Evening star., 1922-10-30
MURDER-SU|C|DE
VERDICT FOUGHT
Mother of Mrs. Carleton
Denies Daughter Killed
Rector and Self.
TRAGIC DETAILS RECITED
Coroner's Jury Told Events Before
Shooting-Dead Woman Was
Sleeping Powder Addict.
TRAGIC DETAILS RECITED
Rv the Associated Press.

bound train accompanying the body
of her slain husband. Rev. Leonard
j. Christler, rector of st. Marks Epis-
copal Church, and known as the "bish-
op 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.
a coroner's jury brought in a YER
dict yesterday stating that Mrs. Carle
ton killed the Rev. Christler and then
shot herself. The tragedy occurred
early Friday morning.
Mrs. Christler left with the body of
her husband for Waterloo, n. Y, yes
terday morning.
InfntuntiOn Admitted.
In spite of the coroner's jury YER
diet, Mrs. Pyle has employed an at
torney. and is endeavoring to find
evidence that viii prove her daugh-
ter did not commit the crime. Il do
not believe Margaret did it," said Mrs.
Pyle shortly after her arrival in Havre
from her home in Butte. Il shall not
be satisfied until i find who owned
the gun" Her reference was to a 49,
caliber revolver in the hand of Mrs.
Carleton when the bodies were dis
covered.
A small .22-caliber revolver she GUS
tomarily carried was found in Mrs.
CarletonS handbag
Mrs. Pyle is now engaged in piscing
together bits OF a torn letter found in
The waste basket in her daughters
room, and which she declared is in
Mr.. Christler's handwriting. That Mrs.
Carleton had an infatuation for the
minister is admitted by Mrs. Pyle.
Text of Letter.
A letter, said to be from Mr.. Carle
ton. dated in California. August %.
says, in part:
Il have been thinking a great deal
lately that it is not fair that you
should have any legal restraint upon
chance for happiness for you as my
wife. There are lots of good
successful men who would make you
happy. Probably you have met one
ere thus. If this is so. l am mighty
happy and will do all I 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 says:
Am 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 elsewhere
the liabilities Of both of you-and
pack all the burdens Of debt on your
heart and shoulders
Anyhow, 1 want to see you clean
help"
Dramatic Details Recited.
Dramatic details of events that led
to the deaths of Mrs. Carleton and the
Rev. Christler were recited to the
coroners jury by the minister's widow
previous to a verdict returned early
yesterday. that the tragedy was
brought about by temporary mental
derangement on the part of Mrs.
Carleton.
The widow. Mrs. Christler. in a calm
modulated voice, described how she
returned to her home about 10 o'clock
last Friday evening to find a light.
Calling Mr.. Hauge. neighbor, she
said she stationed him on the front
porch while she entered. She testi-
of former District Judge Frank
Carleton. destroying a picture of DIR.
Christler and admonished her for the
act. The witness added that Mrs.
right mind"
Witness to Shooting.
Finally, the widow said, she per-
suaded Mrs. Carleton to leave with
her, walking toward the towns busi-
ness section. where they met Rev.
Christler. who was with Rev. Chap
man of Butte. Mrs. Carleton was left
downtown. she continued, the others
returning home Shortly afterward,
the witness said. Mrs. Carleton re-
turned to the Christler home.
The witness hesitated in describing
the conversation. after Mrs. Carleton
Joined them, but in answer to ques-
tions replied that Mrs. Carleton de-
clared, II (Mrs. Christler) had no
that while Mrs Carleton made no
threats. she did most of the talking.
Mr.. Christler arose and started for
his sleeping room. Mrs Christler said.
and Mrs. Carleton also arose as II
had opened the front door. with her
back to Mrs. Carleton, who had fol-
lowed Mr.. Christler
Then came two quick revolver shots.
see Mrs Carleton fall in the doorway
of small hallway leading into the
bathroom and into Mr.. Christler's
room. she testified.
Mrs. Christler said she saw that
Mrs Carleton was dead and, stepping
over the body. tried to get to Mr..
Christler. but the woman's body had
fallen so as to partly block the door.
She then called the police and ply
sicians, she stated.
Mrs. Christler told of the arrival of
the doctors, the chief Of police and
others and telephone conversations
with Bishop Faber. at Helena, and
with Mrs j. HI. Pyle OF Helena, Mont,
mother of Mrs. Carleton.
Widows story Confirmed.
Mr.. Hauge confirmed Mrs. Christ
Iers story that she had asked him to
stand on his porch until she went
into the house. He added that she
afterwara stepped out again and
said, Everything is all right"
He retired and did not learn Of the
shooting until the next morning. he
said.
MIR. Hauge said that last Sunday
about 4 o'clock he had seen MIRA
Carleton trying to enter the Chr1stler
home.
after 10 o'clock. he said. he had seen
Mrs. Carleton turn out q light In the
Christler home.
Mrs. F. Il. Martin. librarian. and
personal friend of Mrs. Carleton, de-
:,cribed Mrs. Carleton's condition Fri
day night. going to her hotel, where
Mrs. Carleton also roomed. She said
response to call and found her in
bed. suffering from sort of hysteria.
The Rev. Mr.. Christler was there.
trying to quiet Mrs. Carleton, the
witness testified.
Took Sleeping Powders.
According to Mrs. Martin. NrA
Carleton told her that she had taken
an overdose Of sleeping powders and
had Just awakened from q sleep Of
thirty hours. Mrs. Martin said she
had Judged Mrs. Carieton's condition
as very bad" Mr.. Christler left
shortly after she had prepared food
hA