The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1922-11-17

Rev. Leonard j. Christler, "bish.
Op of all outdoors" outstanding
man of his cloth in the northland,
was killed at his home in Havre,
one night recently. When Mrs.
Christlcr, in an adjoining room,
heard the report of the gun, she
rushed into the room. Her hus.
band was lying dead on the floor.
Over his body stood Mrs. Margaret
Carleton, who had confessed her
infatuation for the dead minister to
her husband, Judge Frank earle.
ton, some time before. with q re-
vOlver in her hand. She pointed
the revolver at Mrs. Christler. held
it there for a second, then turning
the gun on herself, shot herself
through the heart.
That is the official version, as
crystalized in the verdict Of the coro-
ner's jury, which held that Mrs.
Carleton, while temporarily derang-
ed. shot the pastor dead and then
killed herself.
The only eye witness of part of
the tragedy was Mrs. Christler, wife
of the pastor She testified that she
had accompanied her husband home
from the Havre depot about one
O'Clock in the morning. Mrs. Carle-
ton came into the room. The details
of the conversation between the three
were not made public at the official
inquiry, except that Mrs. Carleton
told her that she (Mrs. Christler)
had no place in the minister's life.
Mrs. Christler's Story
Christler went into an adjoining
room. Mrs. Carleton followed him.
Instantly there was the report of a
pistol. Mrs. Christler entered the
room to find her husband on the
floor. with Mrs. Carleton standing
over him with the smoking revolver
in her hand. She pointed the revol-
yer at Mrs. Christler, then put its
muzzle against Lsr own breast, and
sent a bullet crashing through her
heart. Between the flights of the
two souls 20 seconds could not have
elapsed.
That is the story that Mrs. Christ
Ter told the coroner's jury at the in
quest. The jurors believed her.
But Mrs. Joseph Pyle of Butte,
mother of Mrs. Carleton, has taken
issue with the coroner's jury. She
went to Havre, engaged lawyers, and
started an Independent investigation.
At the inquest. DR.. Foss of Hayre
testified that the bullet which killed
Mrs. Carleton had an upward ten
| dency. Two physicians who examin-
ed the body for Mrs. Pyle assert that
the bullet which caused Mrs. Garlic
TONS death ranged downward at a
sharp angle.
Armed with this information, Mrs.
Pyle's attorneys have asked that the
case be reopened, and the authorities
OF Hill county have the suggestion
under advisement.
OF Prominent Family
Mrs. Carleton came of an old Mon.
tana family. Her grandfather, Ma1o,
Davenport, came to the state In pion.
eer days, and was for many years q
resident of Helena. Her father ID
Don Davenport, also a resident OF
Helena. She attended school In Hell.
ena. and was beautiful and cultured
woman. She married Frank Carrie.
ton. former judge OF the judicial dis.
trict In which Havre is situated. She
had become estranged from her hus
band. and for the past year had beer
engaged In Chautauqua work, aut
was In Havre on visit. In the mean
time her husband had gone to Loa
Angeles and opened a law office.
The Rev. Christler was a very re-
markable man. He was tall, of com
handing presence, and possessed
poise. He was an eloquent speaker
and q most magnetic man. He VA
unconventional and most human. HI
had large circle of friends and ad
mirers outside the church, and few
churchmen stood as high in the e.
TEEN of the general public as did he
He accepted the rough life of thu
border country as matter Of course
In every movement that was for thu
veal of his section of the country hi