The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-03-17
WIFE BEATER SHOT
TO DEATH BY J.
A. CHALONER
Struggle Over Revolver Results
in Fatality
ExONORATED BY coroner
John GlIard, the Victim, was Assault
ing His Wife When Accident
Happened

Charlottesville, Va, March l7.-John
Armstrong Chaloner, former husband
of Amelie Rivers, the authoress, en-
gagged in scufiie for possession of his
revolver yesterday with John Gillard
an Englishman at his country home
Merry Mills near Gotham. Va, dur
ing which the revolver was discharged
and Gillard was killed Chaloner was
fully eXonerated of all blame by cor
oner's jury which investigated the
case this afternoon
Gillard~Came to Virginia about two
years ago from Australia and was liv-
ing within three miles of Merry
Mills His wife on yesterday sought
Chaloners protection from her hus-
band, who, ii is alleged, had beaten
her and had threatened her life. Mrs.
Gillard had arrived at Merry Mills"
In advance of her husband and with
her children was waiting in the dining
room to tell her story when her hus,
band entered and assaulted her, il is
alleged, with pair of heavy tongs.
AT this point Chaloner and Erie q
Money, who was with him. entered
the room and interfered. A seume be
tween Chalpner and the Englishman
ensued. and the former drew his pis.
TO restrain the frenzied man. Gillard
seized the pistol, IL is said, and tried
to turn it on his wife Chaloner grab
bed II and in the scufile the pistol was
discharged. the bullet entering Gil
lard's temple
A magistrate was at once summon
ed and made acquainted with the facts
He held an inquest in the afternoon
at which the widow told the story of
her husbands alleged brutal treat
ment. She said she was positive that
her husband discharged the pistol IN
an effort to kill her and others testi-
fed to this fact. Her IA year old son
who was present at the tragedy, said
that his father had fully determined
to kill his mother and that he would
have succeeded but for Chaloner.
The body was kept in Merry Mills"
all night in the position which It was
when death ensued, and the jury con
sisting of substantial farmers, made
searching investigation and came
unanimously TO the decision that
death was due to accident which DC
CURED during an effort to save the
life of Mrs. Gillard At the time OF
the inquest the room still showed eyi
deAces OF a great struggle The tongs
bent from the blows. were bloody and
contained clumps of hair Mrs. Gil.
lard showed evidences of her bad
treatment Her head was badly cut
IN many places and her clothes were
torn.
Gillard was about 20 years of age
and of powerful build Chaloner had
frequently befriended him
joan Armstrong Chaloner has had
a picturesque career in the past few
years. Mr. Chaloner was confined for
some time in an insane asylum in New
York state, and leaving that institu-
ton after a hard fight for his liberty.
sought restoration of valuable proper
ty, which he claims he was Illegally
deprived of during his incarceration
His case has been before the courts |
and some sensational charges were
made in the dispositions taken in the |
case some months ago at Charlottes. |
vile. His legal proceedings for re- |
covery of a fortune are still pending !
and promise sensational developments |
at the trial, which is expected to be |
held about September /, next. Mr.
Chaloner is a lawyer and has super.
vised all OF the ntrcacies of his lie.
gal fights. He recently had his name
changed by legal process to the old
form of the name Chanler
Poughkeepsie, March 17-John
Chaloner (Chanler) is
brother of former Lieutenant Cover
nor Lewis Stuyvesant Chanler and
Sheriff Robert Winthrop Chanler of
Duchess county