was absent and the pa
troll wagon was sent for him and
brought him. He said the shooting was
accidental and showed witness how it
had happened. He seemed cool, but
witness did not think there was any
thing strange about it.
officer Karcher related how he went
with the patrol wagon to Christ's house,
and what he found there. Christ was
not there, and he went after him. When
Christ came to the door he said, Isn't
this awful?" Witness told him it was,
and after a pause of about ten seconds
Christ said, How do you think I feel
about it?" Witness told him he should
think he would feel very badly. When
they arrived at Christ's house he told
witness that they had just finished
supper and were going into the other
room He took his pistol from his
pocket and it fell on the floor At first
he told witness his wife was in front of
him. but afterward said she was be-
side him. on his right side. Witness
showed how Christ described the trag-
edy to him.
Witness described how Christ stepped
over the body and stopped down and
said. My poor wife" As he did so,
Christ, who was sitting by his counsel.
covered his face with his hand and
seemed considerably affected.
Continuing witness said that Christ
tcld him that he caught his wife while
falling and laid her down. Witness
asked him if he laid her down where
she then was and Christ said he did.
William Walther testified that Mrs.
Christ was his sister. and was FIVE feet
six or seven inches in hight. Christ
came to his door and said that he had
shot his wife by accident. Witness
asked, Then you did not mean it2'
and Christ answered, Why. no; il was
purely accidental.
He and his wife went over to Christ's
house on the patrol wagon, which soon
arrived. and witness turned his atteE-
4ion to soothing his mother who was
very much excited and crying. He did
not know when he got into the wagon
that his sister was dead. and when he
found it out he offered to pay part of
the funeral expenses.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The first witness put on the stand
after recess was Mrs. William Walther.
She testified that Christ came to her
house, 7O6 L street. about 10 O'Clock
and said he had shot his wife. Her
husband got up out of bed and dressed,
and the three of them left for the
house. She had no conversation with
Christ She was then excused
George H. Clark was next called and
testified as to how he found the body
and everything relating to it, He said
that he went to the house and found
Oficer Fisher in charge. and that Fisher
handed him the pistol, also that the
body was lying north and south with
two pools of blood in the room, one un.
der the head and the other by the