The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-04-29


about sixteen years, who in Carlisle few
months ago killed his father, DR.. Charles
f. Zitzer has been convicted of manslaugh-
ter, with recommendation to the mercy
of the court, by Cumberland county jury,
who were out from Friday evening until
late on Monday night, before returning
a verdict. The Carlisle Herald gives the
following particulars of the homicide as
brought out by the testimony submitted at
the trial:
About seven o'clock on the evening of
January 25, Albert Zitzer, the accused,
being slightly intoxicated, went to the
brewery of Mr.. Krause and called for
quart of beer. Mr.. Krause, having re-
ceived instructions from Albert's parents
not to furnish their son any beer, refused
to give him any. Albert denied that his
perents had given any instructions con-
cerning him, and in order to solve the diff
Guilty Mr.. Krause agreed to go with him to
his fathers office. DR.. and Mrs. ZitZer
were in the Office when they arrived, and
Mrs. Zitzer, when asked whether she had
given directions to Mr.. Krause not to fur
nish her son any liquor, Immediately re-
piled that she had and that if everybody
would act as well as Mr.. Krause did Albert
would be different boy. DR.. Zitzer then
began cursing his wife and son and pulling
off his overcoat rushed on Albert and
closed with him in conflict. Mr. Krause,
| Of Mr. ;N1a xybn
happened to be in the Office succeeded
in separating the combatants and con-
Quoted the doctor from the room. A
few minutes later they again came together
and again were separated. A few min
utes after this Albert was in the dining
room showing some friends how his father
had showed the chairs around in the office.
His father was attracted by the noise and
came in with an iron pestle in his hand
and cursing Albert drove him through the
entry into the Office. The boy got behind
the counter, and whilst his father was men,
acing him with an iron pestle he seized
a mortar and struck him on the upper left
part of the forehead. Two short cuts were
made in the skin, but the skull was not
fractured. The doctor was not felled by
the blow but shortly afterwards became
sick and died on Wednesday, February
5, one week after the above recited occur
renee. Albert is sixteen years of age and
about five feet ten inches in height. 1t
was in evidence that on the afternoon of
the day on which the difficulty occurred
DIR. Zitzer took Albert to barrel of cider,
mixed with gin, which he had in the house,
and disregarding the protests of Mrs.
Zitzer gave him five glasses full of it.
The counsel for the prisoner tried to
show, firstly, that DR.. Zitzer did not die
from the blow he received from his son,
but from other and extraneous causes
Secondly, that the blow which his son
gave was given in selfdefense; this point,
if proved would make the deed an excusa-
BILE homicide. Thirdly, that DR.. Zitzer had
wilfully given his young son strong drink
and in consequence was alone chargeable
with the results of his sons conduct.
Four doctors attended DIR. Ztzer during
his sickness. Three of these gave their
opinion that he died from the effects of the
blow he received on the head, but that his
constitution had previously been very much
shattered; the fourth gave his opinion that
the blow was not the cause of death, but
that the doctors health, impaired by hard
drink and exposure, had gradually and
naturally declined, and that the blow had
not appreciably hastened the event.
A. b. Sharpe and W. f. Saddler, Esqs.
conducted the prosecution aud c. Il. Mag
lauchlin, Esq, defended the prisoner.
The court sentenced the defendant tC
confinement in the county jail for 80 days
and to give bonds to keep the peace for
years