Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1889-07-26
SOMERSET TRAGEDY.
4 YOUNG PITTsBURGHER MURDERED
BY A DRUNKEN COOK.
The Victim a Son of John Scott, of Pitts
burgh-Scene of the Horrible Affair Near
Confuence-Pleasure Turned to Mourn
ing-The Murderer Taken to the SON.
erset Jail.

Confluence-Pleasure Turned to Mourn
ing-The Murderer Taken to the Som
erset Jail.
Charles Scott, son of John Scott, the
stone contractor of Pittsburgh, was shot
and instantly killed Sunday by James
Lehr, OF Allegheny. The shooting took
place at the camp Of the Eureka Fishing
Club of Allegheny, near Confluence, near
Ohio Pyle Falls, on the Baltimore & Ohio
Railroad.
The body Of young Scott was taken to
Pittsburgh yesterday morning, accom-
panied by his companions who had gone
to the camp with him on Saturday, and
now lies at Morelands undertaking rooms.
The funeral will take place from the resi-
dedce of his father, John Scott, on STAN
ton avenue, East End, Wednesday. at 2
Pm.
Gus Straub, AN eye witness to the tragedy,
described it as follows: Saturday night
young Scott, VIM. Marshall, Thos. Mis-
bett, Mr.. Echenlaub, Chas. Kurtz and
myself went to the camp as guests of the
Eureka Club. We had most pleasant
visit till Sunday afternoon. Mr.. Scott
aud had been up in the woods near tie
camp and came back about o'clock.
Some of the boys told us they had been
having some trouble with Lehr, the cook.
He had been drinking heavily, and Harry
Knorr, one of the members of the club,
told him he could have no more liquor.
Lehr chased him from the camp with
revolver in his hand, but finally came
back. While he was gone Mr.. Kurtz
knocked the spigot out of the beer keg
and let it run in order to prevent Lehr
from getting any more. Lehr then made
for Kurtz, revolver in hand, but did not
shoot. He was in terrible anger and
threatened and swore around for a long
time to the terror of all in camp.
Cup to this time Lehr had not said
word to Scott or Scott to him. Finally,
about o'clock, some of the members of
the club said to US that as there was not
much chance for supper, the way Lehr
was acting, that we had better go to Con-
eaeneelor supper To this we agreed,
and all started from camp. Scott was the
last one to leave the camp. He was about
one hundred yards behind me and was
standing in the door of tent. He called
to me to wait and started toward me. He
had come about tea yards when Lehr
come toward him and calling him vile
name, said, Where are you going you
come back here Scott faced him and
said: 1 am going to Confluence No
you are not said Lehr, and pulled out
his revolver and, as Scott moved away
sideways, fired a shot at him. Scott then
moved away further, but all the time
keeping his eyes on him, wher Lehr fired
again. Then Scott fired shot from
little revolver lie had. | called to him to
run, and he turned to do So when Lcnr
fired again, and the bullet struck Scott in
the back. He fell and never spoke a
word, dying instantly.
Some of the boys hurried to Conflu.
ence, and the magistrate and a constable
at once went to the camp. When they
got near camp, Lehr pulled his revolver
again, but the boys persuaded him to put
it up. He did so and he was arrested
and taken to Somerset, where he is in jail
The magistrate held an inquest, and four
teen witnesses told the same story l am
telling you.
There had been no fuss of any kind
between Scott and Lehr, and the shooting
was entirely unprovoked. Lehr was the
only man in camp who was in the least
affected by liquor, and would not have
anyone think for moment that liquor
had anything to do with the fusa, as far
as Scott or anyone but Lehr was concern
ed. l know that Scott had not had a
drink since IL o'clock in the morning and
all day he did not drink over two or three
glasses.
d" Scott happened to be the last man to |
leave camp, and believe it would have
been the same had | or any one else been |
the last man. Lehr was in an ugly mood |
and seemed determined to pick fight
with some one. He was fussing all the
afternoon, and became almost crazy with
anger when Kurtz knocked the spigot
out of the beer keg.
"There were six shots fred--four by |
Lehr and, think, two by Scott but as
far as could tell Scott fired in the air, and |
after Scott fell Lehr fred another shot.
From where Lehr fired to where Scott
stood was 1870 yards, and that his aim
should have been so true is marvel to
me.n
Charles Scott, the victim of the shoot
ing, is the son of John Scott, the we'll
known Pittsburgh stone contractor. He
has brother in the firm of Vincent g |
Scott, the East End carpet dealers, in
whose store he worked, and also broth
er in the firm of Scott g. Mclean. He was
about twenty-one years old and unmar.
ried.