The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-11-08
NOT GUILTY.
Coroner's Jury Exonerates
Mrs. Chartrand From
Blame.
SATS KILLING WAS ACCIDENTAL
Her Lawyer Will Request
Her Release-May Be
a Trial
SATs KILLING WAS ACCIDENTAL


the manager of the Hoboken Skating
Rink, on the morning of Thursday of
last week, was exonerated at an inquest
held into her husbands 5 death last night
by Coroner William N. Parslow and
jury. The jurymen rendered verdict to
the effect that Chartrand met death by
shot from pistol in the hands of Mrs
Chartrand, but that, from the evidence
produced it was their opinion that the
shot was fired accidentally.
Mrs. Chartrand said at the time she was
arrested that the revolver was discharged
accidentally while she was bidding her
husband goodbye. She was not present
at the inquest. Her counsel, Assembly
man John j. Fallon, said this morning
that he would apply to the Court at once
for her release, but whether the Court
will consider the verdict of a Coroner's
jury sufficient grounds for such action
is not known.
OF the testimony produced last night
that of William Nolte, who keeps gun
store at No 6O3 washington street, was
looked upon as most important. Mr..
Nolte said that on the Monday before the
shooting occurred a woman came to his
store and asked for a secondhand rife.
--O--0
told her that he did not have any of that
kind. She then asked for secondhand
revolver.
Il showed her one,s continued Mr.
Nolte.. that had had on hand for about
five years She asked how it worked.
told her her fingers were not strong
enough to pull the trigger She said she
didn't care She said she would learn how
CT. md m ar1a
on Wednesday (the day before the shoot
ing) and asked for the revolver. She said
she wanted some cartridges. didn't have
full box in the store, so I said 1 would
go out and get them. She said she didn't
want a full box 1 had some odd, loose
cartridges, SO 1 loaded the revolver with
some HIS and GUS showed her several
times how to work it. She said she
would take the revolver away with her
and if it was not all right she would bring
il back
Mr. Nolte was handed the revolver from
which the fatal shot was fired and he
identified it as the one he had sold to the
woman He described the woman as
small He said that she did not appear to
be excited or nervous.
Police Sergeant Goode testified that
Mrs Chartrand told him when brought
before him at the time of her arrest that
the revolver was discharged by the trig-
ger catching her sleeve when she was
embracing her husband. She also told
him that she had never seen the revolver
before her husband handed it to her.
Francis Dykes, chairman of the House
Committee of the rink, testified that ne
visited the rink on Wednesday evening,
the dav before the shooting. He said that
he found Chartrand and his wife he
talked with Chartrand about repairs and
other work to be done preparatory TO the
ice season. Chartrand said he was going
away for few days. Mrs. Chartrand oe-
casionally Joined in the conversation AT
10 o'clock Chartrand said that he was go
ing to take his wife home to her mother
at No. 1,o04 Washington street All three
walked along Eleventh street to Garden
street where they stood talking. Cnarl-
rand told Dykes to wait on the corner
until he saw his wife home. Dykes wait
ed and Chartrand came back few min
,ltes later. They talked while longer
and then parted about 1926 o'clock.
DR.. julius A. Zenneck, of Eleventh
street. said that Mrs. Chartrand called
at his office about $50 o'clock on the
morning of October 81 and asked him to
90 TO the rink at once. She said that she
had shot her husband accidentally while
he was handing her revolver with which
to nrotect herself while he was away. He
was saving good bye at the time, she
said. She became hysterical and asked
DIR Zenneck to hurry and try and save
him.
Detective Sergeant julius Nelson was
next put on the stand. He testified that
there were two discharged cartridges IN
the revolver. Mrs. Chartrand told him
that she had fired the shot accidentally.
She went to the rink, che said, to ssfy
good-by to her husband and see II ne nad
any orders to give her regarding the RINK.
She said that he was Obliged to live at
the rink on account of the fire insurance.
She then became 11ysterical and decided
not to make any further statement.
Detective Nelson testified that he saw
two scratches on Mrs Chartrands right
hand He asked her how she received
tbem and she said she did not know.
Nelson produced a note written by
fshartrand which he found on table in
the rink. The note was addressed to
Henry Weller. who had apparently been
engaged by Chartrand to look after the
rink while he was away. 1t read as fol-
lows
Hi60TX--t1c1L
as drunk as ever ana nearly SET ene
Mace afire, so if he comes agaIn Wails ll
Pm away fire him out Iake 1dns LIZ
range tree up to my wife at No IVA
Washington street, and take goou care
of the dogs JOHN.
81 told the butcher was gong
~ work for the boss at Mount vernon.
Don't give me away.
This note contradicts Mrs. chartrano,s ,
alleged statement that she was going 70
watch the rink while her husband was
away.
Henry Weller testified that Charfraa
had engaged him to take care OF the RIM \ :
during his absence. He said that ne went
10 the rink at 7:85 o'clock Wednesday
evening. He said that Mrs. chartranu
was there then. Chartrand told nm 70
be sure and feed the dogs Weller salo '
"a remained at the rink about twenty
minutes and then left, He intended g
falxe charge the next morning
me other witness examined festihed
I ,r;,cipa]lv to having seen chartrand' :
body lying in the hall leading e rhe I'nk
proper.