The Ward County independent., 1922-11-02
Mrs. Margaret Carleton, Former
Minot Dancing Teacher Was Sleep
ing Powder Addict Bishop of all
Outdoors" Much in Woman's Com
pany.

Havre, Nov. 1-"Leonard j. Christ
Ter did come to his death by bullet
wound from bullet fired from gun
in the hands of Margaret Carleton,
on Friday, the 9th day of October,
1922, at about l o'clock am, in the
home of said Leonard J. Christler,
S13 Third avenue in the city of Hav
re, Montana, and that said shot was
fired while Margaret Carleton was
temporarily deranged."
"Margaret Carleton did come to
her death by bullet wound self in
ficted on Friday, October 27, 1922,
and that said Margaret Carleton was
temporarily deranged when the pis-
tol shot causing said wound was
fired"
The above is the verdict of the COR
oner's jury in the Havre double ira
gedy.
Temporary mental arrangement on
the part Of Margaret Carleton was
responsible for the tragic death of
herself and the Rev. Leonard J.
Christler, rector of St. Marks church,
early Friday morning, according to
the verdict Of the coroner's jury,
which conducted an inquest into the
murder and suicide, and which rem
uereO lLS VetulCL SHOIlly before I1llu-
night, Saturday.
Tor the first time the full details
of the shooting and conditions lead
ing up to the tragedy were recounted
by Anna w. Christler, widow of the
rector, when she testified at the in
quest In calm, modulated voice,
full of feeling, she told the story of
the shooting.
At times she paused, yet through
out the trying ordeal, she maintained
the calm attitude that has character
lied her actions since the tragedy,
and for the first time she left the
bier Of her beloved husband.
Alone at times in the house with
her dead, she insisted on always be-
ing with the body, and she stood
silent sentinel at the church where
the body lay in state on guard with
the plumed Knights of Tempar. The
manner in which she bears up is the
with the corpse for the old home in
Waterloo, N. Y, where it will be in
tered meath an old tree, burying
site chosen long ago by the Rev.
Christler.
The body Of Mrs. Carleton is still
at the morgue and no arrangements
have been made for the funeral Her
mother, Mrs. Pyle of Helena, is here
but funeral arrangements await the
arrival of her husband from the east.
Horror stricken with deep sorrow
Havre and all northern Montana
mourns the loss of the rector, and
yesterday hundreds of people came
from all over the state for last look
on the face of the "Bishop of All
Outdoors"
The coroner's jury, which heard
the testimony, was composed of
prominent business men and a most
thorough investigation was made of
the tragedy. Attorney Chas. B. FL
well represented the state and Judge
Frank N. Utter appeared for Mrs
Pyle, the mother of the dead woman.
The bodies and the scenes of the
tragedy were viewed in the after
noon and at 500 o'clock last night
the taking Of testimony commenced
as the first witness.
Clearly and distinctly, and with
out hesitation, she answered the
questions. Frail in stature, dressed
in deep black, with lines of sorrow
and suffering written on her face, she
sat in the big witness chair and told
the tale Of the tragedy.
Returning to her home about 10
O'Clock in the evening, she told the
jury, she was surprised to see light
in her home, and she called to At
torney O. G. Hauge, who lives next
door, and asked him to stand on the
porch of his own home, while she
went into the house.
Entering the house she found Mrs.
Carleton there, carrying a picture of
adm monished her for the act and said
{ but in her right mind She finally
induced her to take a walk to the
business section of the town with
her. They met the Rev. Christler
and the Rev. Mr.. Chapman of Butte
and walked to the corner of THfrrG
avenue and First street, leaving IKeS
there while they went to the station
with Mr.. Chapman, Mrs. Carleton
saying she would wait for them. On
their way back which must sh41e been
after midnight, she said theEf lid not
see Mrs. Carleton, but went on home.
thinking she might have preceded
them. @-n
t,ns 1f;Ss Ss,;as they sss Ra2s
looked after the furnace and to see
that the house was closed, there was
;s;':a =: e T + y }rifaf$51eiR6d af51 10 9slB"H1
Mrs. Carleton and the two Christ
lers engaged tn CONVERSATION IN The
living room for short time, accord
I'M; ing to t.?,a the e.s witness, the; ) she rs
said mGaS that N ansMst Mrs. 6eel!l ea s
ffTThat (Mrs. Christler) had no place
1 lin Mr.. Christler's life.'