The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-16
DIDN'T KNOW 'TWASLOADED
Rudolph Meyerhoffer, Dunmore
Barber, Is the Victim.
A BULLET THROUGH HIS BRAIN
While Playing Mouth Organ In his Shop
One Of His Companions. Thomas
Ruaue. Accidentally shoots
iiim-WOuud Is Fatal.

Rudolph Meyerhoffer,a Dunmore bar
ber. was accidentally shot and probably
fatally wounded by a companion. Thos.
Ruane. yesterday afternoon. 1t was
case of didn't know II was loaded
Ruane. Martin Coollhan. John Con-
molly and Thomas Philbin. young
men of about 20 years of age, gathered
in Meyerhoffer's shop on Blakely
street about 3,30 o'clock with the inten-
ton of going to the woods to engage
in target practice, at which sport they
and the barber spent part of the pre-
vious day. The revolver which was
used belonged to the barber. His COM
panions were examining 1t while he was
shaving man and when he finished ne
took 1t from the hands of one of the
boys and snapped 1t two or three times.
He handed 1t to Ruane with the re-
mark that it was no good, and, having
no work to do threw himself into one
of the barber chairs and began playing
a mou.h-organ n single cartridge had
been lef: in the revolver from the day
before bu. this was unknown to the
young men. Ruane while toying with
it pulled the tigger and 1t exploded.
The bullet struck MeyerhOffer in the
right side of the head about an inch and
a half above and back of the ear and he
fell to the floor. When the young men
realized what had happened they be-
came so excited that all with the eX-
ception of Philbin ran out into the
street and scattered in various direc-
tions.
HE GAVE THE ALARM
Philbin ran next door and told Meyer
hoffers sister. then went after Doctors
Winters and Brown. A crowd soon
gathered and all sorts OF stories We're
u,h n rC
proved 20 be without foundation was
that ne had committed suicide because
he regretted his approaching marriage
with a Mrs. Carpenter which was to oc-
cur on Monday next.
The doctors and some of the men
from the lndependent Hose company.
which is located near by carried the
wounded man into the house of his
sister. Mrs. Smith, and there the physi-
clans made an examination. They
found the bullet which was of 32 calibre
had entered as above described and
taken IL course in the direction of the
lobe of the opposite ear. 1t had pene-
trated the brain and their verdict was
that he could not live until nightfall.
When at ? o'clock he was still alive 1t
was decided to treohine the skull and
attempt to dislodge the bullet. Doc
tors Winters, Brown and Garvey began
this operation at 10 o'clock. They ex-
pressed little hope Of saving his life but
determined to make every effort to do
so.
Ruane and three others who We're
present could not be located, although
it was reported that they We're about
the streets during the evening. There
was no talk of arrests. After the
wounded man was carried to his sisters s
home, the shop was locked and every
thing was left just as 1t was when the
shooting occurred, in order that the
coroner's jury might get clear under
standing of the circumstances in case
an INQUEST Is made necessary as it
doubtlessly will
A Tribune reporter, In company with
Chief of Police Healey, secured admis-
sion to the shop last night. The mouth
organ which Meyerhoffer was playing
was lying on the floor at the foot of
the chair and pool of blood about four
ieet away showed where the unfOrtu-
nate mans head struck when he fell.
REVOLVER A CHEAP AFFAIR.
The revolver, a cheap affair. with a
red-wood handle, was found in one of
the apartments of the cup case. The
single exploded shell was all that the
chamber contained. 1t was evident
from the position in which Meyerhoffer
was reclining and the location Of the
wound that Ruane was standing with
his back to the wall not over three feet
away, when the pistol was discharged.
Mrs. Smith says that her brother
never spoke after being shot. When
she reached his side he looked into her
face appealingly and then seemed to
drop into unconsclousness.