1964-02-21

Arraigned In Murder

Published March 4, 1964

Shirley Jean Chamberlain, charged with the rifle slaying of her husband, was arraigned in Canyon Tuesday before Justice of the Peace Bill Wilson who set the housewife's bond at $10,000.

The 35-year-old woman was released from the Randall County jail at 5:20 p.m. after her bond was posted by Robert W Castleberry and Winton McMelIon, both of Amarillo.

Mrs. Chamberlain remained calm during the arraignment except at one point when she broke into tears after Truett Hull, criminal district attorney read the murder with malice charge.

Her only question during the proceeding was "Why murder with malice," and then she started crying.

Several close friends were with her at the hearing. Afterwards she was moved upstairs to the cell block where she was placed in the cell with Mrs. Ella Mae Binning, who is also charged with murder with malice.

Mrs. Chamberlain admitted to Amarillo police officers on Monday that she pulled the trigger of the death weapon, a .22 callber, semi-automatic rifle, which claimed the life of her husband on Feb. 21.

The rifle slug struck her husband, Lenzy Chamberlain, in the chest, killing him almost instantly.