The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-03-13
BEAUTY QUEEN
MAY NOT FACE
MURDER TRIAL
investigation Bears Out
Charlotte NaSh'S Self
Defense Claim.
CALLED GOOD MOTHER
Family of Slain Husband Is
Unlikely to Push
Prosecution.
By United Preso

By United Pyeso
NICE, France, March 13-Police
investigation of the death of Fred
q. Nixon Nirdlinger indicated today
that his widow, the former Charlotte
Nash of st. Louis, who admitted
shooting her husband, might never
face trial for the killing.
AS police were re-enacting the
shooting at the home of the couple
on the Promenade Des Anglsis, it
appeared likely that the traditional
French attitude toward Crime pas
sionel" would come to the aid of the
girl who won second honors in the
1924 Atlantic City beauty pageant.
Preliminary investigation was said
to bear out her contention that She
shot in self-defense.
1t was pointed out that the police
had partly verified Mrs. Nixon
Nirdlingers story by determining
the angle at which a. bullet found in
the wall of the room had been fired.
She said she fired the first shot
from the bed while her husband was
choking her. Doctors also said that
the bruises on her neck indicated
she had been severely handled.
Charge Not to Be Pushed
Furthermore, Charles Loeb, the
American lawyer representing the
Nixon irdlinger family in Phila-
delphia, did not indicate that he
would push the prosecution. He
arranged to have the body of the
theatrical man sent to Philadelphia.
Police questioned friends Of the
couple at Nice and Saint Moritz,
where they were frequently seen at
sports events, and received fa-
vorable report on Mrs. Nixon Nird-
linger, who was widely praised as
a good mother.
1t was said that most of their
friends also testified to her hus-
tand's jealousy and blamed the
tragedy on another case of 81
marrying TO-"
The Philadelphia and his wife
had returned only a few days be-
fore the shooting from st. Moritz,
where Mrs. Nixon Nirdlinger was
one Of the best fancy skaters.
Never Marry Beauty Queen
1t was recalled that soon after
their return an Englishman ac-
quai1tance had complimented the
American on having such beautiful
wife.
Let me warn you, young man,
never marry a beauty queen"
-Nirdlinger was said to have
replied Mature can not give in
tellectual companionship and a per-
feet face"
The American girl was often mis-
taken for the daughter of Nixon
Nirdlinger, who was more than
thirty years her senior, but he
always appeared to be amused by
the error.
Their two children, one Is months
old and the other years, were in
charge of q Swedish nurse at the
villa where the tragedy occurred.
Mrs. Nixon-Nirdlinge was clad in
pink pajamas when police arrived at
The villa.
Mrs. Nixon Nirdlinger wrote her
confession in Jail, using a jewelled
fountain pen which was gift from
her husband.
we had dined together" she
wrote. my husband had been
drinking wine and whisky and later
I went to the boudoir to put on my
pajamas. / returned to the living
room, where my husband was work
ing on a crossword puzzle. I started
to study Italian when he said: You
must have an italian lover, will
change my will and disinherit your
children
Fired Several Times
Then he stalked into the kitchen
and drank more whisky. I went
10 the bedroom and placed the re-
volver under my pillow, because sew
eral times before he had threatened
to kill me. My husband came into
the room and undressed, saying, 4
will kill you rather than let you
have an Italian lover
Il answered that he need have
no fears on that score. Then ne
started choking me. I grabbed the
revolver and fired point blank. He
staggered out OF the room ana l
pursued him. firing several times.
Then / tainted. AS soon as I re-
vived I started searching for the
ropCfeY-on hift fail1tod AGAIN -