Evening journal., 1897-09-29
HIS WIFE TESTIFIES.
Inquest Into the Facts Of the
Middletown Tragedy.
TIE JURY FINDS AGAINST CHRISTIAN.
Story That the Murder of Pritohard Had
Been Committed In Self Defense In
validated by tho Dead Mans
Loaded Revolver.

MIDDLETON. n. Y. Sept. 29.-Mrs.
Christian. who was the first witness
called at the Pritchard inquest yester-
day afternoon, was very pale when be-
ing sworn. In opening her testimony
she said she had never seen Pritchard
or Mann before the shooting.
She testified that while out driving
with her children she was nearly run
down by two drunken men. She did
not see either of the men with her hus-
band, nor did she hear the pistol shots.
Mann, after he was shot, was cared for
by her at the boathouse, where he was
carried. She was told that he was
drunk.
Mrs. Christian testified that when she
reached home she found Miss Christian
in the house. Her husband also was
there. This, she said. was all she re-
membered, as she was faint from the
sight of the men and the narrow escape
her children had had. She did not go to
Smithville or anywhere else with her
husband. though he might have gone
TO Monticello. She did not know wheth-
er she had ever said her husband shot
the men in self defense; did not know
whether her husband carried money
with him when he left home. though
quite positive that he did not and that
she saw her husband in the yard when
she was returning from the lake.
George Rutland was next put on the
witness stand, and he threw some light
upon the whereabouts of the missing
man after the shooting had occurred.
He testified that he was driving slowly
! along the road to Monticello when he
was overtaken by Christian. who came
out of the woods. Christian appeared
to be much excited. He jumped on the
wagon and rode a quarter of a mile
with him, when Rutland turned from the
main road Christian had been chang
ing some papers from one pocket to an
other, but when the wagon turned into
the cross road he turned TO Rutland and
held $50 check up to him. saylng
IF you see anybody. don't tell them
that you saw me or tell them which
way 1 am going. Two men came TO the
club and jumped on me today. I gave
them a 1ogging that may do them good,
/ and it may not. I'll give you this check
| If you will drive me away somewhere
Rutland declined to carry Christian
any farther. and as ne was driving
/ through the woods saw Christian walk
ing rapidly in the direction Of Monti-
I cello. 0nIlelldI WAS ANHH dbNhA a HAAiN
frora the scene of the murder.
The next witness called was Jacob
Weiman. who testified that he was met
by Christian going toward Mountain
dale or summitville He wanted Wei
man to drive him to Monticello. but as
he had been driving all day, he agreed,
Weiman said in his testimony. that he
would take him after he had first gone
home. This. according 10 Weiman,
seemed to be distasteful TO Christian,
who left Weiman.
Francis Z. Grant. a director and
treasurer of the club, gave testimony
to being at Mrs. christians house after
the shooting and was told by her that
her husband had shot the men in self
defense.
"she told me-" said the witness. that
they had fired eight shots at him. !
then ran to pritchard's body. turned II
over. and his pistol I'm the leather pouch
| dropped out. / examined IL and found
that It had not been discharged. Miss
F! Christian told me that the two men
had chased her brother around the
house several times. When asked
where Mr.. Christian was. his wife said
he had left and was going to Month
cello to give himself up to his lawyer
Mr.. Kniffen. She also said TO me on
the way TO the inquest that when she
reached home she found him up stairs
changing his coat and vest and that he
had thrown his money and keys 10 one
side"
Frank Watson, who was next exam
ined. testified that he had heard angry
voices near the Christian home; heard
five or six shots and then some one
say;
you will viii your
The boatkeeper, James Bower. when
put on the stand said he thought there
were only three shots fired.
The jury then brought in a verdict OF
death caused by hcmorrhage resulting
from a gun or pistol shot wound in
hicted at the hands of Wallace j. Chris
tian.
Sheriff Watson has issued a warrant
for the arrest of Christian and offered
a reward of $500 for his capture.
Christian Is s feet 10 inches tall
weighs 100 pounds. is of swarthy com
plexion and has a small black mus
tache When last seen. he wore a dark
suit, dark fedora hat. light striped
shirt and light necktie-
Mann was brought TO his home last
night in a wagon. Modification has
set in
The body Of the murdered man was
taken to his home in New York. Tn,
remains were accompanied from Sulli,
van county by Mr. Pritohard. Sr.
Death at "A Fair.