The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-10-30
THINKS WOMAN
WAS DERANGED


Havro, Mont, Oct. 80 (By the As.
sociated Press while Mrs. Christ.
Ter was accompanying the body OF
Rev. Leonard Christler~ ON an east.
bound train, Mrs. Joseph Pyle, mothe,
of Mrs. Margaret Carleton, whose
body was found beside that of Christ.
Ter is attempting to prove that the
daughter did not commit murder anG
suicide as the coroner's jury held Sat
urday. Mr.. Pyle is piecing together
bits Of torn letter found in waste.
backet to clear his daughter.
Havre, Mont, Oct. 29.-Dramatic
details Of the event that led to the
deaths of Mrs. Margaret Carleton and
the Rev. Leonard Jacob Christler, pas
tor of. St. Marks Church of the In
carnation, were recited to a. coroner's
jury by the minister's widow pre-
vious to a verdict returned early to-
day, that the tragedy was brough,
about by temporary mental derange-
ment on the part of Mrs. Carleton.
The widow, Mrs. Anna w. Christ
Ter, in calm, modulated voice de-
scribed how she returned to her home
about 10 o'clock last Friday evening
to find light. Calling Mr.. Hague, q
neighbor, she said she stationed him
on the front porch while she entered.
She testified that she found Mrs.
Carleton, wife of former District
Judge Frank Carleton, destroying a
picture of DR.. Christler and admon
ished her for the act. The witness
added that Mrs. Carleton Seemed
anything but in her right mind"
Finally, the witness said, she per-
suaded Mrs. Carleton to leave with
her, walking toward the towns busi-
ness section where they met the Rev.
Mr. Christler, who was with the Rev.
mir. Chapman of Butte. Mrs. Garlic
ton was left down town. she con-
tinued, the others returning home.
Shortly. afterward, the witness said,
Mrs Carleton returned to the Christ
Ter house. The witness kesitated in
describing the conversation after
Mrs. Carleton rejoined them but in
answer to a question replied that Mrs.
Carleton declared that 81 (Mrs.
Ghristlerl had no place in Mr..
ChristlerS life" She said that while
Mrs. Carleton made no threats, she
Iai1b ka6p af stha tallrina. y =. g z: g
F Describing the shooting after the
party returned home, she said Mr.
Christler arose and started for his
sleeping room. Mrs. Carleton also
arose .as if to depart. Mrs. Christler
said she opened the front door with
her back to Mrs. Carleton, who had
followed Mr.. Christler..
Then came two quick revolver re-
ports, Mrs. Christler said. She turn
ed to see Mrs. Carleton falling in the
doorway of small hall leading into
the bathroom and into Mr.. Christ
ler'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. ]. H. Pyle of Helena, Mont.
mother of Mrs. Carleton.
Mr.. Hague confirmed Mrs. Christ
ler's story, that she has asked him to
stand >on his porch until she went
into the house. He added that she af.
terwards stepped out again and said:
Everything is all right"
He retired and did not learn of the
shooting until the next morning, he
said.
Mr.. Hague said that last Sunday
about 4 o'clock he had seen Mrs
Carleton trying to enter the Christler
home
On the night of the shooting, short
ly after o'clock, he said, he had
seen Mrs. Carleton turn out a light
in the Christler home.
Mrs. +. E. Martin, librarian, per.
sona} friend of Mrs. Carleton, de.
scriHed Mrs. Carleton's condition
Friday night. Going to her hotel
where Mrs. Carleton also roomed, she
said she went to Mrs. Carleton's room
in response to call and found her ia
bed suffering from sort of hysteria
The Rev. Mr.. Christler was there
trying to quiet Mrs. Carleton, the wit.
ness testified.
According to, Mrs. Martin, Mrs
Carleton told her that she had taken
an overdose of sleeping powders and
had just awakened from sleep OF
80 hours Mrs. Martin said shs
judged Mrs. Carleton's condition al
Every bad.s 1; Mr.. Christler left short
ly after she had, prepared food fo'
Mrs. Carleton, she said.
There was nothing Improper in the