The Ward County independent., 1922-11-02
JURY SAYS DEMENTIA
CAUSE OF HAVRE
MURDER AND SUICIDE
Continued from page u

day. Both of the physicians testified
that in their opinion Mrs. Carleton was
temporarily insane when the tragedy
occurred.
Chief of Police Moran told of re-
testimony of other witnesses regard
ing events after the shooting. He
said that shortly after midnight he
met Mrs. Carleton on Third avenue,
where, according to the testimony OF
Mrs. Christler, she had left them, and
that she had acted very quietly, as if
to avoid discovery, and that she had
said she was waiting there to meet
someone.
Chief Moran testified to finding torn
parts of messages and letters in the
room of Mrs. Carleton after the ira
gedy and previously Mrs. Martin tes-
titled they had not been there when
she left the room.
The chief described the condition
of the bodies, the methods of enter
ing and leaving the house, the range
of the bullets, and declared that in
his opinion it would have been impos-
sible for third person to have been
in the little hall at the time Of the
shooting.
In the opinion of the chief the bull
let which killed Christler was fired
from a distance of between two and
three feet, judging from the momen
tum it received, enough to penetrate
the body and lodge in the wall. Its
position in the wall he declared in
dicated that ChriStler might have been
closing The door, when the shot was
fired
The gun which killed Mrs. Carleton
was close to the body, burning the
outer garments and smoking the un-
der garments. The bullet remained
in the body.
In answer to the question he said
he was convinced from the investiga
tion he had made that Mrs. Carleton
had killed Rev. ChristIer and herself.
The coroner introduced into the evi-
dence the clothing Of the deceased
and the possessions Of Mrs. Carleton.
In her purse were found about $50
in money, a number of small articles
and several letters, including val
entine sent by Rev. Christler to his
wife. Mrs. Christler identified these
as having been on her dresser in the
early evening before the shooting.
Every detail of the tragedy was
gone into by the jury. The jury,
which conducted the inquest was COM
posed of r. G. Linebarger, foreman,
L. K. Devlin, c. C: Brundage, F. F.
Bossuot, Walter Mackenzie and B. S.
Buisson.
Throughout the taking of the tes-
tinlony Mrs. Christler and Mrs. Pyle,
mother Of the dead woman, sat list
ening to every word The jury bar
red the morbidly curious from the
hearing, but admitted everyone hav-
ing any interest in the trial.
Yesterday Havre paid tribute to the
memory Of Rev. Christler, stores clos
ing during the hours Of the funeral
and throngs. viewed the remains as
they lay in the church over which he
had presided and which was built
through his efforts.
Throngs at Funeral
In st. Marks church a monument
of his achievement in Havre, funeral
services were held for Rev Leonard I.
Christler Friday afternoon at $3.50
o'clock.
The church was crowded and peo-
pie stood in the streets to pay tribute
to the man who had done so much
for the mission at Havre MANY peo-
pie from the neighboring towns were
in attendance at the services.
Bishop w. F. Faber of Helena read
the burial service of the Episcopal
prayer book, with Bishop H. H. Fox
OF Billings as suffragan. The Rev.
A. M. Frost of Glasgow and C. Kellar
of Great Falls assisted at the burial
service.
Members of the De Molay Com
NJ
and the Daughters of the King at
tended the funeral in BODY. the
Knights having charge and serving as
an honorary guard.
That an infatuation existed on the
part of Mrs. Carle ton for the minister
is admitted virtually by everyone
connected with the case, including
Mrs. Pyle. A letter from Frank p,
Carleton, written in California, Aug
ust %. to his wife, then in Illinois.
working for chautauqua circuit, was
found in Mrs. Carleton's room. At
tached to it was letter alleged to be
from Mr.. Christler, written in SYRIA
cuse, n. Y, and bearing no date. 1t
contained references to Mr.. Carle-
TONS letter, which made it evident
that Mrs. Carleton had sent it to him.
Mr.. Carleton's letter said:
CarletOn's Letter
Dear Margaret: have been think
ing a great deal lately that it is not
fair that | should have any legal re-
straint upon you. You are making
your own life and entitled to your
freedom. I know it would be much
more satisfactory to you, and / fur
ther know that you have no love for
me, and why the pretense?
"We have been apart over year
ana there IS absolutely no chance for
happiness for you as my wife. No
doubt you have thought of it and are
too proud to mention it. No matter.
you are clever, good-looking woman
and there are lots of good successful
men who would make you happy. Pos
slbly you met one ere this. If this is
SO, am mighty happy and will do all
l can to fix things so that you can be
free to marry.