The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-11-09
HUNTER SHOT
BY COMPANION
SAD TRAGEDY ON THE SHORES
OF LAKE SCRANTON.
William Pilger Shot and Instantly
Killed by His Cousin, George Rim
slestein--Gun Was Discharged
Accidentally by the Trigger Catch
ing in Button of Ringlesteins S
Coat--Charge Entered at the Back
of the Neck with the Victim Only
Two Yards from the Gun.

of the Neck with the Victim Only
Two Yards from the Gun.
| William pilger. aged 20. of Richter
| street. Petersburg, was shot and in
stantly Killed yesterday by his cousin.
George Ringlestein. aged 81. while they
| were out hunting near Lake Scranton.
| 1t is almost certain that the shooting
was accidental.
| They started out together yesterday
morning at T.30 o'clock to hunt duck at
Lake Scranton. They were going along
| the east side Of the lake about $50
O'Clock. according TO Ringlestein's s
| story. when Pilger saw a duck and
called 10 Ringlestein to hurry up.
While the latter was on his way to
| catch up with Pilger, he met a young
| man from Dunmore, whom he knew
slightly. but not by name. and who.
| like themselves. was hunting.
just about the time of this meet
| ing Pilger called out that the duck
| had disappeared. Ringlestein thereupon
| stopped to converse with the young
| man he had encountered After a few
| moments the young man started away.
and Rnglestein turned about to look
for his cousin. The double -barreled
shotgun he was carrying across his
arm was discharged and Pilger, who
was standing only a yard or two away,
received the full charge in the head.
Ringlestcin says he was carrying the
barrel of the gun across his left arm
and grasping the stock, near the end,
with his right hand. The hammers
We're raised. but his fingers were not
in reach of the trigger, he says, and his
belief is that the trigger was caught in
button on his hunting Jacket as he
turned his body about TO look for Pill
ger.
DIDN'T NOTICE HIM.
He did not notice his cousin until lie
saw him fall. In Il frenzy of grief he
rushed to his side. and finding him
mortally wounded, picked up his own
gun and broke it into dozen pieces.
The unknown young man, on hearing
the shot, turned about and, according
to Ringlestein, was in time to see Pill
ger fall.
Ringlestein wanted the young man to
stay with the body until he could go to
Durnore and give the alarm. The
young man refused to do this, but said
he would go and give the alarm if
Ringlestein would watch the body.
This latter plan was agreed upon. The
young man told a brother in-law of
Pilger, a. Michael Mclaughlin, of Little
England, of what had happened, and
then went his way. Nothing has been
heard Of him since, and no one knows
his name.
When Il party from Dunmore, accom-
panied by Undertaken Letchworth. ar
rived at the scene of the shooting,
RinGlestein was found sitting on the
ground holding Pilger's mangled head
in his Ian. The body was taken to
Letchworth's undertaking establish
ment and later to the home of the
widowed mother, Mrs. Eva Pleer.
Ringlestein, who boarded with the
Pilgevs. also Went there and remained
about the house until 8 o'clock. when
Detective James McGrail, of the Dun
more police, took him into custody He
was taken to District Attorney Lewis
office. and after County Detective Phil
lips had secured from him a statement.
he was committed TO the county Jail.
pending an investigation. The victims
older brother Joseph Pilger. accom-
panied Ringlestein and acted as his in
terpreter. He says there is no question
but that the shooting was accidental.
a s his brother and Rinslestein We're the
best of friends.
ONLY LATELY ARRIVED.
RmGlestein has been in the country
only seven months. lie is q laborer in
No. = shaft. and unmarried. The vic
tim was n car-runner at the same col
liery. He, too, was unmarried.
Ringlestein was apparently Very much
affected BY the killing. He freely an
swered all questions asked him by the
county detective and the newspaper
men without hesitating a moment to
frame the answers. Every evidence of
guilt was wanting IN him.
Coroner Roberts held an Inquest aEd
performed Il post-mortem on the body
of Pilger last night. Ile found that
death was caused by Il load of sho,
entering at the medium line in the back
of the neck, tearing away the spinal
vertebrae In Its course, and extending
upward into the head. AT the time OF
the shooting Piger was evidently not
more than IL yard or two away from
the end Of the gun barrel and the
wound was badly scared.
The unknown young man was located
during the early evening. He proved to
be James ELLIS. lie was present at the
inquest and gave his account of the
happening, which fully eXonerated the
cousin of the dead man from any
blame.
The following verdict was rendered:
1--WE, The undersigned jurors empan-
neled in the case of William Pilgor,
find that the aforementioned William
PIlGer, Of 9IS Richter street Scranton.
came to his death as the result of the
accidental discharge of gun in the
hands of George RinelesteIn. on the
Sth day Of November, 1901 ut Lake
Scranton"
(Signed) Ernest MeCke, Charles Ever
hart, Michael Mclaughlin. Christian
Schiple, II. Il. I.etchworth, A. NJ. Bone.
The dead man is survived by the fol-
lowing brothers ana sisters; Frank.
Charles, George, Mary, Caroline, Kate
and Eva