The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1922-11-02
GAVE HIS LIFE
SAVED HIS HONOR
Bishop of Montana De-
tends Character of Rev.
L. J. ChristIer.
TELLS /OF CHARGES
Mother of Slayer of Bishop of
All Outdoors" Demands
Farther Probe into Facts.

Havre, Mont.-That Mrs. Margaret
Carleton deliberately attempted to
win the Rev. L. J. Christler, rector of
st. Marks Episcopal church of this
city, from his wife, and that failing,
she shot the minister and then her
self, is the belief of Bishop Frederick
Faber, head of the diocese of Mon
tana, according to statement made
by him today.
II believe as result of the inves-
tigation | have made of the tragedy
which occurred in the Christler home
early Friday and after questioning
those who know about it, that if this
woman had been able to. work her will
on Mr.. Christler he would be- alive to-
day, unfaithful to his wife, but still
living" the bishops statement declared.
Regarding the investigation of ac-
| cusations involving the names of Mr..
Christlers and Mrs. Carleton. which.
he conducted a year and half ago,
Bishop Faber said:
Tells of Other Charges.
"No formal charges were ever filed
against Mr.. Christler. Letters came
to me containing statements detrimen-
tai to Mr.. Christler's character. 1
came to Havre and insisted that the
persons making the accusations pres
ent their testimony. When they
I learned their evidence was to be taken
down by shorthand reporter, they
would not testify"
81 set second date for a hearing,
and later, when could stay no longer
in Havre for that purpose, the YES
try of Mr.. Christer's church fixed
another date, but the testimony was
never given.
II found evidence which made me
believe that the accusations were act
uated by animosity on the part of the
persons making them, due to activi-
ties of Mr.. Christler which had moth
ing to do with Mrs. Carleton.
Mr.. Christler was a big man, physi-
cally and mentally, an outdoors man,
and he did many things in novel and
unusual ways. He had many activi-
ties for the benefit of his fellow men
which were outside ordinary church
work and many people were to be
found who were willing to find fault
with him."
Mother Defends Daughter.
While Mrs. Christler is on an east
bound train accompanying the body of
her slain husband, Rev. Leonard j.
Christler, rector of St. Marks Episco-
pal church and known as the "bishop
of all outdoors" Mrs. Joseph Pyle,
mother = of Mrs. Margaret Carleton,
whose body was found beside that
of Christler, is attempting to prove
that her daughter did not commit
murder and suicide.
81 do not believe Margaret did it,"
said Mrs. Pyle, shortly after her ar
rival in Havre from her home in
Butte. 81 shall not be satisfied until
l find who owned the gun" Her ref
erence was to a .38 calibre revolver
found in the hand of Mrs. Carleton
when the bodies were discovered.
margaret owned and carried for
six years a small % calibre revol-
ver," continued Mrs. Pyle. Had this
weapon been found in her hand in
stead of the larger one, it might be
reasonable to take that as evidence
that she fired the shots"
The smaller revolver was found
hoo foI1
ing the tragedy.
Mrs. Pyle is now engaged in piecing
together bits of torn letter found
in the waste basket in her daughters
fMr. Christler's hand writing. That
Mrs. Carleton had an infatuation for
the minister is declared by many con-
nected with the case, including Mrs.
Pyle.
A letter said to be from Frank
E. Carleton, dated in California, Aug.
25th, says:
"Dear Margaret: have been think
ing a great deal lately that it is not
fair that you should have any legal
restraint upon you. We have been
apart over a year and there is abso-
lutely 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. Probably you
have met one ere this. If this is so,
I am mighty happy and will do all
can to fix things so that you can
be free to marry.
Attached to this letter was one
said to be in the handwriting of Rev.
Christler. In part it said:
Gam amazed at Franks attitude.
Why not be honest with ourselves.
When his beginning of honesty is to
first pay the debts he contracted while
you two were partners then talk about
move to the next STEP why buck in
such a manner what he owes your
mother and eleswhere-the liabilities
of both of you-and\ pack all the bur-
dens of debt on your heart and
shoulders.
anyhow, want to see you clean the
slate at Havre. Am coming to help"
Of Ealouo