The record-union., 1896-01-29
WILLIAM CHRIST ON TRIAL.
The Alleged fe-MurdeFGF'S Probable
Line Of Defense.
Some Unpublished Letters Identified as
in the Hand Writing of
W. c. Hart.

The jury in the William Christ wife
murder case was completed yesterday
forenoon in Judge Hinkson's court, and
the Jurors names and occupations are:
George Boyd, candymaker, K, Eighth
and Ninth; A. L. Warren, farmer,
Perkins; George w. Russell, fruit
grower, Florin; Oscar c. Smith, fruit
grower, F'lorin; G. D. Wentworth, car
penter, 1730 G street; Charles B.
Strong, seed merchant, J, Fifth and
Sixth; F. B. Adams (of Adams, Booth
e. Coz, Front street; William Vought,
farmer, Oak Park; Emil Heinrich, sa-
loonkeeper. K, Third and Fourth; C.
Kellogg, merchant, ], Eighth and
Ninth; John c. Scroggs, hop grower,
1018 Tenth street: Max Ginsberg, mer-
chant, K, Fifth and Sixth.
The afternoon session was begun by
District Attorney Ryan making his
opening statement to the jury. Mr..
Ryan was among the first few persons
to arrive on the scene Of the tragedy
after it was committed, and he ex-
piained to the jury how the prosecu-
ton expected to clearly prove that
Mrs. Christ was purposeIy shot by her
husband, through jealousy. He ridi-
culed the plea originally advanced by
the defendant that his pistol fell from
a desk to the floor and exploded, the
bullet entering his wife's head near
the temple. He said they would show
the impossibility Of a shot received in
that way, and while the woman was
in an erect position, ranging down.
ward and burying itself at the base OF
the skull behind; also, that if Mrs.
Christ was standing erect the burning
powder could not blacken her face, as
was done. He expected to prove that
she was seated on q lounge at the time,
and that the pistol was held close to
her head when it was discharged.
The first witness called was Mrs.
Frances e. Hart, wife of William C.
Hart. She testified to the finding of
letters from Mrs. Christ in her hus-
bands pockets, and to her interviews
with Christ on the subject, all of which
was published at the time of Christ's
Rreliminary examination.
George Qgg told Of Christ's consulta.
tions with him on the subject of Mrs.
ChriSt's. relations with Hart, and how
the defendant asked his advise as to
what course he should pursue. The
witness tried to convince him that he
was mistaken.
T. M. Eby's testimony related to his
bearing. the shot and his visit to Christ's
house. across the street, the position of
the body. etc.
At the time Of the shooting and on
the preliminary examination Christ's
defense was that his pistol fell to the
floor and that his wife was accidentally
shot. It would seem now, however, as if
the line Of defense had been changed, and
that Christ will contend that he had
such positive proof of his wife,s inf
deity that his mind was unbalanced.
This is inferred from the fact that
while Mrs. Hart was on the witness
stand Christ's counsel, Hiram w. john
son, submitted to her q letter-one that
has not heretofore been printed-which
she identified as being in her husband's IS
handwriting. 1t was addressed to Mrs.
Christ while the latter was on a visit at
Franklin in the southern part of this
county, and reads:
CALLED HER HIS PET.
Sacramento, Aug. 13, 1895