The Ward County independent., 1922-11-02

Christler, 'b;shop of all outdoors" and
his "p!at,n:c fTiend,' MRS. Margaret
Carleton, his alleged slayer who COM
mitted suicide, opened here tonight.
Friends Of the dead man and wo-
man gathered in the little morgue for
the investigation, demanded by Mrs.
Don Davenport, mother of Mrs. Garlic
ton, who dlSbc ,icVes that her daugh-C
ter did thC shooting.
Bishop William Frederick Faber of
Montana was present when the in
quest opened.
Widow Called important Witness
Mrs. Chris tier was to be Cne of the
most important witnesses. She was
present in an adjoining room, accord
ing to hey story, when the fatal shots
were fired.
Mrs. Carlcton's mother arrived here
during the Gay and by demanding an
inquest crossed the intentions of po-
lice to close the investigation.
The mother said she was not salts
fed with the story given ont that
Mrs Carleton shot the minister and
killed herself in the pastors home
riday night, due to lonesome
ness and sickness.
Mrs. Christler chung to her original
story that she believed Mrs. Carlton,
known as the "nniniature beauty" was
demented as the result Of hard work
and lonesomeness.
Pastor Called ''Orator Magnificent"
Mr. Christler, affectionately called
the "bishop of all outdoors" because
Of his missionary work in the rough
lumber and railroad camps of the
frontier towns, was killed in the par
lor of his home Friday night by Mrs.
Carleton. The pastors widow found
Mrs. Carleton's body lying over that
of her husband.
Business of Havre was al a standstill
today during the funeral services for
the noted parson. High tribute was
paid to his work by Bishop Faber Of
the Montana diocese in the funeral
sermon.
Chief Of Police Joseph Moran to-
night told of the incidents leading up
to the murder and suicide as he had
been able to uncover them.
81 saw Mrs. Carleton about 1915
a. m. Friday standing in front of the
home of Mr.. Christler," the chief said.
'She remarked that she was waiting.
to meet someone and passed on. The
only account Of her movements from
that time on is what we have from the
lips Of the widow.
Apparently she Immediately enter
ed the Christler home where the pas
tor and his wife found her short
time later. She was tearing up pic
lures of Mr.. Christler and was other
wise acting strangely"
Widow to Accompany Body East
Mrs. Christler, while not announc-
ing her plans for the future, expects
to accompany the body of her husband
to Auburn, N. Y, where it. will be
buried She probably will then live
there, after final visit here to super
wise the settlement of her husbands S
affairs. She said she would assume
all financial obligations connected
with both burials.
Friends of Mrs. Carleton said she
recently had returned from strenu-
GUS trip on the chautauqua platform.
The public speaking resulted in i'll
health, which completely had unnerv-
ed her, they said.
\ She had been nervous and her ac-
tions were queer, employees at the
hotel where she had been stopping,
reported.
No one has been found who saw her
movements Friday night, previous to
the time she went to the home Of Mr..
Christler, while he and his wife were
away. She was in the home when the
couple returned, and apparently had
been tearing up photographs Of the
pastor. After short visit, during
which Mrs. Christler said the visitor
did not act normally, she arranged to
take her leave. The husband accom-
panied her to the door where the
Shooting came with dramatic sudden
ness. .....
Mrs. Carleton's body was taken to
Butte today, where it will be buried.
Minot was shocked when it was
learned that Mrs. Margaret Carleton
had taken the life of Rev. L. j. Christ
Ter and then ended her own.
Mrs Carleton was we'll known in
Minot where she spent, the summer of
1921, assisting Ted Caveness, play
ground instructor from Minneapolis,
who was in charge Of the play ground
work in the Minot parks for several
months during that summer.
Mrs. Carleton was in charge of a
pageant, given at Oak Park, her
work and that of her pupils being ex-
ceptionaly well received. She en-
gagged the ball room of the Associa-
tion Of Commerce for a period and
gave instructions in dancing. She was
an exceptionally attractive, vivacious
little woman, about 40 years of age.
Mrs. Carleton leaves husband, a
former district judge, residing in
Havre, from whom she had separated,
and bright little girl, ten or twelve
years of age.
It was known that the principals Of
the tragedy spent some time in Minot
together during the summer of 1921.
Mrs. Carleton had given dancing in
structions in Williston before she
CAME to Minot. After Mrs. Carleton
: had concluded her work in Minot, it
is said that Mrs. Carleton acconpan-